The coinfection of respiratory viruses and bacteria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite the development of vaccines and powerful antibiotics. As a macromolecule that is difficult to absorb in the gastrointestinal tract, a homogeneous polysaccharide from Houttuynia cordata (HCPM) has been reported to exhibit anti-complement properties and alleviate influenza A virus (H1N1)-induced lung injury; however, the effects of HCPM without in vitro antiviral and antibacterial activities on more complicated pulmonary diseases resulting from viral-bacterial coinfection remains unclear. This study established a representative coinfection murine pneumonia model infected with H1N1 (0.2 LD₅₀) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10⁷ CFU). HCPM significantly improved survival rate and weight loss, and ameliorated gut-lung damage and inflammatory cytokine production. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect of HCPM on intestinal damage preceded that in the lungs. Mechanistically, HCPM inhibited the overactivation of the intestinal complement (C3a and C5a) and suppressed the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) pathway, which contributes to the regulation of the Treg/Th17 cell balance in the gut-lung axis. The results indicate the beneficial effects of an anti-complement polysaccharide against viral-bacterial coinfection pneumonia by modulating crosstalk between multiple immune regulatory networks.

Beta-amylases (BAMs), key enzymes in starch hydrolysis, play an important role in plant growth, development, and resistance to abiotic stress. To mine the saline-alkali tolerance-related BAM genes in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), we identified MsBAM genes in the whole genome. The physicochemical properties, phylogeny, gene structures, conserved motifs, secondary structures, promoter cis-acting elements, chromosome localization, and gene replication relationships of BAM gene family members were analyzed. RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were employed to analyze the expression patterns of BAM family members under saline-alkali stress. The results showed that 54 BAM genes were identified in the genome, which were classified into 8 subgroups according to the phylogenetic tree. The members of the same subgroup had similar gene structures except that those of subgroups 1 and 7 had large differences. Conserved motif analysis showed that all MsBAM proteins had a typical glycohydrolysis domain. The chromosome localization analysis showed that MsBAM gene family members were unevenly distributed on 27 chromosomes. The duplication of gene segments led to the increase in BAM gene number in alfalfa. The promoters of BAM genes contained a large number of elements in response to plant hormones and stress. Transcriptome data and qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of most MsBAM genes were up-regulated in response to saline-alkali stress. Under the saline-alkali stress, the expression levels of 28 genes, including MsBAM6, were up-regulated on days 1 and 7, and those of 5 genes, including MsBAM9, were up-regulated by over 2 folds. In addition, under salt-alkali stress, BAM activity and soluble sugar content were significantly increased. These results indicate that BAM genes play a key role in alfalfa in response to saline-alkali stress, laying a foundation for further research in this field.
Medicago sativa/physiology* ; beta-Amylase/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Multigene Family ; Alkalies ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

Objective:To explore the relevant factors affecting the accuracy of scanning glucose monitoring (FGM) technology in critically ill patients.Methods:A total of 53 patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and used FGM glucose monitoring from September 2022 to December 2023 were selected by means of a convenience sampling method. The paired data of arterial blood glucose and FGM glucose were analysed. The accuracy of FGM blood glucose measurement in critically ill patients was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis. The blood glucose data were divided into two groups: the FGM monitoring accuracy group and the FGM monitoring non-accuracy group.. The t-test and χ2 test were used for the comparison of one-way analysis of arterial versus FGM accuracy among critically ill patients with different demographic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing the accuracy of FGM. Results:The results of Bland-Altman analysis of the 53 patients indicated that the mean bias value of FGM blood glucose was elevated at 1.215 mmol/L in comparison with arterial-blood gas analysis blood glucose values. An incidence of exceeding the upper and lower limits of the range was observed, amounting to 6.349%. The discrepancy between the studies was found to be statistically significant (95% CI:1.0394~1.3908, P<0.001). The effects of the changes in height ( OR=0.877, 95% CI:0.780~0.987, P=0.029), changes in leukocyte counts( OR=0.917, 95% CI:0.868~0.969, P=0.002), changes in C-reactive protein( OR=1.009, 95% CI:1.002~1.017, P=0.016), changes in albumin counts( OR=0.986, 95% CI:0.974~0.999, P=0.031), and whether or not sepsis ( OR=3.937, 95% CI:1.192~13.008, P=0.025) on the accuracy of FGM had a statistically significant. Conclusion:The mean bias value of the accuracy of FGM was relatively higher compared with that of arterial blood gas analysis blood glucose values, and the influencing factors involved height, white blood cells, C-reactive protein, albumin, and whether or not sepsis was present. With the development of science and technology, applying the FGM system to critically ill patients has an absolute advantage in determining the overall glycemic trend, and the application value of FGM technology deserves further study.

Objective To study the plasma metabolomics of mice poisoned by different dosage of the combination of diazepam and ethanol,and to reveal the toxicological mechanisms of combined poisoning of diazepam and ethanol.Methods Female Kunming mice were randomly divided into blank group,single and combined poisoning group(n=6),Based on the LD50 of diazepam co-administered with graded ethanol doses,mice in the single-drug and combined groups received oral gavage at 1/2,1,and 2 × LD50.Retro-orbital blood samples(～500 μL)were collected within 24 hours post-administration and analyzed by UPLC-QE-MS technology.Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to identify differential metabolites and associated metabolic pathways.Results A total of 387 differential metabolites were identified in the combined poisoning group of diazepam and ethanol implicating the key pathways including tryptophan metabolism,phenylalanine metabolism,arginine and proline metabolism,Glycerophospholipid metabolism,phenylalanine,tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis.Conclusion Combined diazepam and ethanol poisoning exerts significant systemic effects by disrupting neurotransmitters conduction,exacerbating oxidative stress response and dysregulating energy metabolism.

Objective:To construct a predictive model for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) using the Lasso-Logistic regression model, and to analyze the clinical utility of this predictive model.Methods:A total of 310 elderly ACI patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase (rt-PA) at the Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from May 2022 to May 2024 were selected. The occurrence of HT within 36 hours after intravenous thrombolysis was recorded, and the patients were divided into the HT group and non-HT group based on the presence or absence of HT. Clinical data were compared between the two groups. Lasso-Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients. A nomogram predictive model for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was constructed based on these influencing factors, and the clinical value of the nomogram predictive model was analyzed.Results:The incidence of HT within 36 hours after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was 29.35%(91/310). The proportions of patients with hypertension, diabetes, anticoagulant use, and atrial fibrillation in the HT group were higher than those in the non-HT group. The onset-to-thrombolysis time (ONT), admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cad), occludin, soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1), and endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1) in the HT group were higher than those in the non-HT group (all P<0.05). Lasso-Logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation, ONT, admission NIHSS score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood NLR, and serum levels of hs-CRP, VE-cad, occludin, sLOX-1, and ESM-1 were independent risk factors for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients (all P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the constructed nomogram predictive model for predicting HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was 0.914(95% CI: 0.879-0.949), indicating high predictive efficiency. When the threshold probability range was 0.05-0.83, the nomogram predictive model showed good net benefit in predicting HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients and had high clinical utility in predicting the risk of HT. Conclusions:Atrial fibrillation, ONT, admission NIHSS score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood NLR, and serum levels of hs-CRP, VE-cad, occludin, sLOX-1, and ESM-1 are independent risk factors for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients. The nomogram predictive model constructed based on these factors has high predictive efficiency and clinical utility in predicting the risk of HT.

Objective:To investigate the short-term pulmonary function outcomes in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) following surgery and analyze the influencing factors of poor outcomes.Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled 81 children who had undergone surgery for CDH and were discharged after recovery at the Department of Neonatal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2020 to June 2023. All children had pulmonary function tests before discharge, 6 months to 2 year after discharge. Changes in the pulmonary function parameters at different time points were compared. Based on the results of the final pulmonary function test after discharge, these patients were categorized into a favorable outcome group (32 cases) with normal pulmonary function and an unfavorable outcome group (49 cases) with pulmonary dysfunction. Clinical data of the two groups were compared using two independent samples t-test, rank-sum test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing pulmonary function outcomes. Results:A total of 81 cured and discharged CDH children were included in this study, comprising 34 males (42.0%) and 47 females (58.0%). The first two pulmonary function tests were performed at a mean postnatal age of (30.1±14.1) d (14-75 d) and (8.3±1.3) months (4 months and 14 d to 12 months), respectively. Pre-discharge pulmonary function tests revealed that 13 cases (16.0%) had nearly normal pulmonary function, while 68 cases (84.0%) showed pulmonary function abnormalities with seven cases of restrictive ventilatory dysfunction, 56 cases of obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, and five cases of mixed ventilatory dysfunction. In the children with abnormal pulmonary function before discharge, their second pulmonary function tests showed that some parameters including tidal volume [(7.49±1.35) ml/kg vs. (8.02±2.21) ml/kg], the ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow and expiratory time [(23.21±4.95)% vs. (26.50±5.48)%], the ratio of volume to peak expiratory flow and expiratory volume [(26.41±5.79)% vs. (27.55±5.20)%], respiratory system compliance per kg body weight during single occlusion [(0.93±0.22) ml/(cmH 2O·kg) vs. (0.96±0.25) ml/(cmH 2O·kg), 1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa], functional residual capacity [(52.18±17.83) ml vs. (126.39±26.73) ml], and respiratory system resistance in single occlusion condition [(0.06±0.02) cmH 2O/(ml·s) vs. (0.05±0.01) cmH 2O/(ml·s)] improved after discharge ( t values were－2.41,－6.14,－7.68,－2.26,－18.94, and 4.87, all P<0.05). Eight children with obstructive ventilatory dysfunction were followed up for two years after surgery, of which three had normal lung function and five still showed mild to moderate obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. Logistic regression analysis indicated that liver herniation, severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), low observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio (o/e LHR), grade C/D diaphragmatic defect, and prolonged invasive ventilation were risk factors for poor pulmonary outcomes [ OR(95% CI) were 5.655(1.410-22.676), 5.610 (1.589-19.804),4.183 (1.234-14.180) and 1.195(1.074- 1.329), all P<0.05]. Conclusions:Although lung function parameters of CDH patients show certain improvement after surgery, many children still have mild to moderate obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, requiring long-term follow-up. Prenatal and postnatal indicators such as liver herniation, severe PH, and low o/e LHR can predict the pulmonary outcomes of children with CDH.

Objective To study the plasma metabolomics of mice poisoned by different dosage of the combination of diazepam and ethanol,and to reveal the toxicological mechanisms of combined poisoning of diazepam and ethanol.Methods Female Kunming mice were randomly divided into blank group,single and combined poisoning group(n=6),Based on the LD50 of diazepam co-administered with graded ethanol doses,mice in the single-drug and combined groups received oral gavage at 1/2,1,and 2 × LD50.Retro-orbital blood samples(～500 μL)were collected within 24 hours post-administration and analyzed by UPLC-QE-MS technology.Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to identify differential metabolites and associated metabolic pathways.Results A total of 387 differential metabolites were identified in the combined poisoning group of diazepam and ethanol implicating the key pathways including tryptophan metabolism,phenylalanine metabolism,arginine and proline metabolism,Glycerophospholipid metabolism,phenylalanine,tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis.Conclusion Combined diazepam and ethanol poisoning exerts significant systemic effects by disrupting neurotransmitters conduction,exacerbating oxidative stress response and dysregulating energy metabolism.

Objective:To construct a predictive model for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) using the Lasso-Logistic regression model, and to analyze the clinical utility of this predictive model.Methods:A total of 310 elderly ACI patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase (rt-PA) at the Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from May 2022 to May 2024 were selected. The occurrence of HT within 36 hours after intravenous thrombolysis was recorded, and the patients were divided into the HT group and non-HT group based on the presence or absence of HT. Clinical data were compared between the two groups. Lasso-Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the influencing factors of HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients. A nomogram predictive model for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was constructed based on these influencing factors, and the clinical value of the nomogram predictive model was analyzed.Results:The incidence of HT within 36 hours after rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was 29.35%(91/310). The proportions of patients with hypertension, diabetes, anticoagulant use, and atrial fibrillation in the HT group were higher than those in the non-HT group. The onset-to-thrombolysis time (ONT), admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cad), occludin, soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1), and endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1) in the HT group were higher than those in the non-HT group (all P<0.05). Lasso-Logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation, ONT, admission NIHSS score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood NLR, and serum levels of hs-CRP, VE-cad, occludin, sLOX-1, and ESM-1 were independent risk factors for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients (all P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the constructed nomogram predictive model for predicting HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients was 0.914(95% CI: 0.879-0.949), indicating high predictive efficiency. When the threshold probability range was 0.05-0.83, the nomogram predictive model showed good net benefit in predicting HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients and had high clinical utility in predicting the risk of HT. Conclusions:Atrial fibrillation, ONT, admission NIHSS score, pre-thrombolysis peripheral blood NLR, and serum levels of hs-CRP, VE-cad, occludin, sLOX-1, and ESM-1 are independent risk factors for HT after intravenous thrombolysis in elderly ACI patients. The nomogram predictive model constructed based on these factors has high predictive efficiency and clinical utility in predicting the risk of HT.

Objective:To investigate the short-term pulmonary function outcomes in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) following surgery and analyze the influencing factors of poor outcomes.Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled 81 children who had undergone surgery for CDH and were discharged after recovery at the Department of Neonatal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2020 to June 2023. All children had pulmonary function tests before discharge, 6 months to 2 year after discharge. Changes in the pulmonary function parameters at different time points were compared. Based on the results of the final pulmonary function test after discharge, these patients were categorized into a favorable outcome group (32 cases) with normal pulmonary function and an unfavorable outcome group (49 cases) with pulmonary dysfunction. Clinical data of the two groups were compared using two independent samples t-test, rank-sum test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing pulmonary function outcomes. Results:A total of 81 cured and discharged CDH children were included in this study, comprising 34 males (42.0%) and 47 females (58.0%). The first two pulmonary function tests were performed at a mean postnatal age of (30.1±14.1) d (14-75 d) and (8.3±1.3) months (4 months and 14 d to 12 months), respectively. Pre-discharge pulmonary function tests revealed that 13 cases (16.0%) had nearly normal pulmonary function, while 68 cases (84.0%) showed pulmonary function abnormalities with seven cases of restrictive ventilatory dysfunction, 56 cases of obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, and five cases of mixed ventilatory dysfunction. In the children with abnormal pulmonary function before discharge, their second pulmonary function tests showed that some parameters including tidal volume [(7.49±1.35) ml/kg vs. (8.02±2.21) ml/kg], the ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow and expiratory time [(23.21±4.95)% vs. (26.50±5.48)%], the ratio of volume to peak expiratory flow and expiratory volume [(26.41±5.79)% vs. (27.55±5.20)%], respiratory system compliance per kg body weight during single occlusion [(0.93±0.22) ml/(cmH 2O·kg) vs. (0.96±0.25) ml/(cmH 2O·kg), 1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa], functional residual capacity [(52.18±17.83) ml vs. (126.39±26.73) ml], and respiratory system resistance in single occlusion condition [(0.06±0.02) cmH 2O/(ml·s) vs. (0.05±0.01) cmH 2O/(ml·s)] improved after discharge ( t values were－2.41,－6.14,－7.68,－2.26,－18.94, and 4.87, all P<0.05). Eight children with obstructive ventilatory dysfunction were followed up for two years after surgery, of which three had normal lung function and five still showed mild to moderate obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. Logistic regression analysis indicated that liver herniation, severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), low observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio (o/e LHR), grade C/D diaphragmatic defect, and prolonged invasive ventilation were risk factors for poor pulmonary outcomes [ OR(95% CI) were 5.655(1.410-22.676), 5.610 (1.589-19.804),4.183 (1.234-14.180) and 1.195(1.074- 1.329), all P<0.05]. Conclusions:Although lung function parameters of CDH patients show certain improvement after surgery, many children still have mild to moderate obstructive ventilatory dysfunction, requiring long-term follow-up. Prenatal and postnatal indicators such as liver herniation, severe PH, and low o/e LHR can predict the pulmonary outcomes of children with CDH.

Objective:To analyze the changes and management in perioperative circulatory function in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 cases of CDH children who were prenatally consulted and postnatally intubated and transported to the Neonatal Surgery Department of Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from May 2021 to May 2023. The cases were divided into a survival group (42 cases) and a death group (10 cases) based on perioperative mortality. General data, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) grading at different times (on the day of birth and seven days post-birth), as well as vasoactive inotropic score (VIS), treprostinil dosage, and urine output within 48 h post-surgery, were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed using independent sample t-tests, rank-sum tests, Chi-square tests (or Fisher's exact test), or Wilcoxon non-parametric rank-sum tests. Results:(1) The gestational age at the first detection of CDH in the death group was earlier than that in the survival group [(22.9±3.0) weeks vs. (26.3±4.7) weeks, t=－2.17], and the proportion of liver herniation was higher in the death group [6/10 vs. 14% (6/42), χ2=10.56] (both P<0.05). In the death group, six cases underwent surgery, while four cases had unstable vital signs and no surgical opportunity. The proportion of open surgery and the use of patches were higher in the death group than in the survival group [4/6 vs. 14% (6/42); 4/6 vs. 9% (4/42); Fisher's exact test, both P<0.05]. (2) Among the operated cases in the death group, the VIS and treprostinil dosage within 48 h post-surgery were higher than those in the survival group {22.5 points (13.0-36.6 points) vs. 13.0 points (11.5-26.3 points), Z=－2.54; 19.5 ng/(kg·min) [8.0-22.5 ng/(kg·min)] vs. 9.0 ng/(kg·min) [4.8-20.0 ng/(kg·min)], Z=－2.52}; and the urine output was less than that in the survival group {1.4 ml/(kg·h) [0.7-2.0 ml/(kg·h)] vs. 3.0 ml/(kg·h) [2.8-3.7 ml/(kg·h)], Z=－2.61, all P<0.05)}. The LVEF on the day of birth and at 7 days post-birth in the death group were lower than those in the survival group [(63.8±8.5)% vs. (68.7±5.5)%, t=－2.09; (58.0±10.8)% vs. (69.6±4.8)%, t=－4.69; P<0.05], and the proportion of moderate to severe PH was higher than that in the survival group [moderate and severe on the day of birth were 0/10 vs. 33.3% (14/42) and 10/10 vs. 61.9% (26/42), χ2=－2.31; at seven days post-birth were 1/10 vs. 26.2% (11/42) and 9/10 vs. 7.1% (3/42), χ2=4.82; all P<0.05]. Conclusion:Infants with CDH often have circulatory dysfunction after birth, with more severe dysfunction in critically ill CDH infants. The rational use of vasoactive drugs, combined control of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn with multiple drugs, and reasonable volume control may help improve the circulatory function of infants with CDH.