Objective To explore the predictive value of lung function test parameters combined with assessment test(CAT)score of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)for acute attack in elderly COPD patients.Methods A total of 150 elderly COPD patients admitted to Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital from June 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively enrolled.According to the diagnostic criteria of acute attack of COPD,the patients were divided into acute attack group(n=45)and stable group(n=105).The clinical basic data,forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory volume in 3 seconds(FEV3),percentage of FEV1 to predicted value(FEV1%),FEV1/FVC and FEV1/FEV3 were compared between the 2 groups.Respiratory symptoms and COPD severity were assessed by St.George's respiratory questionnaire(SGRQ),modified British Medical Research Council respiratory questionnaire(mMRC),and CAT questionnaire.Correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to determine independent risk factors for acute attack in elderly COPD patients.Receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn to evaluate the independent and combined predictive value of risk factors.Results FEV1,FVC,FEV1%,FEV1/FVC,and FEV1/FEV3 in the acute attack group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The scores of SGRQ,mMRC and CAT in the acute attack group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that FEV1,FVC,FEV1%,and FEV1/FVC were negatively correlated with acute attack of COPD,while mMRC and CAT scores were positively correlated with acute attack of COPD(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the decrease of FEV1 and the increases of mMRC and CAT scores were the risk factors of acute attack of COPD in elderly patients.ROC analysis showed that FEV1 and CAT were of high value in independent prediction of acute attack of COPD in elderly patients.Conclusion Lung function test parameters and scores related to various respiratory symptoms in elderly patients with COPD will change significantly during acute attack.FEV1 and CAT are important independent risk factors and predictors of acute attack,which can be used for early monitoring,evaluation and prevention of acute attack in elderly patients with COPD in the future.

Ferroptosis is a type of iron-dependent cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, and its mechanism is associated with iron homeostasis imbalance, lipid peroxidation, and slC7A11-GSH-GPX4 antioxidant system. Ferroptosis plays a key role in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and inhibition of ferroptosis can almost completely inhibit the development of NASH. This article reviews the research advances in the mechanism of ferroptosis and its role in NAFLD/NASH and proposes the research strategies and technical means for ferroptosis, so as to provide a reference for research on the mechanism of NAFLD/NASH.

Objective To investigate the effect of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription on the ultrastructure of hepatocyte mitochondria in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods A total of 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Yishanfu group, and Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription group, with 12 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and the drug groups were administered and modeled since week 2; the rats in the blank group were given normal diet, and those in the other three groups were given high-fat diet. Based on dose conversion between human and animal, the equivalent dose of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription was 1.26 g/100 g body weight, and the equivalent dose of polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules (Yishanfu) was 0.014 18 g/100 g body weight. The rats in the model group were given 0.9% sodium chloride by gavage, those in the Yishanfu group were given polyene phosphatidylcholine suspension by gavage, and those in the traditional Chinese medicine group were given the granules of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription by gavage, once a day for 10 consecutive weeks. A transmission electron microscope was used to observe liver ultrastructure and perform a quantitative analysis. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups; for further pairwise comparison, the least significant difference t -test was used for data with homogeneity of variance, and the Dunnett's T3 was used for data with heterogeneity of variance. Results The model group had a large number of lipid droplets accumulated in hepatocytes, changes in mitochondrial morphology and structure, and reductions in the number of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription group had a significant reduction in lipid droplets in hepatocytes and significant increases in the number of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum compared with the model group, with intact mitochondrial membrane and structure. The Yishanfu group had a reduction in lipid droplets in hepatocytes, an increase in the number of mitochondria, and a reduction in the number of endoplasmic reticulum, with relatively intact mitochondrial membrane and structure. The quantitative analysis showed that compared with the blank group, the model group had a significant increase in the area of lipid droplets and a significant reduction in mitochondria, with a significant difference in mitochondrial density between the two groups (all P < 0.01); after drug intervention, the Yishanfu group had a significant reduction in the area of lipid droplets and a significant increase in the number of mitochondria, with a significant difference in mitochondrial density between the Yishanfu group and the model group (all P < 0.01); compared with the Yishanfu group, the traditional Chinese medicine group had a significantly greater reduction in the area of lipid droplets and a significant increase in the number of mitochondria, with a significant difference in mitochondrial density between the two groups (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription can improve lipid accumulation, increase mitochondrial density, and protect mitochondrial structure and function, with a better clinical effect than Yishanfu.

Objective To investigate the effect of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis of RAW264.7 cells and its mechanism. Methods An in vitro cell model of LPS-induced activated RAW264.7 was established and divided into blank group, model group, high-, middle-, and low-dose Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription groups, and control group. The corresponding drug-containing serum intervention was performed for 24 hours. A scanning electron microscope was used to observe cell morphology, and immunofluorescence assay was used to perform quantitative localization of GSDMD-N. Results The cells in the blank group were round and regular in shape with smooth surface, and those in the control group were swollen, with folds on the surface and gaps in the capsule, which were consistent with the morphology of cell pyroptosis. The cells in the control group had bubbles on the surface with obvious pseudopodia and pores in cell membrane, and those in the high-dose group were not swollen and had a rough surface with pseudopodia, with no obvious pores in cell membrane. The cells in the low- and middle-dose groups were swollen and had a rough surface of cell membrane with pores and pseudopodia. Immunofluorescence assay showed that compared with the blank group, the model group had a significant increase in the positive staining intensity of GSDMD-N, and compared with the model group, the control group and the Traditional Chinese medicine group had a reduction in the positive staining intensity of GSDMD-N. Conclusion Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription can improve the pyroptosis of macrophages and reduce the expression of GSDMD-N.

Objective To reveal the virulence genes and the polymorphisms of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene of Yersinia enterocolitic strains isolated from different districts in Jiangsu Province,2015. Methods Five virulence genes(ail,virF,yadA,ystA and ystB)of Yersinia enterocolitic strains isolated from different districts in Jiangsu Province were detected by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR),and phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene was performed by amplification and sequencing. Results In this study,73 Yersinia enterocolitic strains were collected in Jiangsu Province in 2015.Among them,56(76.7%)strains carried virulence genes,and ail-virF-yadA -ystA -ystB+were the dominate types in diarrhea patients and other hosts.All strains can be clustering into 4 groups according to the phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene.Conclusions The non-pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitic(ystB+)is the dominant strain in Jiangsu province,and the pathogenic strains are also found in this region.The result of phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal 16S rRNA gene and the profiles of virulence genes are highly consistent.