Objective: To analyze the status of Treponema pallidum (TP) infection among blood donors in Hefei area by evaluating anti-TP reactive donors, and to provide data support for blood screening strategies, evaluation of reagent application, and public health prevention and control strategies. Methods: TPPA confirmation test were performed on 338 anti-TP positive samples of voluntary blood donors at Anhui Blood Center from February to April 2022, July to October 2022, February to June 2023. RPR tests were conducted on samples positive for TPPA. The test results, co-reactivity of TP with HBV, HCV, and HIV, and demographic characteristics of the donors were statistically analyzed. Results: The unqualified rate of anti-TP among blood donors in Hefei area was 0.30% (405/133 587), and the positive rate for TPPA was 67.46% (228/338). Among the TPPA-positive donors, 31.67% were RPR-positive. The co-positive rates of HBV, HCV and HIV in anti-TP reactive blood donors were 0.74% (3/405), 0.49% (2/405), and 1.73% (7/405), respectively, with HIV copositivity being the most common. Most co-positive donors were males aged 31-50 years with a high school education or lower, and all were first-time whole blood donors. Conclusion: The anti-TP unqualified rate among blood donors in Hefei area is at a low-to-mederate level. HIV is the most common co-infection with TP among anti-TP positive donors. The majority of co-infected donors are middle-aged men donating whole blood for the first time.

With reference to the Information and Documentation-Resource Description (GB/T 3792-2021) and Bibliographical Description for Ancient Chinese Books (GB/T 3792.7-2008) and other cataloging standards and rules, drawing on the practical experience of cataloging ancient TCM books, Bibliographical Cataloging for Ancient TCM Books was formulated. This standard specifies the entry items and their order of ancient TCM books, cataloging identifier, cataloging text, cataloging information source, and cataloging item details. The standard can provide standardized and unified guiding principles and methods for the work of ancient TCM books, and promote the sharing and utilization of ancient TCM books.

Although clinical evidence suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an established major risk factor for heart failure, it remains unexplored whether sleep disorder-caused hepatic damage contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, our findings revealed that sleep fragmentation (SF) displayed notable hepatic detrimental phenotypes, including steatosis and oxidative damage, along with significant abnormalities in cardiac structure and function. All these pathological changes persisted even after sleep recovery for 2 consecutive weeks or more, displaying memory properties. Mechanistically, persistent higher expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) in the liver was the key initiator of SF-accelerated damage phenotypes. SF epigenetically controlled the acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) enrichment at the Nox4 promoter and markedly increased Nox4 expression in liver even after sleep recovery. Moreover, fine coordination of the circadian clock and hepatic damage was strictly controlled by BMAL1-dependent Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) transcription after circadian misalignment. Accordingly, genetic manipulation of liver-specific Nox4 or Sirt1, along with pharmacological intervention targeting NOX4 (GLX351322) or SIRT1 (Resveratrol), could effectively erase the epigenetic modification of Nox4 by reducing the H3K27ac level and ameliorate the progression of liver pathology, thereby counteracting SF-evoked sustained CVD. Collectively, our findings may pave the way for strategies to mitigate myocardial injury from persistent hepatic detrimental memory in diabetic patients.

A major obstacle in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is sleep fragmentation (SF), which negatively affects testicular function. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that SF induces testicular damage through a mechanism involving lipid metabolism, specifically mediated by melatonin (MEL) receptor 1a (MT1). T2DM mice with SF intervention displayed several deleterious phenotypes such as apoptosis, deregulated lipid metabolism, and impaired testicular function. Unexpectedly, sleep recovery (SR) for 2 consecutive weeks could not completely abrogate SF's detrimental effects on lipid deposition and testicular function. Interestingly, MEL and MT1 agonist 2-iodomelatonin (2IM) effectively improved lipid homeostasis, highlighting MEL/2IM as a promising therapeutic drug for SF-trigged testicular damage. Mechanistically, MEL and 2IM activated FGFR1 and sequentially restrained the crosstalk and physical interaction between TAB1 and TAK1, which ultimately suppressed the phosphorylation of TAK1 to block lipid deposition and cell apoptosis caused by SF. The ameliorating effect of MEL/2IM was overtly nullified in Fgfr1 knockout (Fgfr1-KO ^+/- ) diabetic mice. Meanwhile, testicular-specific overexpression of Tak1 abolished the protective effect of FGF1^mut on diabetic mouse testis. Our findings offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the testicular pathogenesis associated with SF and propose a novel therapeutic approach for addressing male infertility in T2DM.

Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriopathy (CUA), is a rare arteriosclerosis disease characterized by skin ischemia and necrosis with severe pain, which occurs in end-stage renal disease patients. The efficacy of sodium thiosulfate (STS) in CUA has been widely verified and affirmed. However, there is no unified standard for the use of STS at home and abroad.This article introduced a case of severe CUA patient who had achieved good results under different STS usage treatments, and summarized the different STS usage treatments for CUA combined with literature.

Objective To investigate the effect of Jiawei Simiao powder on the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway through miR-146a in monosodium urate(MSU)crystal-induced RAW264.7 macrophage inflammation models,and to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism.Methods A cell model of gouty arthritis was established by inducing RAW264.7 cells with MSU crystals.Cells were divided into control,model,Jiawei Simiao powder,and colchicine groups and cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 method.Levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Expression levels of miR-146a miRNA and TLR4,myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88),TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6),and NF-κB p65 mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification technology,and protein expression levels of TLR4,MyD88,TRAF6,and phospho(p)-NF-κB p65 were evaluated by Western blot.Results miR-146a expression was significantly decreased in the model group compared with the control group(P＜0.01),while mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4,MyD88,and TRAF6,and protein expression of p-NF-κB p65,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α were significantly increased(P＜0.01).In contrast,miR-146a expression was significantly increased(P＜0.01)and mRNA and protein expression of TLR4,MyD88,and TRAF6,and p-NF-κB p65 protein expression(P＜0.01),as well as IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α levels(P＜0.05)were significantly decreased in the Jiawei Simiao powder and colchicine groups.Conclusions Jiawei Simiao powder may alleviate MSU crystal-induced macrophage inflammatory responses by upregulating miR-146a,suppressing TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway activation,and decreasing secretion of inflammatory factors.

Objective:To explore the related clinical characteristics of myocardial injury caused by venomous snake bites, and to provide a reference for cardiac protection and treatment in patients with venomous snake bites.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 294 patients with venomous snake bites admitted to Chongqing Emergency Medical Enter from January 2020 to December 2022. They were divided into the myocardial injury group ( n=90) and the non-myocardial injury group ( n=204) according to the presence or absence of abnormal electrocardiogram or/and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The research subjects were divided into the mild group ( n=213), the moderate group ( n=57), and the severe group ( n=24) according to the severity of clinical manifestations. The time from bite to admission, laboratory indicators related to myocardial injury, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram of each group were analyzed and compared. Myocardial injury and electrocardiogram manifestations caused by bites from different types of venomous snakes were analyzed. Results:The abnormal electrocardiogram caused by venomous snake bites was mainly manifested as changes in the ST-T segment, and 84 patients showed abnormal electrocardiogram (28.6%). Compared with the non-myocardial injury group, patients in the myocardial injury group were older ( Z=-1.984, P=0.047), the time from bite to admission and the length of hospital stay were longer, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower (all P<0.05). The levels of cTnI, lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (a-HBDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the ratio of the peak of mitral valve velocity E to the peak of early diastolic velocity e at the annulus (E/e) in the myocardial injury group were higher than those in the non-myocardial injury group (all P<0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower than that in the non-myocardial injury group ( Z=-3.160, P=0.02). Compared with the mild group, the age of patients in the severe group was significantly older ( P=0.024), and the time from bite to admission was shown as mild group

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia is the legal technical standard which should be followed during the research, production, use, and administration of drugs. At present, the new edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia is planned to be promulgated and implemented. This article summarizes and analyzes the main characteristics and the content of updates and amendments of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition(Volume Ⅰ), to provide a reference for the correct understanding and accurate implementation the new edition of the pharmacopoeia.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding a crucial position in the medical field. However, the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization, completeness, and accuracy, primarily due to the decentralized distribution of TCM resources. To address these issues, we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery (TCMKD, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/). Seven types of data, including syndromes, formulas, Chinese patent drugs (CPDs), Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs), ingredients, targets, and diseases, were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD. To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine, TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining, enrichment analysis, and network localization and separation. These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights. In addition to its analytical capabilities, a quick question and answer (Q&A) system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently, thereby improving the interactivity of the platform. The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool, offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining. Overall, TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM, delving into the pharmacological foundations of TCM treatments, but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems, extending beyond just TCM.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis in humans and animals. Mtb invades the host′s lungs via airborne transmission, infects macrophages and causes tuberculosis. In some cases, the infection can spread to other tissues and organs. Despite the availability of several drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis, the emergence of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis has led to high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for researchers to develop new anti-tuberculosis drugs that can treat tuberculosis more efficiently. Recent studies have shown that the virulence factors of Mtb play a crucial role in its pathogenicity. These factors primarily include secreted proteins, transcription factors, proteases, stress response proteins, metabolism-associated proteins, and cell-surface components. By evading the host′s immune surveillance through mechanisms such as anti-oxidative stress, regulating nutrient synthesis and metabolism, and modulating host cells apoptosis, Mtb is able to achieve long-term survival and spread with in the host. Understanding the mechanisms of Mtb virulence factors can provide new directions for targeted tuberculosis therapy. Therefore, knowledge of these virulence factors is essential for the development of new vaccines and anti-tuberculosis drugs. In this review, we summarize the latest research progress in the virulence factors of Mtb to provide a reference for targeted treatment of tuberculosis.