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.

OBJECTIVES: Wild-caught Microtus fortis (M. fortis) at the age of 9-15 months can develop epithelial ovarian cancers similar to human epithelial ovarian cancers under natural conditions during experimental animal breeding, but its pathological types and biological characteristics remain unclear. This study aims to analyze the biological characteristics of spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis, intending to develop M. fortis as an animal model for human epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: The female M. fortis (9-15 months old) with spontaneous ovarian cancer were selected as the experimental group, and healthy M. fortis from the same litter were selected as the control group. The ovarian pathological changes of the two groups were observed by dissection. Blood routine and biochemical indicators were measured by biochemical analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the ovarian cancer tissue of M. fortis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the protein expression of common ovarian cancer markers, and real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze the transcription levels of ovarian cancer-related genes. RESULTS: Spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis mainly affects both ovaries, with tumors appearing solid or cystic. HE staining and histopathological analysis confirmed that the ovarian tumors originated from ovarian surface epithelium. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significantly decreased hemoglobin (P<0.01), hematocrit (P<0.05), albumin (P<0.05), and blood glucose levels (P<0.01), while lymphocyte percentage (P<0.05), monocyte percentage (P<0.05), cholesterol (P<0.01), and progesterone (P<0.01) levels were significantly increased. Expression of ovarian cancer-related genes, including ID3, CDC42, RHOA, RB1CC1, NF1, PIN1, MIB1, PDS5A, MCM7, and MLH1, was significantly downregulated (all P<0.05), while PAX8 gene expression was significantly upregulated (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) protein was mainly distributed throughout the cell, with significantly higher expression in ovarian cancer M. fortis. Tumor protein 53 (TP53) was expressed in both healthy and ovarian cancer M. fortis and was distributed throughout the cell. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta (HNF1B) and progesterone receptor (PR) protein were highly expressed in the ovarian tissue of healthy M. fortis but were significantly reduced in the ovarian cancer M. fortis, though both were located in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis is serous ovarian cancer. Compared to healthy M. fortis, significant differences were observed in ovarian tissue morphology, biochemical indicators, ovarian cancer-related gene expression, and protein expression, which show similarity to the biological characteristics of human serous ovarian cancer. This suggests that M. fortis could be an ideal animal model for studying human serous ovarian cancer.
Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/metabolism* ; Ovary/pathology*

Objective:To investigate the association between albumin-corrected anion gap(ACAG)and short-to long-term death out-comes in patients with acute pancreatitis(AP).Methods:This retrospective study was based on the Medical Information Mart for Inten-sive Care-IV database,and the adult patients who were diagnosed with AP and were admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled in this study.Cox regression risk analysis,receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve analysis,Kaplan-Meier survival curve analy-sis,restricted cubic spline,and subgroup analysis were used to in-vestigate the value of ACAG in predicting the death outcome of AP patients.Results:A total of 444 patients were enrolled in this study,and according to the death status of the patients on day 28 after ad-mission,the patients were divided into survival group with 412 pa-tients and death group with 32 patients,with a mortality rate of 7.2%on day 28 after admission.The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ACAG was an independent predictive factor for all-cause mortality rate on day 28 after admission in AP patients(hazard ratio[HR]=1.18,95%CI=1.05-1.32),while it was not an in-dependent predictive factor for death outcome on days 90(HR=1.05,95%CI=0.97-1.14)and 180(HR=1.01,95%CI=0.94-1.09)and at 1 year(HR=1.02,95%CI=0.95-1.10).The ROC curve analysis showed that ACAG had an area under the ROC curve(AUC)of 0.732(95%CI=0.632-0.832)in predicting 28-day death outcome,which was better than that of AG(AUC=0.665,95%CI=0.550-0.781)and serum albumin(Alb)(AUC=0.655,95%CI=0.550-0.761)and was similar to that of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score(AUC=0.745,95%CI=0.651-0.838).The ROC curve showed that the optimal cut-off value of ACAG was 21.375.Based on the cut-off value of ACAG of 21.375,the patients were divided into high-value group and normal-value group,and the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the patients with a high level of ACAG had a significantly higher mortality rate than those with normal ACAG(P<0.001).The subgroup analysis showed that the results were stable.Conclusion:ACAG can be used as an independent pre-dictive factor for all-cause mortality rate on day 28 after admission in AP patients,with a better efficacy than AG and Alb and a similar efficacy to SOFA.However,it is not significantly associated with 90-day,180-day,and 1-year death outcomes in AP patients.

Objective:To investigate the protective mechanism of cerium oxide nanoparticles(CeO2 NPs)against acute pancreatitis(AP),with a focus on their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Methods:CeO2 NPs were characterized by transmission elec-tron microscopy(TEM)and dynamic light scattering.In in vitro experiments,cell counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay,flow cytometry,and Western blotting were used to validate the role of CeO2 NPs in preventing the apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells.In in vivo experi-ments,C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group,AP group,AP+CeO2 group,SAP group,and SAP+CeO2 group to investigate the mechanism of action of CeO2 NPs in alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress in AP mice.Results:CeO2 NPs demonstrated rela-tively good stability and biocompatibility,with a particle size of(50±4)nm on TEM.In vitro experiments showed that CeO2 NPs sig-nificantly reduced the apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells by alleviating lipid peroxidation and maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential.In vivo experiments showed that CeO2 NPs could reduce the serum levels of amylase,lipase,and inflammatory cytokines(in-terleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α).This result might be related to the regulation of the IKK/P53/Bcl-2 pathway.CeO2 NPs re-duced the production of reactive oxygen species and enhanced anti-oxidant response by regulating the Nrf-2 signaling pathway.Con-clusion:CeO2 NPs exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by regulating the IκB kinase/tumor protein p53/B-cell lymphoma 2(IKK/P53/bcl-2)and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related(Nrf-2)signaling pathways,thereby showing promising potential for the treatment of AP.

With the rapid development of population aging in various countries around the world,the health and elderly care industry has been paid high attention.The standardization of smart health and elderly care technology and services is particularly important.This paper firstly reviewed the policies related to healthy elderly care in China.By analyzing the industrial standards and provincial standards issued,this paper focused on the policies proposed by the Shanghai Municipal Government for the standardization of smart health and elderly care,as well as the researches on the standard system and the construction of standard families.Shanghai group standards in the field of smart health and elderly care were summarized,including the guidelines for the construction of standard systems,elderly care service platforms,community elderly cafeterias,portable health monitoring terminals,indoor sports services,and home-based elderly care safety monitoring.A series of case analyses of the standardized implementation of the above aspects were also provided.Through standardization research and practice in recent years,it has been fully demonstrated that the standard research plays an important leading role in the field of smart health and elderly care.

Objective:In critical care medicine, extubation is a pivotal step in the management of mechanically ventilated patients. Accurately determining the optimal timing for extubation is essential for minimizing complications and improving patient survival rates. However, reliable indicators to predict clinical outcomes following extubation remain scarce. This study aims to identify a novel and robust predictor of extubation success in critically ill patients, thereby providing clinicians with more precise decision-making support.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed data from adult patients who underwent mechanical ventilation and were evaluated for extubation across six intensive care units (ICUs) at Xiangya Third Hospital of Central South University between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients with a history of difficult airway, upper airway obstruction, or neuromuscular disorders affecting respiratory function were excluded. The primary outcome was the reintubation rate within 24 hours post-extubation. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, while between-group differences were assessed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Significant predictors identified in univariate analysis were further evaluated via multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic accuracy of the maximum inspiratory pressure/body mass index (MIP/BMI) ratio was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, with the Youden index employed to establish the optimal cutoff value. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to compare extubation success rates between groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V28.0 and Stata v.16.0. Results:Diabetes comorbidity ( OR: 8.181, 95% CI: 1.659–40.338) and MIP/BMI ( OR: 0.140, 95% CI: 0.042–0.469) were identified as independent predictors of reintubation. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for MIP/BMI was 0.753, demonstrating good predictive accuracy. The optimal cutoff value for MIP/BMI was 1.26 cmH 2O/(kg·m 2), with a sensitivity of 55.3% and specificity of 92.3%. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher reintubation rate in the low MIP/BMI group compared to the high MIP/BMI group ( P = 0.009), further validating its predictive utility. Conclusions:This study establishes MIP/BMI as a novel and clinically valuable predictor of extubation outcomes in critically ill patients. A cutoff value of 1.26 cmH 2O/(kg·m 2) was found to best predict successful extubation.

Objective     To investigate the effects of different types of tricuspid regurgitation, implantation positions, and device models on the treatment outcomes of K-Clip for tricuspid regurgitation using numerical simulations. Methods     Three-dimensional reconstruction of the heart model was performed based on CT images. Two different regurgitation orifices were obtained by modifying the standard parameterized tricuspid valve leaflets and chordae tendineae. The effects of different K-Clip models at different implantation positions (posterior leaflet midpoint, anterior-posterior commissure, anterior leaflet midpoint, posterior septal commissure) were simulated using commercial explicit dynamics software Ls-Dyna. Conclusion     For the two types of regurgitation in this study, clipping at the posterior leaflet midpoint resulted in a better reduction of the regurgitation orifice (up to 75% reduction in area). Higher clamping forces were required for implantation at the anterior leaflet midpoint and posterior septal commissure, which was unfavorable for the smooth closure of the clipping components. There was no statistical difference in the treatment outcomes between the 18T and 16T K-Clip components, and the 16T component required less clamping force. Therefore, the use of the 16T K-Clip component is recommended.

Objective:To understand the serotype distribution, drug resistance and molecular characterization of invasive non-typhoid Salmonella (iNTS) in Guangdong Province from 2018 to 2022 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of blood flow infection caused by Salmonella. Methods:Serological identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and whole genome sequencing were performed on Salmonella isolated from blood and stool samples in Guangdong from 2018 to 2022. Simultaneously, annotated the sequencing results for drug resistance genes and virulence factors by a microbial gene annotation system. Results:The 136 iNTS strains were divided into 25 serotypes, and Salmonella enteritidis accounted for 38.24% (52/136). The OR of other iNTS serotypes were calculated with Salmonella typhimurium as the control. The OR values of Oreninburg, Rysson, and Pomona serotypes were the highest, which were 423.50, 352.92, and 211.75, respectively. The drug resistance rate of iNTS was 0.74%-66.91%, which was lower than that of non-iNTS (3.90%-77.21%). The main iNTS of drug resistance were ampicillin and tetracycline, with resistance rates of 66.91% (91/136) and 50.00% (68/136), respectively, while the resistance rates to ciprofloxacin (5.88%,8/136), ceftazidime (5.88%,8/136), gentamicin (5.13%,7/136) and cefoxitin (0.74%, 1/136) were relatively low. iNTS carried a variety of drug-resistance genes and virulence factors, but no standard virulence factor distribution has been found. MLST cluster analysis showed that iNTS was divided into 26 sequence types, and ST11 accounted for 38.24% (52/136). Conclusions:The iNTS strains in Guangdong were dominated by Salmonella enteritidis, of which three serotypes, Oreninburg, Rison, and Pomona, may be associated with a higher risk of invasive infection during 2018 to 2022 . iNTS was sensitive to clinical first-line therapeutic drugs (cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones), with highly diverse sequences and clear phylogenetic branches. ST11 was the local dominant clone group.

Objective:To observe the changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level in myocardial tissue of pre-treatment mice with sepsis myocardial injury by electroacupuncture at Zusanli point, and to explore the protective effect and possible mechanism of electroacupuncture on myocardial injury in sepsis.Methods:Twenty male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group (NC group), sepsis model group (LPS group), electroacupuncture group (EA group) and electroacupuncture + fluoxetine group (EA+FLU group) by random number table method, with 5 mice in each group. The myocardial injury model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 g/L. The NC group was intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. 3 days before mold making, EA group and EA+FLU group were electrocuted at Zusanli point on both sides for 15 minutes, once a day for 3 days. The EA+FLU group was intraperitoneally injected fluoxetine 1.4 g/L before electroacupuncture. After modeling, the cardiac histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukins (IL-6, IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the content of 5-HT in myocardial tissue, myocardial injury markers MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and lactic acid in myocardial tissue were detected. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT), hexokinase 2 (HK2) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in myocardial tissue. GLUT4 expression in myocardial tissue was detected by immunofluorescence assay.Results:Compared with NC group, the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, myocardial 5-HT content, myocardial tissue injury markers CK-MB, cTnI in LPS group and EA+FLU group were significantly increased. Compared with LPS group, the above indexes in EA group were significantly decreased [IL-6 (ng/L): 443.03±156.16 vs. 19?843.75±0.00, IL-1β (ng/L): 75.72±10.60 vs. 894.66±350.88, TNF-α (ng/L): 46.17±4.71 vs. 533.01±170.58, 5-HT (μg/L): 161.19±5.96 vs. 244.74±14.38, CK-MB (ng/L): 468.21±12.46 vs. 662.02±22.54, cTnI (ng/L): 0.83±0.05 vs. 0.99±0.08, all P < 0.05]. Compared with NC group, the levels of ATP in myocardium of LPS group, EA group and EA+FLU group were significantly decreased, the levels of lactic acid in myocardium were significantly increased. Compared with LPS group, the level of ATP in myocardium of EA group was significantly increased, the level of lactic acid in myocardium was significantly decreased [ATP (mmol/L): 0.10±0.01 vs. 0.08±0.01, lactic acid (mmol/L): 56.03±1.07 vs. 72.45±4.32, both P < 0.05]. Compared with NC group, the mRNA expression of HK2 in myocardium of LPS group was significantly increased, and the mRNA expressions of GLUT4 and 5-HTT were significantly decreased. Compared with LPS group, the mRNA expression of HK2 in myocardium of EA group was significantly decreased, the mRNA expressions of GLUT4 and 5-HTT were significantly increased [HK2 mRNA (relative expression level): 0.73±0.19 vs. 1.82±0.57, GLUT4 mRNA (relative expression level): 1.00±0.33 vs. 0.47±0.18, 5-HTT mRNA (relative expression level): 1.18±0.31 vs. 0.38±0.15, all P < 0.05]. Compared with NC group, the fluorescence intensity of GLUT4 in LPS group and EA+FLU group were significantly decreased. Compared with LPS group, the fluorescence intensity of GLUT4 in EA group was significantly enhanced. Conclusions:Electroacupunctureat Zusanli can reduce the content of 5-HT in myocardial tissue of sepsis mice, and its regulatory mechanism may be related to the regulation of 5-HTT and GLUT4.

Objective To explore characteristics of co-infection of Chlamydia pneumoniae(Cpn)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),and identify their effect on SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammatory response.Methods Patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)who received treatment in a hospital in Chenzhou City from December 20,2022 to February 20,2023 were selected.According to the severity of COVID-19,severe and critical cases were classified as the severe symptom group,while mild and moderate cases were classified as the mild symptom group.Meanwhile,according to the age of patients(≥18 years old as adults,＜18 years old as juveniles),they were divided into the adult severe symptom group,adult mild symptom group,juvenile severe symptom group,and juvenile mild symptom group.Propensity score was adopted to match age,gender,and under-lying diseases of patients in severe symptom and mild symptom group in a 1∶1 ratio.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),throat swabs,and serum specimens of patients were collected.Cpn IgG/IgM antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),levels of 12 common cytokines(including interleukin-8[IL-8])in BALF were detected by flow cytometry,differences among groups were compared.Results A total of 102 patients were included,with 61 severe and critical(severe symptom)patients,as well as 41 mild and moderate(mild symp-tom)patients.There were 71 patients aged ≥18 years and 31 juvenile patients aged＜18 years.There were 39 pa-tients in the adult severe symptom group and 32 in the adult mild symptom group,and 30 pairs were successfully matched through propensity score analysis.There were 22 patients in the juvenile severe symptom group and 9 in the juvenile mild symptom group,and 8 pairs were successfully matched through propensity score analysis.Among COVID-19 patients,the positive rates of Cpn IgG and IgM were 36.27％(n=37)and 8.82％(n=9),respective-ly,with 1 case positive for both Cpn IgG and IgM.The level of interferon(IFN)-α in serum specimens from adult patients with severe symptom combined with positive Cpn IgG was higher than that of IgG negative patients(P=0.037).There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of other cytokines in BALF and serum speci-mens between the two groups of patients(all P＞0.05).The levels of IL-8 and IL-17 in serum specimens of patients with positive Cpn IgG in the adult mild symptom group were both higher than those in Cpn IgG negative patients(both P＜0.05).The levels of IL-8 in both BALF and serum specimens from Cpn IgM positivity patients in the ju-venile mild symptom group were higher than those from patients with negative Cpn IgM(both P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis results showed that Cpn IgG and IgM positivity were not risk factors for the development of se-vere COVID-19.Conclusion Combined Cpn infection is not a risk factor for the development of severe symptom in COVID-19 patients,and Cpn infection has limited impact on the secretion of inflammatory factors caused by SARS-CoV-2.