BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporters-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors significantly improve major adverse cardiovascular events in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients, but the exact mechanism is unknown. Ferritinophagy is a special form of selective autophagy that participates in ferroptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ferritinophagy was activated during the occurrence of HFpEF, and whether canagliflozin (CANA) could inhibite ferritinophagy. METHODS: We reared Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats on a high-salt diet to construct a hypertensive HFpEF model, and simultaneously administered CANA intervention. Then we detected indicators related to ferritinophagy. RESULTS: The expression of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), as well as microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3 (LC3), Bcl-2 interacting protein 1 (Beclin-1) and p62, were upregulated in HFpEF rats, accompanied by the downregulation of ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), upregulation of mitochondrial iron transporter sideroflexin1 (SFXN1) and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Above changes were diminished by CANA. CONCLUSION Ferritinophagy is activated in HFpEF rats and then inhibited by CANA, leading to HFpEF benefits. The inhibition of ferritinophagy could provide new prospective targets for the prevention and treatment of HFpEF, and provide new ideas for investigating the mechanism of cardiovascular benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Objective:To summarized the clinical characteristics and surgical management of anterior cervical enterogenic in pediatric patients. Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 9 children with pathologically confirmed anterior cervical enterogenic cysts（including bronchogenic and esophagogenic subtypes） treated at the Children's Hospital of Shandong University（Jinan Children's Hospital） between January 1, 2020, and November 30, 2023. Results:Nine patients（6 males and 3 females） were involved in this study, aged 14 days to 10 years old. There were 4 cases on the left side, 4 on the right side, and 1 in the middle of the neck. All patients presented with neck masses. The patients were followed up from 3 months to 35 months after surgery and recovered well, with no recurrence or complications observed. Conclusion:①Anterior intestinal cysts in children are rare and easy to be misdiagnosed. ②Concurrent branchial cleft fistulas or associated anomalies may coexist, necessitating comprehensive evaluation. ③Preoperative diagnosis is not easy and mainly depends on pathological diagnosis. ④The treatment of anterior cervical enterogenic cysts in children is surgical resection of the lesion.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Neck ; Cysts/surgery*

Objective:To explore the possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin.Methods:ApoE -/-mice fed on Western diet were randomly assigned into the model group ( n=10) and the canagliflozin group ( n=10). C57BL/6J mice fed on normal diet were chosen as the control group ( n=10). Mice in the canagliflozin group were gavaged with canagliflozin for 14 weeks. The presence and severity of atherosclerosis were evaluated with HE and oil red O stainings in aortic root section slices. PCR assay was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of nitric oxide synthase. Hepatic transcriptome analysis and hepatic amino acid detection were conducted using RNA-seq and targeted LC-MS, respectively. Results:HE staining and oil red O staining of the aortic root showed that AS models were successfully established in ApoE -/-mice fed on Western diet for 14 weeks. Canagliflozin alleviated the severity of atherosclerosis in pathology. Hepatic transcriptome analysis indicated that canagliflozin impacted on amino acid metabolism, especially arginine synthesis in ApoE -/-mice. Targeted metabolomics analysis of amino acids showed that canagliflozin reduced hepatic levels of L-serine, L-aspartic acid, tyrosine, L-hydroxyproline, and L-citrulline, but raised the hepatic level of L-arginine. Compared to the model group, the canagliflozin group exhibited higher serum arginine and nitric oxide levels as well as elevated nitric oxide mRNA expression in aortic tissues ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Canagliflozin regulated the amino acid metabolism, reduced the levels of glucogenic amino acids,and promoted the synthesis of arginine in atherosclerotic mice.

Coronaviruses of the genus Coronavirus contain a variety of human pathogenic viruses, and the development of anti-coronavirus drugs is of great value. The development of antiviral drugs targeting host cells is not only helpful for the development of new antiviral strategies, but also for solving problems such as drug resistance due to viral mutations. Our preliminary study identified that cell cycle-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) involved in coronavirus replication, for which they would be potential anticoronaviral targets. In this study, we found that the broad-spectrum CDK inhibitor flavopiridol significantly inhibited severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity. Further studies showed that flavopiridol suppressed the RNA synthesis efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp. In addition, flavopiridol effectively restricted the replication of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43). Therefore, our study suggested that the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol may be a potential anticoronaviral drug.

Objective:To explore the effects of canagliflozin on cardiac function and its regulation of ferroptosis in rats with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods:Thirty-two 7-week-old Dahl salt-sensitive rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups: the control group (fed with low-salt diet), the HFpEF group (fed with high-salt diet), the canagliflozin 20 group (fed with high-salt diet and 20 mg·kg -1·d -1 canagliflozin), and the canagliflozin 30 group (fed with high-salt diet and 30 mg·kg -1·day -1 canagliflozin). Body weight and blood pressure of the rats in each group were monitored. Metabolic cage tests were conducted at the10 th week of the experiment, and echocardiography was performed at the 12 th week, after which the rats were killed. Blood and left ventricular samples were collected. HE staining, Masson staining, Prussian blue iron staining, and reactive oxygen species staining were performed to observe the cardiomyocyte size and shape, degree of interstitial fibrosis, iron staining, reactive oxygen species production under optical microscope. The ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes was observed under electron microscope. Western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the expression levels of proteins and mRNA related to ferroptosis in left ventricular myocardial tissue of rats in each group. Results:After 1 week of adaptive feeding, all rats survived. Metabolic cage results showed that compared with control group, rats in the HFpEF group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group had more food intake, water intake and urine output, and lower body weight (all P<0.05). These changes were more pronounced in canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group than in HFPEF group, and only the body weight at the 12 th week showed a statistically significant difference between canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group ( P<0.05). The blood pressure of 6 th week and 12 th week, heart weight and left ventricular corrected mass of 12 th week of rats in HFpEF group were higher than those in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, while the ratio of early mitral valve peak velocity to late mitral valve peak velocity of 12 th week was lower (all P<0.05). HE and Masson staining showed that compared to control group, the myocardial fibers in the left ventricular myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group were disordered, with larger cell diameter ((0.032±0.004) mm vs. (0.023±0.003) mm, P<0.05), irregular shape, obvious proliferation of interstitial collagen fibers, and higher collagen volume fraction (0.168±0.028 vs. 0.118±0.013, P<0.05). Compared with HFpEF group, rats in the canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 had more orderly arranged myocardial fibers, more regular cardiomyocyte shape, smaller cell diameter, and lower collagen volume fraction ( P<0.05). It was observed under electron microscopy that, compared to control group, most of the striated muscles in myocardial tissue of HFpEF group were broken, and the Z line and M line could not be clearly distinguished, some changes such as mitochondrial swelling, membrane thickening, cristae reduction or even disappearance occurred. In the canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, the arrangement of striated muscles in the myocardial tissue of rats tended to be more regular, and the morphological changes of mitochondria were milder. Prussian blue iron staining results showed that the iron content in myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group was higher than that in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group. Reactive oxygen species staining results showed that the reactive oxygen species content in the myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group was higher than that of control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group. Biochemical analysis of myocardial tissue showed that Fe 2+ and malondialdehyde content in myocardial tissue of rats in HFpEF group were higher than those in control group, canagliflozin 20 group and canagliflozin 30 group, while glutathione content was lower (all P<0.05). Western blot and RT-qPCR detection results showed that compared to control group, rats in HFpEF group had higher expression levels of transferrin receptor 1 (protein relative expression level: 1.37±0.16 vs. 0.31±0.12), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (protein relative expression level: 1.31±0.15 vs. 0.63±0.09) protein and mRNA, and lower expression levels of ferritin heavy chain 1 (protein relative expression level: 0.45±0.08 vs. 1.41±0.15) protein and mRNA (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in these indicators between canagliflozin 20 group and the canagliflozin 30 group (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 protein and mRNA expression in myocardial tissue of rats in four groups( P>0.05). Conclusion:Canagliflozin improves cardiac function in HFpEF rats by regulating the ferroptosis mechanism.

Objective To establish an evaluation system of pathogen detection rate of hospitalized patients before antimicrobial treatment based on process and outcome indicators,and study its application effect.Methods Hospi-talized patients with therapeutic antimicrobial treatment in a tertiary first-class hospital from July 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the study objects.Difference in process and outcome indicators were compared between before(Ju-ly-December 2022,control group)and after(January-June 2023,intervention group)the implementation of inter-vention in the evaluation system for pathogen detection rate of hospitalized patients before antimicrobial treatment.Results 41 577 and 27 052 hospitalized patients received therapeutic antimicrobial agents were included in the inter-vention group and control group,respectively.Pathogen detection rate and the accurate pathogen detection rate in the intervention group were both higher than those in the control group(74.2％vs 62.8％and 90.3％vs 82.5％,respectively),both with statistically significant differences(both P＜0.001).The goal achievement rate and im-provement rate for pathogen detection rate were 237.5％and 18.2％respectively,the goal achievement rate and im-provement rate for accurate pathogen detection rate were 104.0％and 9.5％respectively.For the process indica-tors,the conformity rate of detection and diagnosis,accurate collection rate,timely transfer rate,acceptance rate of pathogen specimens in the intervention group were all higher than those in the control group,differences were all statistically significant(all P＜0.001).For the outcome indicators,detection rates of targeted indicators and blood culture specimens,pathogen detection rate before treatment of restricted and special grade antimicrobial agent,as well as detection rate of sterile body fluid specimens in the intervention group were all higher than those in the con-trol group,with statistical significance(all P＜0.05).In addition,the positive rate of blood culture specimens in-creased from 18.5％before intervention to 21.7％after intervention,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion The establishment of indicator evaluation system can improve the detection rate and accurate detection rate of pathogens before antimicrobial treatment,as well as the management quality and connotation of indicators.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a recognition protein for N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), mediating the stability of downstream mRNA, and is a promising anti-tumor target. Based on the lead compound 1g from previous screening, this study designed and synthesized 52 IGF2BP2 small molecule inhibitors using thiazole hydrazone as the parent nucleus. Among them, 9g, 10g, 37g, 47g and 52g showed good inhibitory activities. This work represents an initial exploration in the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting IGF2BP2, using thiazolehydrazone as the core structure. It lays a foundation for subsequent related research.

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD). Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated. Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio. Conclusion Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.

Purpose/Significance To construct a specialized database for inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system(CNS),so as to contribute to clinical research and improve the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of primary healthcare institu-tions.Method/Process Using the internet to collect medical data,after processing and analysis,the CNS inflammatory demyelinating disease database is constructed.Using statistical analysis,natural language processing(NLP),artificial intelligence(AI)image recog-nition and data visualization and other technologies,the database information is integrated and analyzed.Result/Conclusion A standard-ized big database for CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases is constructed,which enables visualization of clinical research data,pro-vides patient education and specialist training,and facilitates multi-center teleconsultations.The establishment of a specialized database for the CNS inflammatory demyelinating disease can promote the transformation of medical research achievements,provide references for future real-world clinical research,optimize the process of diagnosis and treatment,and improve the clinical capability of primary healthcare institutions.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]