ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali Radix-mediated changes in gut microbiota on treating type 2 diabetes （T2DM）. MethodsA 12-week randomized， placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled eighty patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and poor glycemic control in the Qi deficiency type. All patients received insulin therapy. The observation group （40 cases） was administered with Astragali Radix Granules， while the control group （40 cases） received a placebo. Both treamtents were taken orally twice daily. Changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Serum glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1） levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Glucose metabolism indicators including fasting blood glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial blood glucose （2 h PG），glycated albumin（GA）， and glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c） were evaluated. Pancreatic function was evaluated using fasting C-peptide （FCP）， 2-hour postprandial C-peptide （2 h CP）， and C-peptide area under the curve （AUC_cp）. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores， clinical efficacy， and safety indicators were also observed. ResultsIn terms of glucose metabolism indicators， compared with the baseline， both groups exhibited significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C （P<0.01），while FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp were significantly higher （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after the treatment， the observation group showed significantly lower FPG， 2 h PG， GA and HbA1C（P<0.05， P<0.01），and significantly higher FCP， 2 h CP and AUC_cp （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating that Astragali Radix can improve glucose metabolism. In terms of the diversity of gut microbiota， no significant differences were detected in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes of the two groups compared with their respective baselines. However， compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group demonstrated significant increases in the Chao1， Shannon and Simpson indexes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The β-diversity analysis showed significant separation in gut microbiota composition before and after treatment in both groups， indicating that Astragali Radix can significantly alter the structure and improve the diversity of gut microbiota. At the phylum level， compared with the baseline， both groups showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. The relative abundance of the potentially harmful phylum Proteobacteria was significantly lower in the observation Group after treatment （P<0.01）. Compared with the post-treatment control group， the observation group had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroidota（P<0.01）. No significant difference was found in Firmicutes/Bacteroidota （F/B） ratio between the two groups after treatment， and other phyla showed no significant differences. At the genus level， compared with the baseline， the observation group exhibited a significant increase in Bacteroides （P<0.01） and a significant decrease in Escherichia-Shigella （P<0.01）， whereas no significant difference was seen in the control group . Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group after treatment had a significantly higher relative abundance of Bacteroides （P<0.01）. No significant differences were seen in other genera. Linear discriminant analysis （LDA） identified potential characteristics taxa： in the observation group， Bacteroidota at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Dubosiella at the genus level， in the control group， Proteobacteria at the phylum level as well as Barnesiella and Staphylococcus at the genus level. Correlation analysis based on a heatmap revealed that GLP-1 levels were positively correlated with Firmicutes， F/B ratio and Fusobacterium， and negatively correlated with Bacteroidota， Proteobacteria， Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. In terms of clinical efficacy， compared with the control group， the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher （P<0.05）. Compared with the baseline， the scores for shortness of breath， fatigue， weakness， spontaneous sweating and reluctance to speak significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the score for weakness was significantly lower in the observation group （P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix could improve clinical symptoms and alleviate weakness symptoms. In terms of safety， compared with the baseline， alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels significantly decreased in both groups （P<0.05，P<0.01），indicating that Astragali Radix did not induce any significant abnormalities in liver and kidney functions. ConclusionAstragali Radix demonstrates the potential to significantly improve the gut microbiota environment in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes with Qi deficiency. The therapeutic effect may contribute to glycemic control， possibly mediated by an elevation in GLP-1 level. These findings may support its further clinical investigations and potential applications.

The amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proCNP)is a diagnostic inflam-matory marker clinically used for diagnosing bacterial infections.This study aims to establish a phage display library of single-chain variable fragment(scFv)antibodies against canine NT-proC-NP and to screen for scFvs with high binding affinity to NT-proCNP.Initially,NT-proCNP was prepared using prokaryotic expression system and was used to immunize New Zealand White rab-bits.Upon achieving the desired serum titer,total RNA was extracted from the splenocytes of rab-bits and reverse transcribed into cDNA.Using this cDNA as a template,degenerate primers were employed to amplify the genes of the rabbit antibody light chain variable region(VL)and heavy chain variable region(VH).The VL and VH regions were spliced together to form a complete scFv fragment via overlap extension PCR.The scFv was then ligated into the phagemid pComb3XSS and electroporated into competent E.coli TG1 cells to construct a rabbit-derived anti-NT-proCNP scFv immunological library.This library underwent four rounds of enrichment and screening to isolate specific single-chain antibodies.The selected antibody was subsequently ex-pressed in a soluble form within a prokaryotic system,and its immunological activity was evalua-ted.Using phage display technology,this study successfully identified a single-chain antibody scFv-1-CNP with strong antigen-binding activity and genetic sequence characteristics of scFvs,providing a research direction for further exploration of scFv applications in the detection of NT-proCNP.

Objective:To investigate, for multi-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) patients allergic to dust mites combined with other allergens (pollen, mold, animal dander, etc.), whether the single dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) can improve the specific symptoms caused by other allergens in the patients, and to analyze the relationship between the effectiveness of symptom improvement in these patients and the type, quantity and severity of the allergens.Methods:A multicenter retrospective study was conducted to collect mul-sensitized AR patients from allergy or respiratory departments of 5 hospitals who received house dust mite allergen preparation SCIT for 12 to 36 months and met other inclusion and exclusion criteria from February to July 2024. General clinical data were collected and the perennial or seasonal symptoms before and after treatment were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess whether there was an perennial or allergen-specific symptom improvement (VAS score decrease ≥30%), by which the patients were divided into effective group and ineffective. R software was used to analyze the differences between groups by using Fisher′s exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:A total of 62 patients were enrolled, and the treatment were effective in 39 of them, with an effective rate of 62.9%. For allergen-specific symptoms, the median age of the effective group was higher than that of the ineffective group (12 years old vs. 8 years old, P=0.039), and the effective rate in dust mite specific immunoglobin E (sIgE) grade ≤5 group was higher than that in sIgE grade >5 group (81.6% vs. 45.5%, P=0.008), and the effective rate of mold sIgE grade ≤2 group was higher than that of sIgE grade >2 group (83.3% vs. 28.6%, P=0.045), and there was no statistically significant correlation between the other allergen grades and the effective rate ( P>0.05). For perennial symptoms, the effective rate in the mold grade ≤2 group was higher than that in the sIgE grade >2 group (91.3% vs. 28.6%, P=0.010), and there was no statistically significant correlation between the other allergen grades and the effective rate ( P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between the treatment effectiveness of perennial or allergen-specific symptoms and the number of combined allergens, the grade of skin test, and the difference between the grade of combined allergens and that of dust mites ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Among the patients with multi-sensitized AR allergic to dust mites included in this study, single dust mite SCIT is effective in some of them, and for allergen-specific symptoms, the effective group was elder, and dust mite sIgE grade 6 and mold sIgE grade ≥2 was related to the low effective rate of SCIT. The present results are insufficient for selecting single or multiple AIT in any type of multi-sensitized patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pharmacodynamics and related mechanisms of Anmei Dan on hippocampus of mice with coronary heart disease complicated with depression.METHODS The coronary heart disease model combined with chronic and unpredictable mild stress depression model was established,and the mice were randomly divided into blank group,model group,low dose group(1.5 g·kg-1),high dose group(3 g·kg-1)and atorvastatin group(0.3 g·kg-1).Sucrose preference test,open field test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes of mice.qPCR and ELISA were employed to ascertain the mR-NA expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the hippocampus.The changes of neurons and Nissl bodies in CA1,CA3 and DG regions of hippocampus were observed by Nissl staining.The expression of key proteins was detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the sucrose preference rate of mice in the model group was decreased(P<0.01),the forced swimming immobility time was extended(P<0.01)and the movement distance in the open field experiment was not significantly changed.The levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG)and low density lipopro-tein cholesterol(LDL-C)were increased significantly(P<0.01)and the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)was decreased significantly(P<0.01).The mRNA level and content of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased(P<0.01).The expression of glutamate receptor 1(GluR1),postsynaptic densitin-95(PSD-95),brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and phosphorylated calmodulin-dependent kinase(p-CaMKⅡ)in hippocampus was decreased(P<0.01).The expression of cytoskeletal activity regulatory protein(Arc)was increased(P<0.01).In the model group,the cell structure was irregular and differ-ent degrees of damage occurred,the Nissl bodies decreased or disappeared,and the cell membrane broke.Compared with the model group,the sucrose preference rate of mice in each administration group was significantly increased(P<0.01),the immobility time in forced swimming experiment was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the levels of TC,TG and LDL-C of mice in Anmei Dan groups and atorvastatin group were decreased(P<0.01),while the level of HDL-C increased(P<0.01).The mRNA levels and con-tent of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in Anmei Dan groups and atorvastatin group were decreased(P<0.01).The expression of GluR1,PSD-95,BDNF and p-CaMKⅡ in hippocampal tissue of Anmei Dan groups were increased(P<0.01),and the expression of Arc was decreased(P<0.01).The morphology and structure of the cells in the Anmei Dan group and the atorvastatin group were improved,with varying degrees of increased Nissl bodies and relatively intact cell membranes.CONCLUSION Anmei Dan can effectively im-prove blood lipids and depression-like behavior of coronary heart disease mice complicated with depression.It can inhibit pro-inflam-matory factors,increase the expression of neurotrophic factors,effectively improve synaptic related proteins,and reduce the damage to neurons,thus effectively preventing the exacerbation of coronary heart disease and depression comorbidity.

Objective:To improve the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in children by analyzing their clinical characteristics and outcomes.Methods:Case summary.The general data, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, liver pathology, treatment and outcomes of 6 AIH children diagnosed at Xi′an Children′s Hospital from January 2019 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All the 6 patients were diagnosed with AIH-1, and 5 of them were female, accounting for 83.3%.The median age of onset was 6.2 years old.Three cases (50.0%) had insidious onset.Elevated hepatic aminotransferase levels were detected incidentally in 2 cases (33.3%).One case (16.7%) presented symptoms resembling those of viral hepatitis.Two cases (33.3%) were accompanied by extrahepatic autoimmune diseases.All the children tested positive for anti-nuclear antibodies with a titer ≥1∶80 or 1∶100.Four cases (66.7%), 3 cases (50.0%), and 1 case (16.7%) tested positive for anti-smooth muscle antibodies, anti-perinuclear neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies and anti-soluble liver antigen, respectively.Liver pathology showed infiltration of lymphocytes-plasma cells and moderate or severe interfacial inflammation in all the 6 cases.Two cases (33.3%) had rosettes.All the patients were given oral corticosteroids combined with Azathioprine or Mycophenolate mofetil.The patients were followed up for 24.8 (12.0-52.0) months, during which 3 cases (50.0%) had partial remission and 3 cases (50.0%) achieved complete remission.Four cases (66.7%) showed transaminase fluctuations during corticosteroid reduction or cessation.Conclusions:Autoantibodies and liver pathology are important evidence for diagnosing AIH in children.Immunosuppressants have a high remission rate in the treatment of this disease, but transaminase fluctuations are prone to occur during corticosteroid reduction or cessation.

Objective:To explore the application effect of visual eye dressings in patients after bilateral strabismus surgery.Methods:A total of 60 patients who underwent bilateral strabismus surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, from March to August 2024, were selected by convenience sampling. The patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. After surgery, the control group was treated with conventional eye dressings, while the observation group was treated with visual eye dressings. The daily living ability, unplanned dressing changes were compared between the two groups.Results:The observation group had higher daily living ability scores and fewer unplanned dressing changes than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The use of visual eye dressings in patients after bilateral strabismus surgery has a positive effect on maintaining daily living ability and reducing the frequency of unplanned dressing changes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pharmacodynamics and related mechanisms of Anmei Dan on hippocampus of mice with coronary heart disease complicated with depression.METHODS The coronary heart disease model combined with chronic and unpredictable mild stress depression model was established,and the mice were randomly divided into blank group,model group,low dose group(1.5 g·kg-1),high dose group(3 g·kg-1)and atorvastatin group(0.3 g·kg-1).Sucrose preference test,open field test and forced swimming test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes of mice.qPCR and ELISA were employed to ascertain the mR-NA expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the hippocampus.The changes of neurons and Nissl bodies in CA1,CA3 and DG regions of hippocampus were observed by Nissl staining.The expression of key proteins was detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the sucrose preference rate of mice in the model group was decreased(P<0.01),the forced swimming immobility time was extended(P<0.01)and the movement distance in the open field experiment was not significantly changed.The levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG)and low density lipopro-tein cholesterol(LDL-C)were increased significantly(P<0.01)and the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)was decreased significantly(P<0.01).The mRNA level and content of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased(P<0.01).The expression of glutamate receptor 1(GluR1),postsynaptic densitin-95(PSD-95),brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and phosphorylated calmodulin-dependent kinase(p-CaMKⅡ)in hippocampus was decreased(P<0.01).The expression of cytoskeletal activity regulatory protein(Arc)was increased(P<0.01).In the model group,the cell structure was irregular and differ-ent degrees of damage occurred,the Nissl bodies decreased or disappeared,and the cell membrane broke.Compared with the model group,the sucrose preference rate of mice in each administration group was significantly increased(P<0.01),the immobility time in forced swimming experiment was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the levels of TC,TG and LDL-C of mice in Anmei Dan groups and atorvastatin group were decreased(P<0.01),while the level of HDL-C increased(P<0.01).The mRNA levels and con-tent of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in Anmei Dan groups and atorvastatin group were decreased(P<0.01).The expression of GluR1,PSD-95,BDNF and p-CaMKⅡ in hippocampal tissue of Anmei Dan groups were increased(P<0.01),and the expression of Arc was decreased(P<0.01).The morphology and structure of the cells in the Anmei Dan group and the atorvastatin group were improved,with varying degrees of increased Nissl bodies and relatively intact cell membranes.CONCLUSION Anmei Dan can effectively im-prove blood lipids and depression-like behavior of coronary heart disease mice complicated with depression.It can inhibit pro-inflam-matory factors,increase the expression of neurotrophic factors,effectively improve synaptic related proteins,and reduce the damage to neurons,thus effectively preventing the exacerbation of coronary heart disease and depression comorbidity.

Objective:To improve the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in children by analyzing their clinical characteristics and outcomes.Methods:Case summary.The general data, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, liver pathology, treatment and outcomes of 6 AIH children diagnosed at Xi′an Children′s Hospital from January 2019 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All the 6 patients were diagnosed with AIH-1, and 5 of them were female, accounting for 83.3%.The median age of onset was 6.2 years old.Three cases (50.0%) had insidious onset.Elevated hepatic aminotransferase levels were detected incidentally in 2 cases (33.3%).One case (16.7%) presented symptoms resembling those of viral hepatitis.Two cases (33.3%) were accompanied by extrahepatic autoimmune diseases.All the children tested positive for anti-nuclear antibodies with a titer ≥1∶80 or 1∶100.Four cases (66.7%), 3 cases (50.0%), and 1 case (16.7%) tested positive for anti-smooth muscle antibodies, anti-perinuclear neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies and anti-soluble liver antigen, respectively.Liver pathology showed infiltration of lymphocytes-plasma cells and moderate or severe interfacial inflammation in all the 6 cases.Two cases (33.3%) had rosettes.All the patients were given oral corticosteroids combined with Azathioprine or Mycophenolate mofetil.The patients were followed up for 24.8 (12.0-52.0) months, during which 3 cases (50.0%) had partial remission and 3 cases (50.0%) achieved complete remission.Four cases (66.7%) showed transaminase fluctuations during corticosteroid reduction or cessation.Conclusions:Autoantibodies and liver pathology are important evidence for diagnosing AIH in children.Immunosuppressants have a high remission rate in the treatment of this disease, but transaminase fluctuations are prone to occur during corticosteroid reduction or cessation.

To analyze the characteristics of outpatient rare disease admissions at Xi′an Children′s Hospital based on the two batches of the China′s Rare Disease Catalogs.

Objective To investigate the potential categories of nutrition literacy in young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with overweight or obesity,and analyze the relationship between various latent categories and dietary motivation,so as to provide references for clinical working staff to develop relevant dietary intervention strategies.Methods A convenient sampling method was used to enroll 270 young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with overweight or obesity from the endocrine department of a tertiary general hospital in Zhenjiang City,Jiangsu province,using basic information questionnaire,Nutrition Literacy Measurement Scale for Chinese adults,and the Regulation of Eating Behaviors Scale to collect data,using latent profile analysis to extract nutrition literacy potential categories,with general data and potential categories as independent variables,dietary motivation as the dependent variable for univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results A total of 262 young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with overweight or obesity completed the survey,and their nutrition literacy could be divided into 3 potential categories:low nutrition literacy group(16.41％),transformation dilemma group(54.96％),and middle and high nutrition literacy group(28.63％).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that residency style,potential categories of nutrition literacy and presence of diabetic complications were the influencing factors of dietary motivation in young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with overweight or obesity(P＜0.05).Conclusion There was a group heterogeneity in nutrition literacy in young and middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with overweight or obesity.Clinical working staff should provide targeted interventions based on the patient's potential categories of nutrition literacy to stimulate ongoing motivation to maintain a healthy diet.