Anemarrhenae Rhizoma is bitter, sweet, and cold in nature, and has the effects of clearing heat, dispelling fire, nourishing Yin, and moisturizing dryness. It is associated with the lung, stomach, and kidney meridians, and is mainly distributed in the northwestern and northern regions of China. Modern research has shown that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma contains various chemical active constituents, including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, lignans, volatile oils, and alkaloids. These constituents exhibit pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. However, there have been few comprehensive summaries of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in recent years, which has limited its in-depth research and development. The complexity of traditional Chinese medicine constituents, along with their quality and efficacy, is easily influenced by processing, preparation, and the growing environment and resource distribution. This paper summarizes the resources, chemical constituents, and pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, and predicts its quality markers(Q-markers) from several aspects, including the specificity of chemical composition, properties related to preparation and active ingredients, measurability of chemical components, compounding environment, construction of the ″active ingredient-target″ network pathway, and differences in active ingredient content from different origins and parts. These predicted Q-markers may provide a basis for improving the quality evaluation system of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma.
Anemarrhena/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Humans ; Animals ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of dyskeratosis congenita (DC) in children, and to provide clinical experience for the diagnosis and treatment of DC. METHODS: The clinical data of children with dyskeratosis congenital admitted to Children's Hospital of Soochow University from May 2016 to May 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed, the patients were followed up and the related literature was reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 4 patients were enrolled. There were 1 male and 3 females. Two patients had spontaneous TINF2 mutation, one had TERT mutation, and one had DKC1 mutation. All of them had bone marrow hypoplasia. Two patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and both had good engraftment. Anti-rejection drugs were stopped, and they survived more than 5 years of follow-up. One patient was followed up in outpatient department, and another patient was scheduled to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSION The onset of dyskeratosis congenita in children is insidious, so genetic diagnosis is particularly important. c.853_861delGTCATGCTG (p.285-287del) was a new mutation site of TINF2, which expanded the gene mutation spectrum of DC. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for bone marrow failure, and the treatment of other organ complications depends on further genetic exploration.
Humans ; Dyskeratosis Congenita/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Mutation ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Telomerase/genetics* ; Telomere-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Child ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Child, Preschool ; Prognosis ; Exome Sequencing

Air Pollution/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of mucin 1 (MUC1) on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its regulatory mechanism. MethodsThe 60 NPC and paired para-cancer normal tissues were collected from October 2020 to July 2021 in Quanzhou First Hospital. The expression of MUC1 was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in the patients with PNC. The 5-8F and HNE1 cells were transfected with siRNA control (si-control) or siRNA targeting MUC1 (si-MUC1). Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assay, and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis in the 5-8F and HNE1 cells. The qPCR and ELISA were executed to analyze the levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Western blot was performed to measure the expression of MUC1, NF-кB and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2). ResultsThe expression of MUC1 was up-regulated in the NPC tissues, and NPC patients with the high MUC1 expression were inclined to EBV infection, growth and metastasis of NPC. Loss of MUC1 restrained malignant features, including the proliferation and apoptosis, downregulated the expression of p-IкB、p-P65 and Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax in the NPC cells. ConclusionDownregulation of MUC1 restrained biological characteristics of malignancy, including cell proliferation and apoptosis, by inactivating NF-κB signaling pathway in NPC.

To understand the distribution of ticks in the Wuwei Region,enrich tick species data,and provide a basis for the prevention of tick-borne diseases,tick were collected using flagging and tick-picking methods during the highest activity period from April to September in 2021 and 2022 in the mountainous areas of Wuwei City.The ticks were identified based on morpho-logical and molecular biological characteristics,and characteristic sequences were obtained.A systematic evolutionary tree was constructed using the neighbor-joining method in MEGA 11.0 software.In total,7 342 ticks collected in Wuwei,which be-longed to 5 species from 4 genera with in the Ixodidae family,which included Dermacentor nuttalli,Hyalomma asiaticum,Ixodes canisuga,Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haema-physalis danieli.Ticks of the same species clustered together into the same branch of an evolutionary tree.In the Wuwei Re-gion,five common tick species are found across various habi-tats,with each habitat featuring different distributions of tick species and populations.The Dermacentor nuttalli is the dom-inant tick species in this area.

The epidemiology and etiology of three suspected cases of imported skin diphtheria infection in Fujian Province were investigated.Secretion samples of patients with skin damage were collected for isolation and culture of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.Biochemical identification and mass spectrum analysis of pure cultures of suspected C.diphtheriae were conduc-ted,the virulence-related genes,including diphtheria toxin reporter(dtxR),toxin A(toxA),and toxin B(toxB)were detec-ted,and multilocus sequence typing(MLST)was performed.All three cases had typical clinical manifestations of cutaneous diphtheria,and C.diphtheriae was isolated from the damaged skin.The virulence genes of two C.diphtheriae strains isolated from two cases were identified as dtxR(+),toxA(-),and toxB(-),and the MLST type was ST-703.The virulence genes of C.diphtheriae isolated from one case were identified as dtxR(+),toxA(+),toxB(+),and the MLST type was ST-248.There is an increased risk of diphtheria in Fujian Province.C.diphtheriae without diphtheria toxin genes can also cause skin diphtheria.

To make up for the shortcomings of traditional mild moxibustion, according to the principle and technical operation characteristics of traditional mild moxibustion, combined with temperature control technology, a novel infrared mild moxibustion device is developed, which is capable of real-time accurate temperature control. This novel infrares mild moxibustion device is composed of a host computer and an infrared radiation head. The host computer includes four modules: power supply, human-computer interaction interface, micro control unit (MCU) and drive circuit. The infrared radiation head mainly includes an infrared heater and a temperature sensor. This novel infrared mild moxibustion device is easy to operate. The electrothermal heating tablet can generate infrared radiation of 3 000-13 000 nm. After the temperature of the infrared heater is stabilized, the range of temperature change is ±0.50 ℃, realizing the goal of precise temperature control. In addition, it can operate moxibustion treatment at multiple acupoints at the same time, which is conducive to the dose-effect evaluation of mild moxibustion.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Points ; Temperature ; Heating

Hypertrophic scar (HS) affects the function and beauty of patients, and brings a heavy psychological burden to patients. However, the specific pathogenesis mechanism of HS in molecular biology level is not yet clear, and this disease is still one of the clinical diseases difficult to prevent and cure. MicroRNA (miR) is a family of single-stranded endogenous noncoding RNAs that can regulate gene expression. The abnormal transcription of miR in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts can affect the transduction and expression of downstream signal pathway or protein, and the exploration of miR and its downstream signal pathway and protein helps deeply understand the occurrence and development mechanism of scar hyperplasia. This article summarized and analyzed how miR and multiple signal pathways involve in the formation and development of HS in recent years, and further outlined the interaction between miR and target genes in HS.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/genetics* ; Fibroblasts ; Hyperplasia

The twenty-first century has already recorded more than ten major epidemics or pandemics of viral disease, including the devastating COVID-19. Novel effective antivirals with broad-spectrum coverage are urgently needed. Herein, we reported a novel broad-spectrum antiviral compound PAC5. Oral administration of PAC5 eliminated HBV cccDNA and reduced the large antigen load in distinct mouse models of HBV infection. Strikingly, oral administration of PAC5 in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 omicron (BA.1) infection significantly decreases viral loads and attenuates lung inflammation. Mechanistically, PAC5 binds to a pocket near Asp49 in the RNA recognition motif of hnRNPA2B1. PAC5-bound hnRNPA2B1 is extensively activated and translocated to the cytoplasm where it initiates the TBK1-IRF3 pathway, leading to the production of type I IFNs with antiviral activity. Our results indicate that PAC5 is a novel small-molecule agonist of hnRNPA2B1, which may have a role in dealing with emerging infectious diseases now and in the future.
Animals ; Mice ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology* ; COVID-19 ; Hepatitis B virus ; Interferon Type I/metabolism* ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B/antagonists & inhibitors*

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) with myocardial ischemia, and evaluate the incremental value of EFV on top of traditional risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in predicting obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia. Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and single photon emission computerized tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from March 2018 to November 2019 were consecutively enrolled. EFV and CAC were measured by non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Obstructive CAD was defined as coronary artery stenosis≥50% in at least one of the major epicardial coronary arteries, and myocardial ischemia was defined as reversible perfusion defects in stress and rest MPI. Obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia was defined in patients with coronary stenosis severity≥50% and reversible perfusion defects in the corresponding areas of SPECT-MPI. Patients with myocardial ischemia bot without obstructive CAD were defined as none-obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia group. We collected and compared the general clinical data, CAC and EFV between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the relationship between EFV and obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia. ROC curves were performed to determine whether addition of EFV improved predictive value beyond traditional risk factors and CAC for obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia. Results: Among the 164 patients with suspected CAD, 111 patients were males, and average age was (61.4±9.9) years old. 62 (37.8%) patients were included into the obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia group. 102 (62.2%) patients were included into the none-obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia group. EFV was significantly higher in obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia group than in none-obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia group ((135.63±33.29)cm³ and (105.18±31.16)cm³, P<0.01). Univariate regression analysis showed the risk of obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia increased by 1.96 times for each SD increase in EFV(OR 2.96; 95%CI, 1.89-4.62; P<0.01). After adjustment for traditional risk factors and CAC, EFV remained as an independent predictor for obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia (OR, 4.48, 95%CI, 2.17-9.23; P<0.01). Addition of EFV to CAC and traditional risk factors was related to larger AUC for predicting obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia (0.90 vs. 0.85, P=0.04, 95%CI: 0.85-0.95) and the global chi-square increased by 21.81 (P<0.05). Conclusions: EFV is an independent predictor for obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia. Addition of EFV to traditional risk factors and CAC has incremental value for predicting obstructive CAD with myocardial ischemia in this patient cohort.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Myocardial Ischemia/diagnostic imaging* ; Coronary Stenosis ; Calcium