Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, also known as Tinglizi, originates from Brassicaceae plants Descurainia sophia or Lepidium apetalum. The former is commonly referred to as "Southern Tinglizi(Descurainiae Semen)", while the latter is known as "Northern Tinglizi(Lepidii Semen)". To scientifically and accurately identify the origin of Tinglizi medicinal materials and traditional Chinese medicine products, this study developed a specific DNA mini-barcode based on chloroplast genome sequences. By combining the DNA mini-barcode with DNA metabarcoding technology, a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of Tinglizi medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines was established. In this study, chloroplast genomes of Southern Tinglizi and Northern Tinglizi and seven commonly encountered counterfeit products were downloaded from the GenBank database. Suitable polymorphic regions were identified to differentiate these species, enabling the development of the DNA mini-barcode. Using DNA metabarcoding technology, medicinal material mixtures of Southern and Northern Tinglizi, as well as the most common counterfeit product, Capsella bursa-pastoris seeds, were analyzed to validate the qualitative and quantitative capabilities of the mini-barcode and determine its minimum detection limit. Additionally, the mini-barcode was applied to Chinese patent medicines containing Tinglizi to authenticate their botanical origin. The results showed that the developed mini-barcode(psbB) exhibited high accuracy and specificity, effectively distinguishing between the two authentic origins of Tinglizi and commonly encountered counterfeit products. The analysis of mixtures demonstrated that the mini-barcode had excellent qualitative and quantitative capabilities, accurately identifying the composition of Chinese medicinal materials in mixed samples with varying proportions. Furthermore, the analysis of Chinese patent medicines revealed the presence of the adulterant species(Capsella bursa-pastoris) in addition to the authentic species(Southern and Northern Tinglizi), indicating the occurrence of adulteration in commercially available Tinglizi-containing products. This study developed a method for the qualitative and quantitative identification of multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials and related products, providing a model for research on other multi-origin Chinese medicinal materials.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Drug Contamination ; Genome, Chloroplast ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application value of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) in the etiological diagnosis of moderate to severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in neonates. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 81 term and late-preterm neonates with moderate to severe RDS admitted to Fujian Children's Hospital between December 2023 and December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to the conventional microbiological test (CMT) group (n=42) or the tNGS group (n=39). For routine pathogen detection, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained via bronchoscopy, and lower respiratory tract specimens were collected via the endotracheal tube; all specimens underwent culture, and some specimens additionally underwent polymerase chain reaction or antigen testing. In the tNGS group, tNGS was performed in addition to routine pathogen detection on the same specimen types. The detection rate of pathogens, the detection rate of co-infections, and the duration of antibiotic use were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The pathogen detection rate in the tNGS group (18/39, 46%) was significantly higher than that in the CMT group (8/42, 19%) (P=0.009). The co-infection detection rate was 13% (5/39) in the tNGS group, while no co-infections were identified in the CMT group (P=0.024). Regarding treatment, the duration of antibiotic use in the tNGS group was shorter than that in the CMT group [(12±4) days vs (15±5) days, P=0.003]. CONCLUSIONS tNGS significantly improves the pathogen detection rate in neonates with moderate to severe RDS and offers advantages in the rapid identification of co-infections and reduction of antibiotic treatment duration, suggesting it has clinical utility and potential for wider adoption.
Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/etiology* ; Male ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods*

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of virtual preoperative planning and 3D-printed templates for pre-contoured plates for the treatment of posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum.Methods A retrospective analysis of 29 patients with posterior acetabular wall fractures treated between August 2017 and March 2021 were divided into 2 groups based on whether to use preoperative virtual planning and 3D printed template.In 3D-printing group,there were 14 patients,includ-ing 10 males and 4 females;aged from 21 to 53 years old;CT-based virtual surgical planning was done using Mimics and 3-Matic software and 3D-printed templates for pre-contoured plates were adopted.In conventional group,there were 15 patients,including 10 males and 5 females;aged from 19 to 55 years old;conventional method of intra-operative contouring to adapt the plate to the fracture region was adopted.Blood loss,surgical time,radiographic quality of reduction,and hip function were compared between groups.Results The difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss was significant(P＜0.05).Twenty-three patients were followed up from 12 to 30 months,and the fractures in both groups healed with a healing time of 3 to 6 months.At the last follow-up,the Merle d'Aubign-Postel score of the 3D printed group was lower than that of the conven-tional group(P＜0.05),with no significant differences in walking ability,hip mobility and total score(P＞0.05).In 3D printing group,6 cases were excellent,5 cases were good,3 cases were fair;in conventional group,5 cases were excellent,5 cases were good,4 cases were fair,1 case was worse;no significant difference between two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Virtual preopera-tive planning and 3D-printed templates for pre-contoured plates can reduce operative time and the blood loss of surgery,im-prove the quality of reduction.This method is efficient,accurate and reliable to treat acetabular posterior wall fractures.

Objective: To understand the current status of diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) among hematologists, oncologists, and lymphoma physicians from hospitals of different levels in China. Methods: This multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted from March 2021 to July 2021 and included 1,000 eligible physicians. A combination of face-to-face interviews and online questionnaire surveys was used. A standardized questionnaire regarding the composition of patients treated for CLL/SLL, disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation, concomitant diseases, organ function evaluation, treatment selection, and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor was used. Results: ①The interviewed physicians stated that the proportion of male patients treated for CLL/SLL is higher than that of females, and the age is mainly concentrated in 61-70 years old. ②Most of the interviewed physicians conducted tests, such as bone marrow biopsies and immunohistochemistry, for patient diagnosis, in addition to the blood test. ③Only 13.7% of the interviewed physicians fully grasped the initial treatment indications recommended by the existing guidelines. ④In terms of cognition of high-risk prognostic factors, physicians' knowledge of unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable and 11q- is far inferior to that of TP53 mutation and complex karyotype, which are two high-risk prognostic factors, and only 17.1% of the interviewed physicians fully mastered CLL International Prognostic Index scoring system. ⑤Among the first-line treatment strategy, BTK inhibitors are used for different types of patients, and physicians have formed a certain understanding that BTK inhibitors should be preferentially used in patients with high-risk factors and elderly patients, but the actual use of BTK inhibitors in different types of patients is not high (31.6%-46.0%). ⑥BTK inhibitors at a reduced dose in actual clinical treatment were used by 69.0% of the physicians, and 66.8% of the physicians had interrupted the BTK inhibitor for >12 days in actual clinical treatment. The use of BTK inhibitors is reduced or interrupted mainly because of adverse reactions, such as atrial fibrillation, severe bone marrow suppression, hemorrhage, and pulmonary infection, as well as patients' payment capacity and effective disease progression control. ⑦Some differences were found in the perceptions and behaviors of hematologists and oncologists regarding the prognostic assessment of CLL/SLL, the choice of treatment options, the clinical use of BTK inhibitors, etc. Conclusion: At present, a gap remains between the diagnosis and treatment of CLL/SLL among Chinese physicians compared with the recommendations in the guidelines regarding the diagnostic criteria, treatment indications, prognosis assessment, accompanying disease assessment, treatment strategy selection, and rational BTK inhibitor use, especially the proportion of dose reduction or BTK inhibitor discontinuation due to high adverse events.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy* ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/therapeutic use*

With the expansion of mpox virus infection from endemic to a global epidemic in 2022, the WHO declared that the mpox event constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Due to the high degree of gene sequence similarity among orthopox viruses and cross-reactive antibodies induced by orthoviruses, smallpox vaccination may affect the immune response induced by mpox virus infection. The analysis of the protective effects of smallpox vaccination against mpox virus infection will help define the focus of prevention and control. In this review, we clarify the protection of the smallpox vaccine against mpox virus infection by analyzing the correlation between smallpox vaccination, immune response status, and clinical data and providing evidence for the prevention, control, and strategies of mpox epidemics.
Humans ; Smallpox/epidemiology* ; Monkeypox/drug therapy* ; Smallpox Vaccine/therapeutic use* ; Vaccination ; Immunity

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is an important serine/threonine kinase that implicates in multiple cellular processes and links with the neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, structure-based virtual screening was performed to search database for compounds targeting GSK-3β from Enamine’s screening collection. Of the top-ranked compounds, 7 primary hits underwent a luminescent kinase assay and a cell assay using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing Tau repeat domain (TauRD) with pro-aggregant mutation ΔK280. In the kinase assay for these 7 compounds, residual GSK-3β activities ranged from 36.1% to 90.0% were detected at the IC50 of SB-216763. In the cell assay, only compounds VB-030 and VB-037 reduced Tau aggregation in SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 TauRD-DsRed folding reporter. In SH-SY5Y cells expressing ΔK280 TauRD, neither VB-030 nor VB-037 increased expression of GSK-3α Ser21 or GSK-3β Ser9. Among extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (P38) and mitogenactivated protein kinase 8 (JNK) which modulate Tau phosphorylation, VB-037 attenuated active phosphorylation of P38 Thr180/ Tyr182, whereas VB-030 had no effect on the phosphorylation status of ERK, AKT, P38 or JNK. However, both VB-030 and VB-037 reduced endogenous Tau phosphorylation at Ser202, Thr231, Ser396 and Ser404 in neuronally differentiated SH-SY5Y expressing ΔK280 TauRD. In addition, VB-030 and VB-037 further improved neuronal survival and/or neurite length and branch in mouse hippocampal primary culture under Tau cytotoxicity. Overall, through inhibiting GSK-3β kinase activity and/or p-P38 (Thr180/Tyr182), both compounds may serve as promising candidates to reduce Tau aggregation/cytotoxicity for AD treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Baidu Jieduan Granules (BDJDG) to treat common type coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, and observational clinical trial included 230 common COVID-19 patients in Leishenshan, Huangshi, and Laohekou Hospitals in Wuhan from January 21 to March 26, 2020. The included patients were further divided into two subgroups according to the use of supplemental oxygen, mild and moderate groups. During the first 14 d of hospitalization, all patients were administered BDJDG combined with conventional Western medicine, and observed for continuous 28 d. Primary outcomes were disease progression rate and discharge rate. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion time of nucleic acid, hospitalization duration, clinical symptom subsidence time, and symptom regression rate. RESULTS: A total of 230 common COVID-19 patients were analyzed (138 in moderate group and 92 in mild group). By day 28, the disease progression rate was 4.3% and the discharge rate was 95.7%. All mild cases recovered and were discharged from hospital. The median negative conversion time of nucleic acid of all 230 COVID-19 patients was 12 d [inter-quartile range (IQR) 3.5-17], the median hospitalization duration was 15 d (IQR 12-20). The median time to fever, cough, and fatigue recovery was 4 d (IQR 2-6), 8 d (IQR 5-12), and 8 d (IQR 5-11). The recovery rate of fever, cough, and fatigue was 94.6%, 90.5%, and 93.5%. The median time to clinical improvement was 12 d (IQR 10-17). Compared with the baseline, total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, and platelet counts were increased significantly on days 7 and 14 (P<0.01). C-reactive protein markedly increased on day 3 and significantly decreased on days 7 and 14 (P<0.01). No serious adverse events occurred during treatment. CONCLUSION BDJDG may be effective and safe for treatment of common type COVID-19. (Registration No. ChiCTR2000030836).
C-Reactive Protein ; China ; Cough/drug therapy* ; Disease Progression ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Humans ; Nucleic Acids ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) on toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. METHODS: Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into AOO group, AOO+5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group, TDI group, and TDI+5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group. Another 32 mice were randomly divided into AOO group, TDI group, TDI +5Z-7-Oxozeaenol group, and TDI +5Z-7-Oxozeaenol + Necrostatin-1 group. TAK1 inhibitor (5Z-7-Oxozeaenol, 5 mg/kg) and/or RIPK1 inhibitor (Necrostatin-1, 5 mg/kg) were used before each challenge. Airway responsiveness, airway inflammation and airway remodeling were assessed after the treatments. We also examined the effect of TDI-human serum albumin (TDI-HSA) conjugate combined with TAK1 inhibitor on the viability of mouse mononuclear macrophages (RAW264.7) using CCK8 assay. The expressions of TAK1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and receptor interacting serine/threonine protease 1 (RIPK1) signal pathway in the treated cells were detected with Western blotting. The effects of RIPK1 inhibitor on the viability of RAW264.7 cells and airway inflammation of the mouse models of TDI-induced asthma were evaluated. RESULTS: TAK1 inhibitor aggravated TDI-induced airway inflammation, airway hyper responsiveness and airway remodeling in the mouse models (P < 0.05). Treatment with TAK1 inhibitor significantly decreased the viability of RAW264.7 cells, which was further decreased by co-treatment with TDI-HSA (P < 0.05). TAK1 inhibitor significantly decreased the level of TAK1 phosphorylation and activation of MAPK signal pathway induced by TDI-HSA (P < 0.05). Co-treatment with TAK1 inhibitor and TDI-HSA obviously increased the level of RIPK1 phosphorylation and caused persistent activation of caspase 8 (P < 0.05). RIPK1 inhibitor significantly inhibited the reduction of cell viability caused by TAK1 inhibitor and TDI-HSA (P < 0.05) and alleviated the aggravation of airway inflammation induced by TAK1 inhibitors in TDI-induced mouse models (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Inhibition of TAK1 aggravates TDI-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness and may increase the death of macrophages by enhancing the activity of RIPK1 and causing persistent activation of caspase 8.
Animals ; Asthma/chemically induced* ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Respiratory System ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/adverse effects*

Abstract: Objective To analyze the effect of nutrition package on the nutritional status and prevalence of children in rural areas of Hainan Province, and provide scientific basis and suggestions for further improving the nutritional and health status of children in this region. Methods　Four cities and counties were randomly selected as the intervention group, and four cities and counties matched with the intervention group in terms of population, economy, social culture, maternal and child health work foundation of township health centers, physical nutrition and health status were selected as the control group.With the combination of monitoring and prospective cohort study, infants in the intervention group and the control group were studied from June 1, 2020, and they were intervened for 12 months with supplementary food nutrition package. Before and after intervention, the nutrition and health status of infants aged 6-24 months in the intervention group and the control group were investigated to evaluate the nutritional and health effects of supplementary food nutrition package for infants aged 6-24 months in rural Hainan Province. Results　A total of 999 infants were investigated, including 427 in the intervention group and 572 in the control group. After 12 months of nutritional intervention, there was no significant difference in weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) between the intervention group and the control group (P>0.05). The rate of emaciation of the intervention group was 1.64%, which was significantly lower than 3.67% of the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rate of growth retardation (2.81% and 3.32%, respectively) and underweight (0.47% and 1.92%, respectively) between the intervention group and the control group (P>0.05). The rate of respiratory infection and diarrhea in the intervention group were 9.13% and 1.17%, which were significantly lower than corresponding 23.25% and 3.15% in the control group (P<0.05). The hemoglobin of the intervention group and the control group were 117.24 g/L and 114.51 g/L respectively, and the rates of anemia were 11.11% and 22.84% respectively, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions　The intervention of nutrition package in rural areas of Hainan Province has achieved the expected results, and supplementary food nutrition package has reduced the incidence of malnutrition and respiratory infection and diarrhea in recent two weeks in infants and anemia to a certain extent. We should attach great importance to the supplementary nutrition package for right-age children and promote the growth and health of children in rural areas through supplementary nutrition package, and continuously improve the nutrition and health level of children in Hainan Province.

Based on the modern anatomy and physiology, the referred pain of myofascial trigger points of each muscle is integrated; compared with the twelve meridians as well as conception vessel and governor vessel, the similarity of their position and running course is observed. With the current research progress of myofascial trigger points and fasciology, based on the running course of referred pain of trigger points, combined with fascia mechanics, nerve and vascular, the location of acupoints and meridians, as well as the relationship between acupoints and meridians, are discussed.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians ; Muscles ; Pain, Referred ; Trigger Points