The most common medications for the treatment of zoonotic toxoplasmosis are pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which may cause serious undesirable side effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutics. Baicalein (BAI, C₁₅H₁₀O₅) has been shown to perform well against protozoan parasites including Leishmania and Cryptosporidium. In this study, the inhibition efficacy of BAI on Toxoplasma gondii was evaluated using plaque, invasion, and intracellular proliferation assays. BAI effectively inhibited T. gondii (half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀)=6.457×10^-5 mol/L), with a reduced invasion rate (33.56%) and intracellular proliferation, and exhibited low cytotoxicity (half-maximum toxicity concentration (TC₅₀)=5.929×10^-4 mol/L). Further investigation using a mouse model shed light on the inhibitory efficacy of BAI against T. gondii, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying its anti-parasitic effects. The survival time of T. gondii-infected ICR mice treated with BAI was remarkably extended, and their parasite burdens in the liver and spleen were greatly reduced compared with those of the negative control group. Histopathological examination of live sections revealed effective therapeutic outcomes in the treatment groups, with no notable pathological alterations observed. Furthermore, alterations in cytokine levels indicated that BAI not only effectively suppressed the growth of T. gondii but also prevented excessive inflammation in mice. Collectively, these findings underscore the significant inhibitory efficacy of BAI against T. gondii, positioning it as a promising alternative therapeutic agent for toxoplasmosis.
Animals ; Toxoplasma/drug effects* ; Flavanones/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Antiparasitic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Toxoplasmosis/drug therapy* ; Female

Objective:To explore the curative efficacy and safety of microwave ablation(MWA)combined with percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI)in treating thyroid cystic solid nodule.Methods:A total of 62 patients with thyroid cystic solid nodule,who admitted to The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2021 to December 2022,were selected,and they were divided into microwave group(n=28,only single MWA)and combination group(n=34,MWA combined with PEI)according to different treatment plans.The reduction rate of the volume of thyroid nodules,indicators of thyroid function,clinical symptom and the score of physical signs,as well as the incidence of perioperative complications,were compared between two groups after treatment.Results:After treatment,the reduction rate of the volume of thyroid nodule was(88.97±6.36)%in the combination group,which was higher than that(88.15±5.69)%in the microwave group,and the differences in those indicators between the two groups were statistically significant(t=2.465,P＜0.05).The differences of the indicators of thyroid function before and after treatment between two groups were not significant(P＞0.05).The clinical symptoms and the scores of physical signs of both groups after treatment were lower than that before treatment(P＞0.05).The incidence of perioperative complications in the combination group was 17.65%,which was lower than 42.68%in the microwave group(P＜0.05),and the difference of that between the two groups was significant(x2=4.736,P＜0.05).Conclusion:The curative efficacy of the combination of MWA and PEI is better than MWA alone,which has better safety.

ObjectiveTo analyze the adverse reactions associated with the clinical use of Banxia （Rhizoma Pinelliae）- Wutou （Aconitum） in the same formula， with the aim of providing a reference for the safety of their clinical application. MethodsLiterature on the clinical application of antagonistic herbs "Banxia-Wutou" used in the same formula， published from January 1st， 2014， to June 30th， 2023， was retrieved from databases including CNKI， VIP， Wanfang， SinoMed， PubMed， Cochrane Library， and Embase. A database was established， and information related to adverse reactions was extracted， including descriptions， classifications， specific manifestations， management and outcomes， patients' primary diseases （western medicine diseases and traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses and syndromes）， and medication information （dosage， ratio， administration routes， and dosage forms）. ResultsA total of 79 researches simultaneously used antagonistic herbs Banxia-Wutou in the same formula and reported associated advers reactions. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions were the most common， with 8 studies reporting management of adverse reactions and 3 studies reporting improvement with no intervention. Among the 11 researches， the adverse reaction relieved to extant， while other 69 researches didn't report the managment of adverse reaction and its prognosis. For the primary disease in western medicine system， chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） were most common， while gastric pain was the most common symptom in traditional Chinese medicine with spleen and kidney deficiency and spleen stomach cold deficiency being the most frequent syndromes. The most common Banxia dosage was 10 g， while for the Wutou， Fuzi （Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata） was predominant with the highest dose at 15 g. The most frequent herbal combination was Banxia-fuzi， with a 1∶1 ratio. The main administration route was oral， and the primary dosage form was decoction. ConclusionGastrointestinal adverse reactions are the most common in the clinical use of Banxia-Wutou antagonistic herb combinations. Research on the safety of "Banxia-Wutou" combinations should focus on respiratory system diseases and spleen-stomach related conditions.

This paper conducts a pooled analysis of information related to orphan drugs approved for marketing in 2024 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of Japan. It systematically sorts out the scope of indications, therapeutic area distribution, and special review and approval pathways of these drugs, as well as their research and development progress and marketing status in China, thus providing a reference for researchers, regulatory authorities, and industry stakeholders in the field of rare disease drugs.

Objective To analyze the correlation between serum cystatin C (Cys-C) and bone turnover markers in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 320 elderly patients with T2DM admitted to Huai'an First People's Hospital from August 2021 to June 2024. Patients were divided into the osteoporosis group and the non-osteoporosis group according to whether they had osteoporosis. General information, bone turnover markers, and serum Cys-C levels were collected from all patients. The data were compared between the two groups to analyze the influencing factors of osteoporosis in elderly patients with T2DM and the correlation between serum Cys-C and bone turnover markers. Results The levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C in the osteoporosis group were higher than those in the non-osteoporosis group, and the bone mineral density was lower than that in the non-osteoporosis group (P<0.05). The levels of TPINP, β-CTX, and Cys-C in the osteoporosis group were higher than those in the non-osteoporosis group, and 25-OH-D3 level was lower than that in the non-osteoporosis group (P<0.05). Serum Cys-C was positively correlated with TPINP and β-CTX, and negatively correlated with 25-OH-D₃ (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that total cholesterol, LDL-C, TPINP, β-CTX, 25-OH-D₃, and Cys-C were factors influencing osteoporosis in elderly patients with T2DM (P<0.05). Conclusion Serum Cys-C levels in elderly patients with T2DM and osteoporosis are elevated. There is a significant correlation between Cys-C level and bone turnover markers.

Deflazacort,as a glucocorticoid medication,is conductive to improving motor function and muscle strength,delaying the loss of ambulation,enhancing pulmonary function,reducing the risk of scoliosis,slowing the progression of cardiomyopathy,and increasing survival rates in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD).In February 2017,the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved deflazacort for the treatment of DMD.In May 2024,deflazacort entered Peking Union Medical College Hospital for desig-nated use through the ＂ temporary import＂ pathway.This article provides an overview of deflazacort from the perspectives of its mechanism of action,pharmacokinetics,clinical efficacy,and adverse effects,aiming to offer a reference for its rational and safe application in clinical practice.

Deflazacort,as a glucocorticoid medication,is conductive to improving motor function and muscle strength,delaying the loss of ambulation,enhancing pulmonary function,reducing the risk of scoliosis,slowing the progression of cardiomyopathy,and increasing survival rates in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD).In February 2017,the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA)approved deflazacort for the treatment of DMD.In May 2024,deflazacort entered Peking Union Medical College Hospital for desig-nated use through the ＂ temporary import＂ pathway.This article provides an overview of deflazacort from the perspectives of its mechanism of action,pharmacokinetics,clinical efficacy,and adverse effects,aiming to offer a reference for its rational and safe application in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the curative efficacy and safety of microwave ablation(MWA)combined with percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI)in treating thyroid cystic solid nodule.Methods:A total of 62 patients with thyroid cystic solid nodule,who admitted to The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2021 to December 2022,were selected,and they were divided into microwave group(n=28,only single MWA)and combination group(n=34,MWA combined with PEI)according to different treatment plans.The reduction rate of the volume of thyroid nodules,indicators of thyroid function,clinical symptom and the score of physical signs,as well as the incidence of perioperative complications,were compared between two groups after treatment.Results:After treatment,the reduction rate of the volume of thyroid nodule was(88.97±6.36)%in the combination group,which was higher than that(88.15±5.69)%in the microwave group,and the differences in those indicators between the two groups were statistically significant(t=2.465,P＜0.05).The differences of the indicators of thyroid function before and after treatment between two groups were not significant(P＞0.05).The clinical symptoms and the scores of physical signs of both groups after treatment were lower than that before treatment(P＞0.05).The incidence of perioperative complications in the combination group was 17.65%,which was lower than 42.68%in the microwave group(P＜0.05),and the difference of that between the two groups was significant(x2=4.736,P＜0.05).Conclusion:The curative efficacy of the combination of MWA and PEI is better than MWA alone,which has better safety.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors for central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection in patients with emergency hemorrhagic shock.Methods:Patients with hemorrhagic shock and central venous catheterization admitted to the emergency department of Shanghai First People's Hospital from June 2016 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into infected group and non-infected group according to whether catheter-related bloodstream infection occurred. The puncture site samples and catheter tip samples of infected patients were collected for etiological detection and drug sensitivity test. The difference of baseline data between the two groups was analyzed, and the relationship between central venous catheter-associated infection and influencing factors was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results:A total of 249 patients were included in this study, including 54 patients in the infected group and 195 patients in the non-infected group. There were significant differences in age, catheterization position, ultrasound-guided puncture, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score, catheter retention time and application of broad-spectrum antibiotics between the infected group and the non-infected group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, femoral vein catheterization, no ultrasound-guided puncture, high APACHEⅡ score, long catheter indent time and application of broad-spectrum antibiotics were risk factors for central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection. Among the 54 infected patients, Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 44.4%, followed by Escherichia coli accounted for 24.1% and fungus accounted for 11.1%. The resistance rate of gram-positive cocci to vancomycin was the lowest (3.4%) followed by tetracycline (34.5%), and the highest resistance rate was amoxicillin (100.0%). The resistance rates of gram-negative bacilli to amikacin and ceftriaxone were relatively high, both of which were 94.7%. Conclusions:The risk factors for central venous catheter-related blood stream infection in patients with emergency hemorrhagic shock included advanced age, femoral vein catheterization, no ultrasound-guided puncture, high APACHEⅡ score, long catheter retention time and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The common pathogenic bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation exoskeleton robots on the lower limb motor function of stroke patients using Meta-analysis and to compare the efficacy of different lower limb exoskeleton robots,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the scientific selection of suitable exoskeleton robots for patients with post-stroke lower limb motor dysfunction. METHODS:Computer searches of the Cochrane Library,PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,CNKI,VIP,and WanFang Data were conducted to collect randomized controlled clinical studies on exploring lower extremity rehabilitation exoskeleton robots to improve lower limb motor function in stroke patients published from database inception to November 2022.Two researchers conducted the literature search and screening.The quality of the included literature was evaluated using the Cochrane 5.1.0 risk of bias assessment tool and the Jadad scale.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 software. RESULTS:(1)Finally 22 publications were included,involving 865 patients(n=436 in the test group and n=429 in the control group),and the Jadad score showed that all the included articles were of high quality.(2)Meta-analysis results showed that the exoskeleton robot significantly improved the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score(mean difference[MD]=2.63,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.87-3.38,P<0.05),Berg Balance Scale score(MD=3.62,95%CI:1.21-6.03,P<0.05),Timed Up and Go score(MD=-2.77,95%CI:-4.48 to-1.05,P<0.05)and step frequency score(MD=3.15,95%CI:1.57-4.72,P<0.05)in stroke patients compared with the control group.However,there was no significant improvement in the Functional Ambulation Category Scale score(MD=0.30,95%CI:-0.01 to 0.61,P>0.05)and 6-minute walk test score(MD=3.77,95%CI:-6.60 to 14.14,P>0.05).(3)Network Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the conventional rehabilitation therapy,both the level-walking exoskeleton(MD=10.23,95%CI:3.81-27.49,P<0.05)and the body-weight support exoskeleton(MD=33.66,95%CI:11.49-98.54,P<0.05)improved the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score.Compared with the conventional rehabilitation therapy,body-weight support exoskeleton significantly improved the Berg Balance Scale scores(MD=79.86,95%CI:2.34-2 725.99,P<0.05).In terms of Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity and Berg Balance Scale scores,the ranking results were body-weight support exoskeleton>level-walking exoskeleton>conventional rehabilitation therapy.Compared with the conventional rehabilitation therapy,level-walking exoskeleton significantly improved the Functional Ambulation Category Scale score(MD=1.38,95%CI:1.00-1.90,P<0.05)and body-weight support exoskeleton significantly improved the Timed Up and Go score(MD=0.07,95%CI:0.01-0.51,P<0.05).In terms of Functional Ambulation Category Scale and Timed Up and Go scores,the ranking results were level-walking exoskeleton>body-weight support exoskeleton>conventional rehabilitation therapy. CONCLUSION:Rehabilitation exoskeleton robots can improve balance,walking and activities of daily living in stroke patients,with body-weight support exoskeleton being more effective in improving lower limb motor function and balance and level walking exoskeleton being more effective in improving functional walking and transfer.