Atherosclerosis （AS） is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases and seriously threatens human quality of life. Its prevention and treatment urgently need breakthroughs. The inflammatory response， which runs through the physiological and pathological evolution process of AS， is one of the important mechanisms for AS occurrence. Currently， the treatment methods for AS in Western medicine are relatively mature. However， they have adverse reactions such as abnormal liver and kidney function， drug tolerance， target vessel restenosis， and stent thrombosis， which remain the key bottleneck restricting clinical efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， characterized by multiple components， multiple targets， and multi-pathway synergy， shows unique clinical application potential and efficacy advantages in the intervention of AS. This article reviewed the research progress of TCM in intervening in AS by regulating inflammatory-related signaling pathways， such as nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Toll-like receptors （TLRs）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， in the past five years. It summarized the combined mechanism of action of TCM monomers， TCM pairs， and compound preparations in inhibiting the inflammatory cascade reaction through multiple targets， regulating lipid metabolism disorders， and improving vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalance of the microenvironment. It deepened the research on the molecular mechanism of TCM in anti-AS， so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical transformation application and related theoretical research of TCM in anti-AS.

Atherosclerosis （AS） is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases and seriously threatens human quality of life. Its prevention and treatment urgently need breakthroughs. The inflammatory response， which runs through the physiological and pathological evolution process of AS， is one of the important mechanisms for AS occurrence. Currently， the treatment methods for AS in Western medicine are relatively mature. However， they have adverse reactions such as abnormal liver and kidney function， drug tolerance， target vessel restenosis， and stent thrombosis， which remain the key bottleneck restricting clinical efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， characterized by multiple components， multiple targets， and multi-pathway synergy， shows unique clinical application potential and efficacy advantages in the intervention of AS. This article reviewed the research progress of TCM in intervening in AS by regulating inflammatory-related signaling pathways， such as nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Toll-like receptors （TLRs）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， in the past five years. It summarized the combined mechanism of action of TCM monomers， TCM pairs， and compound preparations in inhibiting the inflammatory cascade reaction through multiple targets， regulating lipid metabolism disorders， and improving vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalance of the microenvironment. It deepened the research on the molecular mechanism of TCM in anti-AS， so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical transformation application and related theoretical research of TCM in anti-AS.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a common autoimmune disease characterised clinically by symmetrical joint pain， swelling， and stiffness. Long-term chronic synovial inflammation can lead to severe joint damage and even disability， thereby affecting quality of life for patients. Current clinical treatment of RA emphasises an integrated approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine， with traditional Chinese medicine offering certain advantages in reducing disease activity of RA， preventing relapses， and other aspects. Modern clinical evidence confirms that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimutang （GSZT） is effective in improving symptoms such as immune metabolism， joint stiffness， and joint pain in RA patients. Pharmacological studies have revealed that GSZT primarily contains components such as cinnamaldehyde， total glucosides of paeony， total alkaloids of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata， glycyrrhetinic acid， zingiberone， isoimperatorin， ephedra polysaccharides， and cedrol. It improves RA symptoms via multiple mechanisms and targets， including enhancing immune responses， exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects， regulating relevant signalling pathways， inhibiting cell apoptosis， and suppressing bone destruction. This paper reviewed the syndrome patterns and pharmacological basis of GSZT in the treatment of RA， as well as its clinical applications and related mechanisms， thereby providing a theoretical basis and reference for the further development and utilisation of GSZT in the treatment of RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis （RA） is a common autoimmune disease characterised clinically by symmetrical joint pain， swelling， and stiffness. Long-term chronic synovial inflammation can lead to severe joint damage and even disability， thereby affecting quality of life for patients. Current clinical treatment of RA emphasises an integrated approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine， with traditional Chinese medicine offering certain advantages in reducing disease activity of RA， preventing relapses， and other aspects. Modern clinical evidence confirms that Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimutang （GSZT） is effective in improving symptoms such as immune metabolism， joint stiffness， and joint pain in RA patients. Pharmacological studies have revealed that GSZT primarily contains components such as cinnamaldehyde， total glucosides of paeony， total alkaloids of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata， glycyrrhetinic acid， zingiberone， isoimperatorin， ephedra polysaccharides， and cedrol. It improves RA symptoms via multiple mechanisms and targets， including enhancing immune responses， exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects， regulating relevant signalling pathways， inhibiting cell apoptosis， and suppressing bone destruction. This paper reviewed the syndrome patterns and pharmacological basis of GSZT in the treatment of RA， as well as its clinical applications and related mechanisms， thereby providing a theoretical basis and reference for the further development and utilisation of GSZT in the treatment of RA.

This study investigated the infection status,drug resistance,and molecular characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC)in domestic goats in Chengkou county,Chongqing.In August 2023,283 fecal samples were collected from households in Chengkou county.After enrichment with EC broth and inoculation onto selective media,samples that tested positive for stx1/stx2 were selected for further isolation.The positive strains were investigated with antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing.According to the whole genomic sequences,the stx subtypes,serotypes,multi-locus sequence types,virulence genes,drug resistance genes,and phylogenetic relationships of the STEC strains were analyzed.Forty-six strains of STEC were isolated from 283 goat fecal samples,thus resulting in a detection rate of 16.25%.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 12 O∶H serotypes,among which O76∶H19 and O8∶H7 predominated,each represented by 9 strains.Five STEC strains were identified as serotype O157∶H7.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 11 sequence types(STs),among which ST675 and ST196 predominated,each represented by nine strains,accounting for a 19.57%proportion.The strains were categorized into 7 stx subtypes,among which stx1c(26/46,56.52%),followed by stx2k(9/46,19.57%)predominated.All nine Stx2k-STEC strains were identified as serotype O8∶H7 and sequence type ST196.In antimicrobial susceptibility testing,2 STEC strains were resistant to ampicillin,one strain was resistant to ampicillin/sulbactam,one strain was resistant to cefazolin,and one strain was resistant to cefoxitin.Nine Stx2k-STEC strains were found to carry the beta-lactam resistance gene blaEC-18.Antimicrobial sensitivity tests revealed that the nine Stx2k-STEC strains were sensitive to all 15 tested antibiotics.Moreover,phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 9 Stx2k-STEC strains were remarkably similar but showed high genetic diversity with respect to that of the Stx2k-STEC strains isolated from other regions in China.Goatsare an important animal reservoir for STEC in theChengkou district of Chongqing,and novel sequence type Stx2k-STEC strains distinct from those found in other regions of China were identified in this region.

Aim To investigate the pharmacological mechanism of Ebselenin(Ebselen,EbSe)in the treat-ment of Escherichia coli(E.coli)infection,which had no significant inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacte-ria,based on previous studies.Methods After EbSe intervention in E.coli infected Raw264.7 cells,the via-bility of Raw264.7 cells was determined by CCK-8 method,the morphology and structure of Raw264.7 cells were observed by electron microscope,and the in-tracellular bacterial load of Raw264.7 cells was calcu-lated by coated plate method.Polarization status of peritoneal macrophages,Raw264.7 intracellular NO and ROS content and intracellular HO-1 expression in Raw264.7 and E.coli acutely infected mice after E.co-li infection by flow cytometry.qPCR was used to detect the expression of related mRNAs in Raw264.7 cells.qPCR was used to detect the intracellular GSH content in Raw264.7 cells by spectrophotometric assay,and the state of cytoskeletal proteins was observed by immuno-fluorescence.Western blot assay was performed to de-tect the intracellular Txnrd1 expression level.Results Microtiter method,CCK-8,and electron microscopy observations showed that EbSe had no effect on the growth of E.coli and Raw264.7 cells in vitro.The re-sults of smear plate counting showed that EbSe reduced the intracellular bacterial load of Raw264.7 in the in-fected group.Flow cytometry results showed that EbSe upregulated the number of M2-type macrophages.The EbSe-treated infected group had reduced intracellular NO and ROS levels and increased GSH levels.The qPCR results showed that the expression of IL-6,IL-1β,and iNOS was decreased,and the expression of HO-1,Txnrd1,and Glut1 was increased in DHB4-in-fected Raw264.7 cells after EbSe treatment.Cytoskel-etal staining showed that the morphology of the EbSe-treated infected cells was similar to that of oxPAPC-in-duced cells.Western blot results showed the expres-sion of Txnrd1 protein in EbSe-treated infected cells in-creased.Conclusion EbSe exerts anti-E.coli acute infection effect by regulating macrophage polarization and inhibiting macrophage excessive inflammatory state.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection among pediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections(RTIs)at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province,providing evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 546 children hospitalized for RTIs between January 2016 and February 2024.Nasopharyngeal aspirates or deep sputum samples were collected,and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect nucleic acids of 13 respiratory pathogens,including MP and adenovirus.The epidemiological trends across different years,seasons,genders,and age groups were analyzed.Results Among the 79 546 enrolled cases(male:47 437,59.6%;female:32 109,40.4%),the MP-positive rate was 17.7%(14 106/79 546),peaking in 2023(28.8%)and reaching the lowest in 2021(7.0%).Except for the period from July 2020 to March 2021 with exceptionally low MP positivity,epidemic peaks consistently occurred between August and February or March of the following year.Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher MP positivity in autumn and winter compared to spring(P<0.001).Female children exhibited a higher MP-positive rate(20.1%,6444/32 109)than males(16.2%,7662/47 437)(P<0.001).The MP-positive rate increased with age:infancy(3.2%,849/26 741),toddlerhood(9.3%,1935/20 763),preschool(21.2%,3918/18 448),and school-age(54.5%,7404/13 594)(P<0.001).Co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were observed in 37.3%(5264/14 106)of MP-positive cases,with human rhinovirus(HRV)being the most frequent co-pathogen(43.3%,2279/5264 of mixed infections).Conclusion MP is a major pathogen of RTIs in hospitalized children at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province.Infections occur year-round but predominantly in autumn,with higher susceptibility in females and school-age children.Targeted preventive measures should be implemented during peak seasons to mitigate transmission risks.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of multi-parameter combined monitoring in guiding low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy for intensive care unit (ICU) patients.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. A total of 381 patients who received LMWH therapy with anti-Ⅹa activity monitoring in the ICU of West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 31st, 2022, and November 30th, 2023, were enrolled in this study. The cohort comprised 264 males and 117 females, with the age of 58 (48, 71) years old. Clinical data and relevant laboratory parameters were collected, including anti-Ⅹa activity, antithrombin activity (AT), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PIC), conventional coagulation parameters such as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and indicators of hepatic/renal impairment such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatinine( CREA). Patients were stratified into three groups based on thrombotic event: thrombosis-controlled, progressive thrombosis, and bleeding group. Single-factor and adjusted multifactorial Logistic regression analysis were used to identify independent predictors of anti-xa activity levels.Results:Among 381 patients, thrombosis was controlled in 213 (55.9%) patients, progressed in 81 (21.3%) patients , and bleeding events occurred in 87 (22.8%) patients. The patients whose anti-Ⅹa activity levels lay entirely within the target range(0.2-0.4 IU/ml): Only 35 (16.4%) cases in the thrombosis-controlled group, 16 (19.7%) cases in the progressive thrombosis group, and 16 (18.4%) in the bleeding group. No significant differences in anti-Ⅹ a levels activity among the three groups ( H=1.678, P=0.432). Both single-factor and adjusted multifactorial Logistic regression identified low AT activity as an independent risk factor for failure to achieve target anti-Ⅹ a activity levels (AT nadir, OR=1.031,95% CI 1.016-1.046, P<0.05). Compared with the progressive thrombosis and bleedinggroup, the thrombosis-controlled group exhibited significantly higher proportion of TAT values below the cut-off value ( H=8.519, P=0.014), and a higher proportion of TAT/PIC ratios below the cut-off ( H=15.56, P<0.001). Patients with bleeding demonstrated significantly lower AT activity ( H=14.968, P=0.001), prolonged APTT ( H=6.815, P=0.033), higher ALT ( H=13.774, P=0.001), and higher CREA ( H=14.068, P=0.001) compared with the thrombosis-controlled or progressive thrombosis group. Conclusion:Laboratory monitoring is required for low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) therapy in ICU patients. While anti-Ⅹa activity reflects the anticoagulant effect of LMWH, the utility of anti-Ⅹ a activity for predicting thrombotic or hemorrhagic risks in LMWH treated ICU patients is limited. Reductions in TAT levels and TAT/PIC ratios are associated with a lower risk of thrombotic progression. Furthermore, abnormalities in conventional coagulation tests and standard hepatic/renal function parameters occur more frequently in patients experiencing hemorrhagic events.

Objective:To explore the value of paediatric age-adjusted shock index（SIPA）in early identification of septic shock in children，and to evaluate the relationship between SIPA and disease severity and prognosis.Methods:The infected children admitted to the department of critical care medicine of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from May 2023 to July 2024 were collected. Dynamic assessment was performed 0 to 6 hours after admission. Patients diagnosed with sepsis without septic shock were classified as the sepsis group and those diagnosed with sepsis with septic shock were classified as the septic shock group. According to whether the blood pressure of the children decreased，they were divided into two groups：compensated septic shock group and decompensated septic shock group. The difference of SIPA among the three groups was analyzed，and the predictive value of SIPA on case fatality rate，lactate level，pediatric critical illness score，ventilator utilization rate and length of hospital stay were analyzed.Results:Among 203 children with sepsis，112 were males and 91 were females. There were 146 cases in the sepsis group，37 cases in the compensated septic shock group and 20 cases in the decompensated septic shock group. There was no significant difference between the three groups in gender（ P>0.05），but there was a statistically significant difference in age（ χ 2=32.905， P<0.001）. There was no significant difference in age between the sepsis group and the compensated septic shock group（ P>0.05）. The age of sepsis group and decompensated septic shock group，compensated septic shock group and decompensated septic shock group were statistically significant（ χ 2=29.431， P<0.001； χ 2=19.764， P=0.001）. The proportion of increased SIPA was statistically different among the three groups，with both the compensated septic shock group and the decompensated septic shock group being higher than the sepsis group（ χ2=20.383， P<0.001； χ2=33.600， P<0.001）. The decompensated septic shock group was higher than the compensated septic shock group（ χ2=6.555， P=0.01）. SIPA was correlated with case fatality rate，lactate level，pediatric critical illness score，ventilator use rate and length of stay of the children，with statistically significant differences（ P<0.05）. Conclusion:The increase of SIPA can be used for the early identification of septic shock in children，and it has a certain early warning value for the prognosis assessment of sepsis and septic shock.