The paper introduces the experience of Professor LI Rui in treatment of diseases with bloodletting therapy. Regarding acupoint selection, the main acupoints are selected from the meridians containing excessive blood based on the identification of pathogenesis, and the back-shu points of the foot-taiyang bladder meridian are predominant. The acupoints (e.g. Geshu [BL17], Xuehai [SP10] and Weizhong [BL40]) acting on blood regulations are frequently selected, and the acupoints from the governor vessel (e.g. Dazhui [GV14], Zhiyang [GV9] and Yaoyangguan [GV3]) are specially used for regulating yang qi. Besides, the five-shu points and local points are combined in the prescriptions. This paper expounds the connotation of bloodletting therapy, explores the basis of acupoint selection and clinical application characteristics, and analyzes the clinical cases, so as to provide the approaches to acupoint selection for the clinical application of bloodletting therapy.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Bloodletting ; Meridians

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of ethanol on markers of gastric stem cells and epithe-lial cells,and explore the related signal pathways for stem cells differentiation in a mouse gastric mucous injury model.METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control and ethanol groups.The mice in the control group were given normal drinking water while those in the ethanol group were gavaged with 10 ml·kg-1 50%(V/V)ethanol on day 1,and drinking water containing 10%(V/V)ethanol was given on day 2-9.On the 10th day,stomach tissues were collected.HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in the stomach.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining was used to detect changes of such cell markers as mucin 5AC,H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.Immunofluorescence(IF)staining was employed to analyze changes in expression of cell markers such as H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C and gastrin.ELISA assay was used to measure gastrin,somatostatin and interleukin 1β(IL-1β)concentrations in gastric tissue homogenates.Flow cytometry was adopted to measure the number of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 positive(LGR5+)stem cells in gastric glands.Organoids was constructed to characterize stem cell activity.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the inflammatory pathways and differentiation signaling pathways during mice gastric mucous injury.RESULTS H&E results showed multifocal necrosis of the mucosal layer appeared in the ethanol group,accompanied by pyknosis,lysis and detachment of mucosal epithelial cells and gastric gland cells.IHC results showed decreased expressions of mucin 5AC and increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.IF results revealed increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C,and gastrin after ethanol treatment.ELISA results demonstrated significant increases in gastrin,somatostatin and IL-1β levels in gastric tissues of the ethanol group.Flow assay results suggested that the number of LGR5+stem cells significantly decreased in ethanol treated gastric tissues.Stem cells from stomach tissues treated with ethanol did not grow into organoids.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed enrichment of TNF,NF-κB and Notch pathways in the ethanol group.CONCLUSION Administration of 50%ethanol solution on day 1,followed by continuous admin-istration of 10%ethanol solution on day 2-9 can induce histopathological injury to the gastric gland and stem cells,and an increase in epithelial cells.These changes may be related to the up-regulation of inflammatory pathways and Notch signaling pathways triggered by ethanol.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of ethanol on markers of gastric stem cells and epithe-lial cells,and explore the related signal pathways for stem cells differentiation in a mouse gastric mucous injury model.METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control and ethanol groups.The mice in the control group were given normal drinking water while those in the ethanol group were gavaged with 10 ml·kg-1 50%(V/V)ethanol on day 1,and drinking water containing 10%(V/V)ethanol was given on day 2-9.On the 10th day,stomach tissues were collected.HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in the stomach.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining was used to detect changes of such cell markers as mucin 5AC,H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.Immunofluorescence(IF)staining was employed to analyze changes in expression of cell markers such as H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C and gastrin.ELISA assay was used to measure gastrin,somatostatin and interleukin 1β(IL-1β)concentrations in gastric tissue homogenates.Flow cytometry was adopted to measure the number of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 positive(LGR5+)stem cells in gastric glands.Organoids was constructed to characterize stem cell activity.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the inflammatory pathways and differentiation signaling pathways during mice gastric mucous injury.RESULTS H&E results showed multifocal necrosis of the mucosal layer appeared in the ethanol group,accompanied by pyknosis,lysis and detachment of mucosal epithelial cells and gastric gland cells.IHC results showed decreased expressions of mucin 5AC and increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.IF results revealed increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C,and gastrin after ethanol treatment.ELISA results demonstrated significant increases in gastrin,somatostatin and IL-1β levels in gastric tissues of the ethanol group.Flow assay results suggested that the number of LGR5+stem cells significantly decreased in ethanol treated gastric tissues.Stem cells from stomach tissues treated with ethanol did not grow into organoids.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed enrichment of TNF,NF-κB and Notch pathways in the ethanol group.CONCLUSION Administration of 50%ethanol solution on day 1,followed by continuous admin-istration of 10%ethanol solution on day 2-9 can induce histopathological injury to the gastric gland and stem cells,and an increase in epithelial cells.These changes may be related to the up-regulation of inflammatory pathways and Notch signaling pathways triggered by ethanol.

Objective To investigate the causes of abnormal decrease in maximum amplitude(MA)of thromboelastog-raphy(TEG)and its effect on prognosis by monitoring the changes of coagulation-related indexes in emergency trauma pa-tients.Methods A total of 319 cases of trauma patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and the coagulation-related indexes of 0 h and 24 h after admission were observed.According to the MA results,they were divided into normal MA group(>50 mm)and reduced MA group(≤50 mm)to compare the hemoglobin(Hb),platelets count(Plt),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT),fibrinogen(Fib),thrombin time(TT),D-dimer(D-D),coagulation reaction time(R),clot formation kinetics(Angle),30 min clot dissolution rate(Ly30),MA,thrombine-antithrombin complex(TAT)and plasminase-α2 plasminase inhibitor complex(PIC).The correlation between MA and fibrinolysis indexes in 319 trauma patients was analyzed.According to whether tranexamic acid(TXA)was used,the reduced MA group was divided into a TXA group and a non-drug group.The differ-ences in the change of the above coagulation-related indexes,mortality rate and changes in blood product dosage were com-pared between the two groups.Results Compared with the normal MA group,Hb,Plt,Fib,diastolic blood pressure and GCS scores decreased,while heart rate,ISS score and mortality increased significantly in the reduced MA group(P<0.05).The R,PT and TT were prolonged significantly(P<0.05),and PIC and D-D increased significantly(P<0.05)in the re-duced MA group.Correlation analysis found that MA had no correlation with Ly30,TAT and APTT,but was correlated with Angle(r=0.803),Plt(r=0.544),Fib(r=0.581),PIC(r=-0.443)and D-D(r=-0.343).Compared with the non-drug group,the change of Angle,MA and FIB in the TXA group increased significantly(P<0.05),while the change of PIC de-creased(P<0.05).Cryoprecipitate and platelet transfusion in the TXA group reduced significantly(P<0.05),and red blood cell transfusion had a decreasing trend,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).The mortality rate in the TXA group was reduced significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Hyperfibrinolysis may be an important factor in the abnormal decrease of MA in emergency trauma patients.Treatment with TXA can improve its effect on MA,and reduce the transfusion of blood products and the patient mortality.

Objective:To accurately ascertain the whole genome sequencing and the composition of open reading frames (ORFs) of non-replicating Tiantan strain of vaccinia virus (NTV) using next-generation long-read sequencing technology.Methods:NTV, obtained from our laboratory stock, was amplified and purified on chicken embryo fibroblast cells(CEFs), and the full-length genomic nucleic acid of NTV was extracted. The PacBio HiFi sequencing platform was utilized for de novo assembly to obtain the complete genomic sequence of NTV. Using a homology annotation strategy, we identified its ORF composition and compared it with known non-replicating vaccinia virus strains. Results:The total length of NTV′s genome was 171 729 bp, with a GC content of 33%. Its unique inverted terminal repeat (ITR) region comprised hairpin structures, two tandem repeat regions, and three non-repeat regions. NTV contained 166 ORFs, with major differences observed in the ITR and its surrounding regions when compared to MVA-BN and NYVAC. These three strains shared a common set of 138 ORFs. NTV encoded six unique ORFs related to virus evasion of host antiviral response.Conclusions:This study accurately determines the whole genome sequencing and ORFs composition of NTV, and reveals its similarities and differences with other replication-deficient vaccinia virus strains, which pave a way for the development and application of the next generation of monkeypox vaccines and novel viral vectors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of genetic variants in 134 patients diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Clinical data of the 134 patients with AML (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) initially diagnosed at the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from June 2017 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Potential variants of AML-related genes were detected by next-generation sequencing, and the frequency of variants was analyzed by using SPSS v26.0 software, and likelihood ratio χ² test and Fisher exact test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The patients had included 72 males and 62 females, with a gender ratio of 1.7 : 1 and a median age of 51 years (9 ~ 86 years old). One hundred twenty patients (76.1%) had harbored at least one genetic variant, including 26 (19.4%) having a single variant, 27 (20.1%) having two variants, and 49 (36.6%) having >= 3 variants. 32 (23.9%) had no detectable variants. Genetic variants detected in over 10% of the 134 patients had included NPM1 (n = 24, 17.91%), FLT3-ITD (n = 21, 15.67%), DNMT3A (n = 20, 14.93%), CEBPA (single variant; n = 14, 10.45%), TET2 (n = 14, 10.45%), and NRAS (n = 14, 10.45%). The patients were also divided into low risk, intermediate risk and high risk groups based on their chromosomal karyotypes. The mutational rates for genes in different groups have varied, with 19 patients from the low risk group harboring variants of NRAS (n = 4, 21.05%), KRAS (n = 4, 21.05%), and KIT (n = 2, 10.53%); and 96 patients from the intermediate risk group harboring variants of NPM1 (n = 24, 25.00%), FLT3-ITD (n = 20, 20.83%), DNMT3A (n = 18, 18.75%), CEBPA (n = 12, 12.50%), and TET2 genes (n = 12, 12.50%). The mutational frequencies for the 19 patients from the high risk group were ASXL1 (n = 7, 21.05%), NRAS (n = 3, 15.97%), TP53 (n = 3, 15.79%), and EZH2 (n = 2, 10.53%). A significant difference was found in the frequencies of KIT, NPM1, FLT3-ITD, DNMT3A, and ASXL1 gene variants among the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups. CONCLUSION AML patients have a high frequency for genetic variants, with 76.1% harboring at least one variant. The frequency of genetic variants have varied among patients with different chromosomal karyotypes, and there are apparent dominant variants. KIT, NPM1, FLT3-ITD, DNMT3A, and ASXL1 may be used as prognostic factors for evaluating their prognosis.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Nuclear Proteins ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Aged ; East Asian People

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly-onset gouty arthritis and risk factors of tophi.Methods:A total of 1 239 gout patients were retrospective selected in the outpatient department of the Gout Clinical Medical Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2016 to 2022. According to age of onset, they were divided into the young and middle-aged group(aged<60) consisted of 826 cases, and the elderly group(aged≥60) consisted of 413 cases. Compare the clinical characteristics of elderly with Young and Middle-aged patients.Results:The systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, regular exercise, comorbidities, and tophi in the elderly group was higher than that in the middle-aged and young group. The proportion of diastolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, eGFR, serum uric acid, alcohol consumption rate, and family history of gout was lower than that of young and middle-aged group( P<0.05); In the elderly-onset group, the initial site of arthritis was commonly observed in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The proportion of the first attack with the upper limb joint was higher in old age group than in young and middle age group( P<0.05). Renal underexcretion type was the main subtype in the elderly group, and the proportion of overproduction type was higher than that of the young and middle-aged group( P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, urea nitrogen, disease duration≥10 years and family history of gout were risk factors for tophi in elderly patients( P<0.05). Conclusion:The elderly-onset gout has unique clinical characteristics, characterized by a higher prevalence of tophi, a higher rate of complications. An initial site of arthritis commonly observed in the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the predominant type of uric acid excretion is renal excretion impairment. Early diagnosis and treatment, control of blood uric acid levels, smoking cessation and alcohol, regular exercise should be applied to prevent or delay the formation of tophi.

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Vaccination

The epitranscriptomic mark N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), which is the predominant internal modification in RNA, is important for plant responses to diverse stresses. Multiple environmental stresses caused by the tea-withering process can greatly influence the accumulation of specialized metabolites and the formation of tea flavor. However, the effects of the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism on flavor-related metabolic pathways in tea leaves remain relatively uncharacterized. We performed an integrated RNA methylome and transcriptome analysis to explore the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism and its effects on flavonoid and terpenoid metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves under solar-withering conditions. Dynamic changes in global m⁶A level in tea leaves were mainly controlled by two m⁶A erasers (CsALKBH4A and CsALKBH4B) during solar-withering treatments. Differentially methylated peak-associated genes following solar-withering treatments with different shading rates were assigned to terpenoid biosynthesis and spliceosome pathways. Further analyses indicated that CsALKBH4-driven RNA demethylation can directly affect the accumulation of volatile terpenoids by mediating the stability and abundance of terpenoid biosynthesis-related transcripts and also indirectly influence the flavonoid, catechin, and theaflavin contents by triggering alternative splicing-mediated regulation. Our findings revealed a novel layer of epitranscriptomic gene regulation in tea flavor-related metabolic pathways and established a link between the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism and the formation of tea flavor under solar-withering conditions.
RNA/metabolism* ; Epigenome ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plant Leaves/metabolism* ; Camellia sinensis/metabolism* ; Flavonoids ; Terpenes/metabolism* ; Tea/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

Objective:To investigate epidemiological characteristics and macrolide-resistance of hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections in Beijing from 2016 to 2019, so as to provide basis for the prevention and treatment of pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).Methods:The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively from 8 691 children hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia in Beijing Children′s Hospital between January 2016 and September 2019.MP RNA was detected by simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT), and macrolide resistance of MP was examined by MP and macrolide-resistant isolate diagnostic kit (PCR with fluorescence probes). Chi- square test was used for categorical analysis. Results:Among 8 691 cases detected by SAT, the overall detection rate of MP was 28.10% (2 442/8 691 cases). The detection rates of MP from 2016 to 2019 were 26.23%, 31.36%, 27.84 % and 26.57%, respectively.The detection rate of MP in 2017 was significantly higher than that in other years ( χ2=16.11, P<0.05). The detection rate of MP in females was 29.65%(1 107/3 733 cases), which was evidently higher than that in males 26.93%(1 335/4 958 cases) ( χ2=7.85, P<0.05). The positive rates of MP in summer[32.21% (726/2 254 cases)] and autumn[39.76%(852/2 143 cases)] were significantly higher than those in spring[17.00% (327/1 924 cases)] and winter[22.66%(537/2 370 cases)] ( χ2=315.15, P<0.001). The percentages of MP were 35.06%(732/2 088 cases) in preschoolers and 37.71%(1 160/3 076 cases) in school-age children, which were significantly higher than 11.20%(232/2 072 cases) in infants and 22.01% (318/1 445 cases) in toddlers ( χ2=509.89, P<0.001). Macrolide resistance detection was conducted in 1 524 patients by fluorescent PCR.Among them, 1 386 patients were positive for drug resistance, and the positive rate was 90.94%.The prevalence of macrolide-resistant MP from 2016 to 2019 were 88.19%, 90.93%, 90.56% and 92.90%, respectively.Macrolide-resistant rates were not related with gender, age and season. Conclusions:MP can be detected in all seasons, but most prevalently in summer and autumn.Girls are more prone to MP infections than boys.The detection rate of MP increases with age, and the positive rate is higher in preschoolers and school-age children.During the 4-year study period, the drug resistant rate of MP remain high.