The AP2/ERF transcription factor family is a class of transcription factors widely present in plants, playing a crucial role in regulating flowering, flower development, flower opening, and flower senescence. Based on transcriptome data from flower, leaf, and stem samples of two Lonicera macranthoides varieties, 117 L. macranthoides AP2/ERF family members were identified, including 14 AP2 subfamily members, 61 ERF subfamily members, 40 DREB subfamily members, and 2 RAV subfamily members. Bioinformatics and differential gene expression analyses were performed using NCBI, ExPASy, SOMPA, and other platforms, and the expression patterns of L. macranthoides AP2/ERF transcription factors were validated via qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the 117 LmAP2/ERF members exhibited both similarities and variations in protein physicochemical properties, AP2 domains, family evolution, and protein functions. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that AP2/ERF transcription factors were primarily differentially expressed in the flowers of the two L. macranthoides varieties, with the differentially expressed genes mainly belonging to the ERF and DREB subfamilies. Further analysis identified three AP2 subfamily genes and two ERF subfamily genes as potential regulators of flower development, two ERF subfamily genes involved in flower opening, and two ERF subfamily genes along with one DREB subfamily gene involved in flower senescence. Based on family evolution and expression analyses, it is speculated that AP2/ERF transcription factors can regulate flower development, opening, and senescence in L. macranthoides, with ERF subfamily genes potentially serving as key regulators of flowering duration. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research into the specific functions of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family in L. macranthoides and offer important theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral phenotypic differences among its varieties.
Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription Factors/chemistry* ; Lonicera/classification* ; Flowers/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Multigene Family

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Sepsis/epidemiology* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) have recently been identified to be closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS). A growing body of evidence has suggested Chinese medicine takes unique advantages in preventing and treating AS. In this review, the related research progress of AS and LOX-1 has been summarized. And the anti-AS effects of 10 active components of herbal medicine through LOX-1 regulation have been further reviewed. As a potential biomarker and target for intervention in AS, LOX-1 targeted therapy might provide a promising and novel approach to atherosclerotic prevention and treatment.
Humans ; Atherosclerosis ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E/physiology* ; Biomarkers ; Plant Extracts ; Lipoproteins, LDL

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.
Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Uric Acid ; Hyperuricemia ; Biological Availability ; Cytokines

To scientifically evaluate the intervention effect of Chinese medicine preventive administration(combined use of Huo-xiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) on community population in the case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a large cohort, prospective, randomized, and parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. Total 22 065 subjects were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. The non-intervention group was given health guidance only, while the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention group was given two coordinated TCM in addition to health guidance. The medical instructions were as follows. Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid: oral before meals, 10 mL/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days. Jinhao Jiere Granules: dissolve in boiling water and take after meals, 8 g/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days, followed up for 14 days, respectively. The study found that with the intake of medication, the incidence rate of TCM intervention group was basically maintained at a low and continuous stable level(0.01%-0.02%), while the non-intervention group showed an overall trend of continuous growth(0.02%-0.18%) from 3 to 14 days. No suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of colds in the TCM intervention group and 26 cases in the non-intervention group. The incidence of colds in the TCM intervention group was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that in the non-intervention group. In the population of 16-60 years old, the incidence rate of non-intervention and intervention groups were 0.01% and 0.25%, respectively. The difference of colds incidence between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the population older than 60 years old, they were 0.04% and 0.21%, respectively. The incidence of colds in the non-intervention group was higher than that in the intervention group, but not reaching statistical difference. The protection rate of TCM for the whole population was 91.8%, especially for the population of age 16-60(95.0%). It was suggested that TCM intervention(combined use of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) could effectively protect community residents against respiratory diseases, such as colds, which was worthy of promotion in the community. In addition, in terms of safety, the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions in the TCM intervention group was relatively low, which was basically consistent with the drug instructions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of the long-term safety outcomes after aortic valve replacements (AVR) with conventional biological heart valve (stented or stentless). METHODS: English databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrial.gov) and Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, WanFang, and SinoMed) were searched systemically from January 1, 2000 to January 26, 2019. Eligible randomized controlled trials, non-randomized clinical trials, cohort studies (retrospective or prospective), and unselected case series were included. Strict screening of the obtained literature was conducted to extract relevant data by two reviewers. Other inclusion criteria were studied reporting on outcomes of AVR with biological valves (stented or stentless), with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or valve repair procedure, with mean follow-up length equal to or longer than 5 years. We excluded studies that reported only a specific patient group (e.g., patients with renal failure, or pregnancy), without the report of biological valve type, or with study population size less than 100. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS: In this study, 53 papers (in total 57 study groups) involving 47 803 patients were included. (1) The all-cause mortality was 6.33/100 patient-years (95%CI: 5.85-6.84). Subgroup analysis showed that the mortality rates of porcine and bovine valve prostheses were 5.69/100 patient-years (95%CI: 5.05-6.41) and 7.29/100 patient-years (95%CI: 6.53-8.13), respectively. The all-cause mortality rates for stented and stentless valve were 6.69/100 patient-years (95%CI: 6.12-7.30) and 5.21/100 patient-years (95%CI: 4.43-6.14), respectively. (2) The incidence rate of thromboembolism was 1.16/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.96-1.40), the incidence rate of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation was 1.08/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.75-1.54), the incidence rate of stroke was 0.74/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.51-1.06), the incidence rate of structural valve dysfunction (SVD) was 0.73/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.59-0.91), the incidence rate of major bleeding was 0.52/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.41-0.65), the incidence rate of endocarditis was 0.38/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.33-0.44), and the incidence rate of non-structural valve dysfunction (NSVD) was 0.20/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.13-0.31). The total reoperation rate for biological aortic valve was 0.77/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.65-0.91), and the SVD related reoperation rate was 0.46/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.36-0.58). CONCLUSION The all-cause mortality for conventional biological AVR was 6.33/100 patient-years. Thromboembolism, PPM implantation, reoperation, stroke, and SVD were major long term complications.
Animals ; Aortic Valve ; Cattle ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Prosthesis Design ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of total hip arthroplasty(THA) with the prosthesis of 127° small neck stem angle and 135° large neck stem angle. METHODS: From January 2014 to June 2016, 84 patients with THA were selected, including 44 males and 40 females, aged 45 to 72(53.4±8.1) years old, 68 patients with necrosis of the femoral head(32 on the left and 36 on the right), 16 patients with serious osteoarthritis of the hip caused by other reasons, and the course of disease was 9 to 36 (24.0±5.5) months. Forty-two patients in each group were evaluated by Harris score, visual analog score(VAS), length measurement of lower limbs, biomechanical evaluation of different angles of the neck stem. The complications and quality of life 24 months after operation were compared. RESULTS: Two patients in each group were lost, the rest were followed up for 30 to 36 (33.0±1.6)months. The Harris score and the length of both lower limbs were measured before and 1, 6, 12, 24 months after operation. The difference of Harris score and the length of both lower limbs in the two groups was significantly improved compared with that before operation( CONCLUSION THA with large and small neck stem angle prosthesis can better recover the function of hip joint, but large neck stem angle can reduce the degree of postoperative pain and improve the quality of life of patients.
Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Hip Joint/surgery* ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the role of C-X-C motif chemokine 13 (CXCL13) in sepsis-associated encephalopathy in mice.Methods A total of 64 healthy male C57BL/6J mice,aged 3-4 months,weighing 20-25 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=16 each) using a random number table method:sham operation group (Sham group),sepsis group (S group),CXCL13 siRNA group (si-CXCL13 group) and negative control siRNA group (si-control group).5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected twice a day for 3 consecutive days in the four groups,and then lipopolysaccharide 500 μg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to establish the sepsis model in S,si-CXCL13 and si-control groups.CXCL13 siRNA 5 μl and siRNA 5 μl were injected into the left lateral cerebral ventricle in si-CXCL13 and si-control groups,respectively,at 3 days before establishing the model.Morris water maze test was performed at 5 days after establishing the model.The escape latency,time spent in the target quadrant,and the number of crossing the platform were recorded.Mice were sacrificed after the end of test,brains were removed and hippocampi were isolated for examination of the pathological changes of the dentate gyrus (with a light microscope) and for determination of the expression of CXCL13,C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),and the number of BrdU and BrdU/NeuroD positive cells (by immunofluorescence).Results Compared with sham group,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the time spent in the target quadrant was shortened,and the number of crossing the platform was reduced on 2nd-4th days,the number of BrdU positive cells in the dentate gyrus was increased,and the number of BrdU/NeuroD positive cells in the dentate gyrus was decreased in S,siCXCL13 and si-control groups,and the expression of CXCL13 and CXCR5 was up-regulated,and the expression of BDNF was down-regulated in LPS and si-control groups (P＜0.05).Compared with S group,the escape latency was significantly shortened,the time spent in the target quadrant was prolonged,and the number of crossing the platform was increased on 2nd-4th days,the number of BrdU positive cells in the dentate gyrus was decreased,the number of BrdU/NeuroD positive cells in the dentate gyrus was increased,and the expression of CXCL13 and CXCR5 was down-regulated,and the expression of BDNF was up-regulated in si-CXCL13 group (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in si-control group (P＞0.05).Conclusion CXCL13 is involved in sepsis-associated encephalopathy through regulating hippocampal neurogenesis,and the mechanism may be related to down-regulating the expression of hippocampal BDNF in mice.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of different biomarkers for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury ( AKI ) in the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass ( CPB) . Methods A total of 200 patients, aged 22-86 yr, weighing 46-87 kg, scheduled for elective cardiovascular surgery under CPB, were enrolled in this study. The concentration of serum creatinine was determined at 1 day before operation and 1-7 days after operation. At 1 day before operation and 0, 2, 6 and 12 h after operation, the concentrations of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C ( Cys C) , tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase type 2 ( TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 ( IGFBP-7) were determined. The TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7 product ( TI) was calcu-lated. AKI was diagnosed after surgery according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted, and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve ( AUC) was calculated. Results The incidence of AKI was 20. 5％. The AUC of AKI diagnosed by the concentration of urine NGAL was 0. 689, 0. 709, 0. 713 and 0. 803 at 0, 2, 6 and 12 h after opera-tion, respectively ( P<0. 05) . The AUC of AKI diagnosed by the concentration of urine Cys C was 0. 639, 0. 762, 0. 774 and 0. 812 at 0, 2, 6 and 12 h after operation, respectively ( P<0. 05) . The AUC of AKIdiagnosed by TI was 0. 687, 0. 721, 0. 740 and 0. 779 at 0, 2, 6 and 12 h after operation, respectively ( P<0. 05) . The AUC of AKI diagnosed by combined three indices the parallel test was 0. 694, 0. 773 and 0. 794 at 0, 2 and 6 h after operation, respectively ( P<0. 05) . The AUC of AKI diagnosed by the serial test was 0. 610, 0. 631 and 0. 667 at 0, 2 and 6 h after operation, respectively. Conclusion Urine NGAL or Cys C concentrations or TI single detection and parallel test have a certain accuracy for early diag-nosis of AKI in the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery under CPB.