With the widespread use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacterial infections have become a significant threat to human health. Finding new antibacterial strategies that can effectively control drug-resistant bacterial infections has become an urgent task. Unlike small molecule drugs that target bacterial proteins, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) can target genes related to bacterial resistance, pathogenesis, growth, reproduction and biofilm formation. By regulating the expression of these genes, ASO can inhibit or kill bacteria, providing a novel approach for the development of antibacterial drugs. To overcome the challenge of delivering antisense oligonucleotide into bacterial cells, various drug delivery systems have been applied in this field, including cell-penetrating peptides, lipid nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles, which have injected new momentum into the development of antisense oligonucleotide in the antibacterial realm. This review summarizes the current development of small nucleic acid drugs, the antibacterial mechanisms, targets, sequences and delivery vectors of antisense oligonucleotide, providing a reference for the research and development of antisense oligonucleotide in the treatment of bacterial infections.

BACKGROUND: While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge. CONCLUSION Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Psychological Distress ; Inpatients/psychology* ; Aged ; Anxiety/diagnosis* ; Depression/diagnosis*

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective: To explore the moderating role of estradiol in the relationship between parenting styles and preschool children's behavioral problems, so as to provide a theoretical basis for improving the development of human s emotional health development in early life stage. Methods: During September to November in 2022, 354 children aged 3-6 years and their parents from two kindergartens in Bengbu City were chosen by using stratified cluster sampling method for the questionnaire survey. The Parenting Style Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to collect information on parenting style and child behavioral problems. Salivary estradiol of children was collected and tested. Independent samples t test was applied to compare the scores of the scale for parental up bringing and children s behavioral problems, and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship among parental upbringing, estradiol and children s behavioral problems. Results: Parents doting, laissez faire, autocratic, and inconsistent parenting styles were positive associated with child behavior problems( r =0.14-0.70); fathers democratic parenting style was negatively associated with child behavior problems( r =-0.14，-0.22，-0.21，-0.17，-0.27，-0.20); mothers democratic parenting styles was negatively correlated with scores on all five dimensions of child behavior problems except the withdrawal dimension ( r =-0.14，-0.12，-0.13，-0.21，-0.12)( P <0.05). Estradiol levels had significant moderating effects on maternal doting parenting style and children s withdrawal ( β =0.68) as well as social problems ( β =-1.00), also moderating laissez faire parenting styles and children s withdrawal problems ( β =0.75)( P <0.05). For children with low levels of estradiol, withdrawal problem scores were negatively associated with mother s doting parenting style and positively associated with laissez faire parenting style, and socialization problem scores were associated with mother s doting parenting style; for children with high levels of estradiol, withdrawal problem scores were positively associated with mother s doting parenting style, and socialization problem scores were associated with mother s doting parenting style ( t=2.84, 6.24, 3.16 , 2.37, 4.49, P <0.05). Conclusions Parenting styles are strongly associated with child behavioral problems; estradiol levels play a moderating role in mothers doting, laissez faire parenting styles and children s withdrawal problems and social problems.Parents should adopt more positive parenting styles and focus on the role of estradiol levels in maternal education to reduce the occurrence of behavioral problems in children.

Objective To investigate the causes of a cluster of suspected neonatal carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)bloodstream infection(BSI)in the neonatal department of a hospital,and provide references for the effective control of the occurrence of healthcare-associated infection(HAI).Methods Epidemiological in-vestigation on 3 neonates with CRKP BSI in the neonatal department from January 31 to February 6,2023 was per-formed.Specimens from environmental object surfaces were taken for environmental hygiene monitoring,and effec-tive control measures were taken according to the risk factors.Results From January 31 to February 6,2023,a to-tal of 60 neonates were admitted in the neonatal department,including 16 with peripherally inserted central venous catheter(PICC).Three neonates had CRKP BSI,with a incidence of 5.00％.There were 33 hospitalized neonates on the day(February 7)when the cluster of HAI was reported,with a prevalence rate of 9.09％(3/33).CRKP BSI rate in the neonatal department of this hospital from January 31 to February 6,2023 was higher than that in 2022(P＜0.001).The incubators of the 3 neonates with CRKP BSI were in the same ward and adjacent to each other.The first neonate with CRKP BSI(who developed BSI on January 31)underwent PICC maintenance on Feb-ruary 4,and the other 2 neonates with PICC maintenance immediately following the first one also developed CRKP BSI.CRKP were isolated from blood culture of all 3 neonates,and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were consistent.Conclusion The occurrence of the cluster event of neonatal CRKP BSI may be related to the failure of strict implementation of aseptic procedures during PICC maintenance and cross contamination among items.

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of Huidu Yinhua powder from the Orthodox Manual of External Medicine on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),virulence factor α-hemolysin(Hla)activity,and biofilm formation,and to explore the optimal ratios of Huidu Yinhua powder and provide experimental support for its use.Methods The inhibitory effects of Huidu Yinhua powder and the herbs in the formula on USA300 were analyzed by the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC),minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC),and disk diffusion assay(K-B method).Hemolysis,neutralization,oligomerization,and Western blot assays were used to verify in which form the drug inhibits the activity of virulence factor α-hemolysin(Hla).A biofilm assay was performed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Huidu Yinhua powder on biofilm.Orthogonal experiments were performed to explore the optimal ratio of Huidu Yinhua powder.Results Huidu Yinhua powder inhibited the MRSA strain with a MIC90 of 64 mg/mL and an MBC of 256 mg/mL with antibacterial circle diameter of(7.50±0.50)mm.Huidu Yinhua powder inhibited Hla activity by inhibiting Hla secretion.The minimum effective concentration(MEC)was 16 mg/mL,and the MEC of biofilm was 8 mg/mL.In Huidu Yinhua powder,honeysuckle and astragalus only affected the hemolytic activity of MRSA and biofilm formation without inhibiting bacterial growth.The hemolytic activity and biofilm of MEC were both 32 mg/mL.Glycyrrhiza had a strong bacterial inhibitory capacity with a MIC90 of 8 mg/mL and biofilm MEC of 1 mg/mL without showing inhibitory hemolytic activity at subinhibitory concentrations.The orthogonal experiment showed that,at a ratio of honeysuckle,astragalus,and glycyrrhiza in Huidu Yinhua powder of 1∶2∶4,the MIC90 was 16 mg/mL,MEC of hemolytic activity was 8 mg/mL and that of biofilm was 4 mg/mL,both of which were the lowest among the nine groups.Conclusions Huidu Yinhua powder affects the hemolytic activity and biofilm formation of MRSA at subinhibitory concentrations with the optimal ratio of honeysuckle,astragalus,and glycyrrhiza being 1∶2∶4.

Objective To explore the mechanism by which diazepam alleviates lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced pyroptosis and inflammation to delay the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.Methods MRC-5 cells challenged with LPS were treated with diazepam and transfected with a let-7a-5p mimic alone or co-transfected with pc-DNA-MYD88.The changes in cellular expressions of inflammatory factors were analyzed with ELISA,and the expressions of fibrosis-and pyroptosis-related proteins were detected using Western blotting.In the animal experiment,C57BL/6 mice were randomized for treatment with LPS,LPS+diazepam,LPS+diazepam+let-7a-5p mimic,LPS+diazepam+ST2825(a MYD88 inhibitor),or LPS+diazepam+let-7a-5p mimic+pc-DNA-MYD88,and pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary expression of α-SMA were examined using Masson staining and immunofluorescence staining,respectively.Results LPS exposure of MRC-5 cells significantly downregulated let-7a-5p expression,up-regulated MYD88 expression,increased the levels of IL-4,IL-6,TGF-β and TNF-α,and enhanced the expressions of fibrosis-related proteins(Col-I,Col-III,and α-SMA)and pyroptosis-related proteins(NLRP3,caspase-1,ASC,and GSDMD-N).Diazepam treatment of LPS-stimulated cells effectively inhibited the expressions of inflammation-related factors and the fibrosis-and pyroptosis-related proteins.In C57BL/6 mice,diazepam treatment obviously alleviated LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis and reduced and pulmonary expression of α-SMA,and these effects were further enhanced by treatment with let-7a-5p mimic or ST2825,but the effect of let-7a-5p mimic was significantly attenuated by MYD88 over-expression.Conclusion Diazepam can negatively regulate MYD88 by upregulating the expression of let-7a-5p to inhibit LPS-induced pyroptosis and inflammatory response,thereby alleviating lung fibrosis in mice.

Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels and the severity of neurological deficit and incidence of post-stroke depression(PSD)in pa-tients with ischemic stroke(IS).Methods A total of 191 IS patients attended to the First Affilia-ted Hospital of Nanyang Medical College from July 2021 to July 2023 were enrolled as the study group,and another 191 healthy individuals who taking physical examination in the same period were recruited as the control group.According to the NIHSS score,the patients were divided into mild,moderate and severe neurological deficit subgroups(82,68 and 41 cases,respectively),while according to the results of Hamilton Depression Scale,112 cases were assigned into a non-PSD subgroup and 79 cases into a PSD subgroup.Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlation between plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels and NIHSS score.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors for the occur-rence of PSD in IS patients,and ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive values of plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels for the occurrence of PSD in IS patients.Results The plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels were significantly higher in the study group than the control group(P＜0.01).The levels and NIHSS score were significantly increase in the mild,moderate and severe neurological deficit subgroups in order(P＜0.01).The two levels and NIHSS score were all positively correlated(P＜0.01).The PSD group had more severe deficiency,and higher levels of miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p than the non-PSD group(P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed,the plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels and severe deficiency were risk factors for the occurrence of PSD in IS patients(OR=3.248,95％CI:1.623-6.501;OR=4.258,95％CI:1.739-10.428;OR=2.261,95％CI:1.261-4.055).The AUC value of miR-497-5p,miR-331-5p and their combined together for predicting the occurrence of PSD in IS patients was 0.836,0.817 and 0.911,respectively,with the value of combined indicators was supe-rior to that of single one(P＜0.05).Conclusion Plasma miR-497-5p and miR-331-5p levels are significantly elevated in IS patients,which are closely associated with the severity of neurological deficits and the occurrence of PSD.Their combination shows a good predictive value for the occur-rence of PSD in IS patients.

Purpose To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder polypoid lesions(GPLs)(diameter≥10 mm).Materials and Methods A prospective enrollment of 229 patients with GPLs who underwent cholecystectomy in 17 hospitals from December 1 2021 to June 30 2024 was conducted to analyze the relationship between general data,conventional ultrasound,CEUS characteristics and the nature of GPLs.Multivariate Logistic regression was employed to identify independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps,the differential diagnostic value of different indicators was compared.Results Among 229 patients with GPLs,there were 108 cases of cholesterol polyps,102 cases of adenoma and 19 cases of gallbladder cancer.Age(Z=-4.476,P<0.001),polyp number(χ2=15.561,P<0.001),diameter(Z=-8.149,P<0.001),echogenicity(χ2=9.241,P=0.010),vascularity(χ2=23.107,P<0.001),enhancement intensity(χ2=47.610,P<0.001),enhancement pattern(χ2=6.468,P=0.011),vascular type(χ2=84.470,P<0.001),integrity of gallbladder wall(χ2=7.662,P=0.006)and stalk width(Z=-9.831,P<0.001)between cholesterol polyps and neoplastic polyps were statistically significant.Age,location,diameter,echogenicity,enhancement pattern,vascular type and stalk width between adenoma and gallbladder cancer were statistically significant(Z=-4.333,-3.902,-5.042,all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that hyper-enhancement,branched vascular type and stalk width were independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps(OR=4.563,5.770,3.075,all P<0.001).The combination of independent risk factors was better than single factor and diameter in the differential diagnosis of cholesterol polyps and neoplastic polyps(all P<0.01).Conclusion CEUS can effectively identify the nature of GPLs and provide a valuable imaging reference for the selection of treatment methods.

Objective To explore the mechanism by which diazepam alleviates lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced pyroptosis and inflammation to delay the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.Methods MRC-5 cells challenged with LPS were treated with diazepam and transfected with a let-7a-5p mimic alone or co-transfected with pc-DNA-MYD88.The changes in cellular expressions of inflammatory factors were analyzed with ELISA,and the expressions of fibrosis-and pyroptosis-related proteins were detected using Western blotting.In the animal experiment,C57BL/6 mice were randomized for treatment with LPS,LPS+diazepam,LPS+diazepam+let-7a-5p mimic,LPS+diazepam+ST2825(a MYD88 inhibitor),or LPS+diazepam+let-7a-5p mimic+pc-DNA-MYD88,and pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary expression of α-SMA were examined using Masson staining and immunofluorescence staining,respectively.Results LPS exposure of MRC-5 cells significantly downregulated let-7a-5p expression,up-regulated MYD88 expression,increased the levels of IL-4,IL-6,TGF-β and TNF-α,and enhanced the expressions of fibrosis-related proteins(Col-I,Col-III,and α-SMA)and pyroptosis-related proteins(NLRP3,caspase-1,ASC,and GSDMD-N).Diazepam treatment of LPS-stimulated cells effectively inhibited the expressions of inflammation-related factors and the fibrosis-and pyroptosis-related proteins.In C57BL/6 mice,diazepam treatment obviously alleviated LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis and reduced and pulmonary expression of α-SMA,and these effects were further enhanced by treatment with let-7a-5p mimic or ST2825,but the effect of let-7a-5p mimic was significantly attenuated by MYD88 over-expression.Conclusion Diazepam can negatively regulate MYD88 by upregulating the expression of let-7a-5p to inhibit LPS-induced pyroptosis and inflammatory response,thereby alleviating lung fibrosis in mice.