OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the protective effect of Bufei Yishen Formula (BYF) against cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced injuries in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: BEAS-2B cells exposed to CSE were treated with normal rat serum, BYF-medicated rat serum at low or high doses, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, a NF-κB inhibitor), PDTC combined with high-dose BYF-medicated serum, or S-carbomethyloysteine (S-CMC, as the positive control). CCK-8 assay was used to determine the optimal concentration and treatment time of CSE, BYF-medicated serum and S-CMC. The treated cells were examined for inflammatory factor levels in the supernatant and cellular expressions of MUC5AC and MUC5B using ELISA, cell ultrastructural changes with transmission electron microscopy, and cell apoptosis rate using flow cytometry. The expression levels of TLR4/NF‑κB pathway-associated mRNAs and proteins were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: CSE exposure significantly increased secretions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, mRNA and protein expressions of MUC5AC and MUC5B, and early and total apoptosis rates in BEAS-2B cells, where the presence of apoptotic bodies was detected. CSE also significantly enhanced the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, I-κB, and NF-κB and reduced mRNA and protein expressions of AQP5. Treatments of the CSE-exposed cells with BYF-medicated serum, PDTC and S-CMC all significantly lowered inflammatory factor levels, MUC5AC and MUC5B expressions, and early and total cell apoptosis rates, and partly reversed the changes in cellular ultrastructure and mRNA and protein expressions of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, and the effects were the most conspicuous following the combined treatment with high-dose BYF-medicated serum and PDTC. CONCLUSIONS BYF can inhibit cell apoptosis, inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in CSE-induced BEAS-2B cells by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Epithelial Cells/cytology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Bronchi/cytology* ; Smoke/adverse effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mucin 5AC/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Mucin-5B/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Nicotiana ; Rats ; Thiocarbamates/pharmacology* ; Animals

Objective:To investigate the dynamic trend of platelet（PLT）count and mean platelet volume（MPV）in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia（SCAP）in PICU and their correlation with prognosis.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted in 215 SCAP children who were admitted to the PICU of Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019.According to the disease outcome，the patients were divided into improvement group ( n=184) and unrecovered group ( n=31).The changes of PLT count and MPV at admission，on the 2nd，3rd，and 7th days of hospitalization and before discharge were observed，and the relationship between changes in PLT parameters and poor prognosis was analyzed. Meanwhile，the correlation between thrombocytopenia on admission and on the 7th day of hospitalization and prognosis was further explored. Results:The PLT count of improvement group at admission，on the 2nd，3rd，and 7th days of hospitalization and at discharge[(328±159, 329±137, 362±159, 439±168, 510±171)×10 9/L] were significantly higher than those of unrecovered group [(210±142, 207±152, 267±143, 260±162, 343±159)×10 9/L]（ P＜0.05）.Although the MPV of improvement group [(10.9±1.9)fL] on admission was significantly lower than that of the unrecovered group[(12.7±2.5) fL]（ P＜0.05），there was no significant difference in MPV between two groups on the 2nd，3rd，7th days of hospitalization and discharge（ P＞0.05）.In addition，compared with the admission，children in improvement group had significantly higher PLT count on the 7th day of hospitalization and before discharge（ P＜0.05），but there was no significant change in unrecovered group（ P＞0.05）.Compared with SCAP patients with thrombocytopenia at admission (PLT＜100×10 9/L)( n=22),those with thrombocytopenia on 7th day of hospitalization had a significant higher rate of non recovery( P＜0.05). Conclusion:The occurrence of thrombocytopenia on admission and after 7 days of hospitalization in children with SCAP is associated with poor prognosis.No significant increase or decrease in PLT count after 7 days of hospitalization is often indicative of poor prognosis.Dynamic monitoring of PLT parameter changes may help to better judge the prognosis of severe pneumonia.

Objective To investigate the roles of three Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)therapies in improving airway mucus hypersecretion in rats with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods Ninety rats were divided randomly into nine groups:control(Control)group,model(COPD)group,Bu-Fei Jian-Pi Formula(BJF)group,Bu-Fei Yi-Shen Formula(BYF)group,Yi-Qi Zi-Shen Formula(YZF)group,ERK1/2 inhibitor(PD98059)group,Bu-Fei Jian-Pi combined with inhibitor(BJF+PD98059)group,Bu-Fei Yi-Shen combined with inhibitor(BYF+PD98059)group,and Yi-Qi Zi-Shen combined with inhibitor(YZF+PD98059)group.A rat model of COPD was established by exposing rats to cigarette smoke followed by repeated bacterial infection from weeks 1～8.From weeks 9～16,rats in the control and COPD groups were given 2 mL normal saline,rats in the BJF,BYF,and YZF groups were given the three Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen formulas by gavage,and rats in the PD98059,BJF+PD98059,BYF+PD98059,and YZF+PD98059 groups were given PD98059 by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days at the 16th week.Lung function tests were conducted after 16 weeks and lung tissue morphology,lung water content,inflammatory cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,and serum levels of inflammatory factors were also assessed.Goblet cell proportion was determined by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining,and Muc5AC and Muc5B expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry.mRNA expression levels of ERK1,ERK2,ENaC,CFTR,and AQP5 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and protein expression levels of ERK1/2 and P-ERK1/2 in lung tissue were determined by Western Blot.Results TV,MV,FVC,FEV0.1,FEV0.1/FVC were significantly decreased(P＜0.01)in COPD rats compared with those in the control group.Lung pathology revealed alveolar disorder,massive fracture of the alveolar wall,and severe shrinkage/thickening of the airway wall accompanied by extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells.Lung tissue water content was significantly increased in COPD rats(P＜0.01),while the proportion of macrophages in BALF was significantly reduced(P＜0.01)and the proportions of neutrophils and lymphocytes were significantly increased(P＜0.01).Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased in COPD rats(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The percentage of goblet cells and expression levels of Muc5AC and Muc5B in airway epithelial cells were significantly increased(P＜0.01),mRNA expression levels of ERK1,ERK2,and ENaC in lung tissue were significantly elevated(P＜0.01),while mRNA expression levels of CFTR and AQP5 were significantly decreased(P＜0.01)in COPD rats compared with levels in the control group.The expression of P-ERK1/2,ERK1/2 in lung tissue was significantly increased(P＜0.01)Rats in the treatment groups demonstrated improvements in the above indicators(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)compared with the COPD group,the groups receiving the three Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen formulas combined with PD98059 showing superior efficacy compared with the single treatment groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions The three tested Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen therapies can ameliorate airway mucus hypersecretion in COPD rats by inhibiting the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

AIM:To investigate the effects of the three Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen therapies on renal injury in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),and to explore the mechanisms.METHODS:SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into control,COPD,pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate ammonium(PDTC),Bufei-Jianpi formula(BJF),Bu-fei-Yishen formula(BYF),Yiqi-Zishen formula(YZF),BJF combined with PDTC(BJF+PDTC),BYF combined PDTC(BYF+PDTC),and YZF combined PDTC(YZF+PDTC)groups.Cigarette smoke exposure combined with bacterial infec-tion were used to develop a stable-phase rat model of COPD,and kidney-injured rats were screened for subsequent treat-ment.Pulmonary and renal functions,pathological changes in lung and kidney tissues,24 h urine volume,urine biochem-ical indexes,aquaporin(AQP)levels,ratio of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),serum in-flammatory factor levels,and mRNA and protein expressions of IκB kinase(IKK)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)were observed at the end of the 16th week.RESULTS:Compared with control group,the rats in COPD group showed reduced lung function indexes of forced expiratory vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory volume in 0.1 second(FEV0.1)and FEV0.1/FVC(P<0.05).The lung histopathology exhibited alveolar wall fracture and fusion and airway inflammatory cell infiltration.The renal function indexes serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen and serum cystatin C(Cys-C)were signifi-cantly increased(P<0.01).The renal histopathology showed swollen and disorderly arranged tubular epithelial cells.The 24 h urine volume decreased(P<0.01).The urinary biochemical indexes 24 h urinary total protein,urinary kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1),urinary Cys-C,and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase significantly increased(P<0.01).The protein levels of AQP1～4 were significantly increased(P<0.01).The ratio of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the BALF were increased(P<0.01).The ratio of monocytes was decreased(P<0.01).The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-13,IL-1β,and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)were significantly increased(P<0.01).And the mRNA and protein expression levels of IKK,NF-κB were significantly elevated in the renal tissue(P<0.05).Compared with COPD group,the above symptoms and indexes of the rats were improved to different degrees after the intervention in treatment groups,among which BJF,BYF and YZF demonstrated similar effects to PDTC,and BJF+PDTC,BYF+PDTC and YZF+PDTC exhibited better improvements than the corresponding monotherapy.CONCLU-SION:The three Tiao-Bu Fei-Shen therapies can reduce the airway and systemic inflammatory response,improve renal function and attenuate renal injury in COPD rats.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB signaling path-way.

Objective:To investigate respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock in pediatric care units (PICU) in China and its influence on clinical outcomes.Methods:The clinical data of children with septic shock in children′s PICU from January 2018 to December 2019 in 10 Chinese hospitals were retrospectively collected. They were divided into the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 groups according to the onset of disease, and the characteristics and composition of respiratory virus in the 2 groups were compared. Matching age, malignant underlying diseases, bacteria, fungi and other viruses, a new database was generated using 1∶1 propensity score matching method. The children were divided into the respiratory virus group and non-respiratory virus group according to the presence or absence of respiratory virus infection; their clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment were compared by t-test, rank sum test and Chi-square test. The correlation between respiratory virus infection and the clinical outcomes was analyzed by logistic regression. Results:A total of 1 247 children with septic shock were included in the study, of them 748 were male; the age was 37 (11, 105) months. In the pre-and post-COVID-19 groups, there were 530 and 717 cases of septic shock, respectively; the positive rate of respiratory virus was 14.9% (79 cases) and 9.8% (70 cases); the seasonal distribution of septic shock was 28.9% (153/530) and 25.9% (185/717) in autumn, and 30.3% (161/530) and 28.3% (203/717) in winter, respectively, and the corresponding positive rates of respiratory viruses were 19.6% (30/153) and 15.7% (29/185) in autumn, and 21.1% (34/161) and 15.3% (31/203) in winter, respectively. The positive rates of influenza virus and adenovirus in the post-COVID-19 group were lower than those in the pre-COVID-19 group (2.1% (15/717) vs. 7.5% (40/530), and 0.7% (5/717) vs. 3.2% (17/530), χ2=21.51 and 11.08, respectively; all P<0.05). Rhinovirus virus were higher than those in the pre-Covid-19 group (1.7% (12/717) vs. 0.2% (1/530), χ2=6.51, P=0.011). After propensity score matching, there were 147 cases in both the respiratory virus group and the non-respiratory virus group. Rate of respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress, rate of disseminated coagulation dysfunction, and immunoglobulin usage of the respiratory virus group were higher than those of non-respiratory virus group (77.6% (114/147) vs. 59.2% (87/147), 17.7% (26/147) vs. 4.1% (6/147), 15.6% (25/147) vs. 4.1% (7/147), and 35.4% (52/147) vs. 21.4% (32/147); χ2=11.07, 14.02, 11.06 and 6.67, all P<0.05); and PICU hospitalization of the former was longer than that of the later (7 (3, 16) vs. 3 (1, 7)d, Z=5.01, P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of respiratory viral infection was associated with respiratory failure, disseminated coagulation dysfunction, the use of mechanical ventilation, and the use of immunoglobulin and anti-respiratory viral drugs ( OR=2.42, 0.22, 0.25, 0.56 and 1.12, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The composition of respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock is different between pre and post-COVID-19. Respiratory viral infection is associated with organ dysfunction in children with septic shock. Decreasing respiratory viral infection through respiratory protection may improve the clinical outcome of these children.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and prognosis of severe infant botulism and evaluate the therapeutic effect of botulinum antitoxin in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).Methods:The clinical data of 8 cases diagnosed with infantile botulism were retrospectively analyzed in the PICU of Beijing Children′s Hospital from October 2019 to August 2023. Data of basic demographic information, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis of each child were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.Results:Eight laboratory-confirmed cases of infant botulism were included in this study, all of which were male infants with an age of 6.0 (3.3,6.8) months. Three of the children were from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 2 of them were from Hebei, and the other 3 were from Beijing, Shandong and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, respectively. All the patients were previously healthy. In 4 of these cases, the possible cause was the ingestion of either honey and its products or sealed pickled food by the mother or child before the onset of the disease. The first symptom was poor milk intake (4 cases), followed by shallow shortness of breath (7 cases), limb weakness (7 cases) and so on. The typical signs were bilateral dilated pupils (8 cases) and decreased limb muscle strength (8 cases). The main subtype was type B (7 cases), and only 1 case was classified as type A. Six of the children were treated with antitoxin therapy for a duration of 24 (19, 49) d. Seven of them had invasive mechanical ventilation. All the patients survived upon discharge with a follow-up period of 29 d to 3 years and 8 months. Six patients had fully recovered, and 2 recently discharged patients were gradually recovering.Conclusions:For infants with suspected contact or ingestion of botulinum and presented with bilateral pupillary paralysis, muscle weakness and clear consciousness, the stool should be collected for diagnostic testing using a mouse bioassay as soon as possible. Type B was the most common type. The antitoxin treatment was effectiveness and the prognosis was well.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, pathogen composition, and prognosis of septic shock in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in China.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with septic shock from 10 hospitals in China between January 2018 and December 2021. The clinical features, pathogen composition, and outcomes were collected. Patients were categorized into malignant tumor and non-malignant tumor groups, as well as survival and mortality groups. T test, Mann Whitney U test or Chi square test were used respectively for comparing clinical characteristics and prognosis between 2 groups. Multiple Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for mortality. Results:A total of 1 247 children with septic shock were included, with 748 males (59.9%) and the age of 3.1 (0.9, 8.8) years. The in-patient mortality rate was 23.2% (289 cases). The overall pathogen positive rate was 68.2% (851 cases), with 1 229 pathogens identified. Bacterial accounted for 61.4% (754 strains) and virus for 24.8% (305 strains). Among all bacterium, Gram negative bacteria constituted 64.2% (484 strains), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter being the most common; Gram positive bacteria comprised 35.8% (270 strains), primarily Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Influenza virus (86 strains (28.2%)), Epstein-Barr virus (53 strains (17.4%)), and respiratory syncytial virus (46 strains (17.1%)) were the top three viruses. Children with malignant tumors were older and had higher pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) Ⅲ score, paediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) score (7.9 (4.3, 11.8) vs. 2.3 (0.8, 7.5) years old, 22 (16, 26) vs. 16 (10, 24) points, 10 (5, 14) vs. 8 (4, 12) points, Z=11.32, 0.87, 4.00, all P<0.05), and higher pathogen positive rate, and in-hospital mortality (77.7% (240/309) vs. 65.1% (611/938), 29.7% (92/309) vs. 21.0% (197/938), χ2=16.84, 10.04, both P<0.05) compared to the non-tumor group. In the death group, the score of PRISM Ⅲ, pSOFA (16 (22, 29) vs. 14 (10, 20) points, 8 (12, 15) vs. 6 (3, 9) points, Z=4.92, 11.88, both P<0.05) were all higher, and presence of neoplastic disease, positive rate of pathogen and proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation in death group were also all higher than those in survival group (29.7% (87/289) vs. 23.2% (222/958), 77.8% (225/289) vs. 65.4% (626/958), 73.7% (213/289) vs. 50.6% (485/958), χ2=5.72, 16.03, 49.98, all P<0.05). Multiple Logistic regression showed that PRISM Ⅲ, pSOFA, and malignant tumor were the independent risk factors for mortality ( OR=1.04, 1.09, 0.67, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, 1.04-1.12, 0.47-0.94, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Bacterial infection are predominant in pediatric septic shock, but viral infection are also significant. Children with malignancies are more severe and resource consumptive. The overall mortality rate for pediatric septic shock remains high, and mortality are associated with malignant tumor, PRISM Ⅲ and pSOFA scores.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation,and also associated with a variety of comorbidities.As one of the important extrapulmonary comorbidities of COPD,kidney injury has a high incidence and insidious onset,which will develop into chronic kidney disease without timely intervention,greatly increasing the risk of mortality and economic burden of COPD patients.There exist physiological and pathological relations between lung and kidney functions.However,the mechanisms underlying COPD-associated kidney injury remain unclear.This article provides a review of the research progress on the mechanisms of COPD-associated kidney injury,in order to provide reference for the clinical prevention and treatment and basic research.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of differential distribution of peripheral lymphocyte subsets before and after the first 131I treatment on the therapeutic response to 131I treatment in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 46 PTC patients (16 males, 30 females, age 20-77 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy and received 131I treatment between January 2021 and August 2021 in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (T, B, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, natural killer (NK), helper T (Th)1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cells) were measured 1-2 d before and 30 d after 131I treatment. Based on serological and imaging evidence, therapeutic response at 6-12 months post- 131I therapy was categorized as either excellent response (ER) or non-excellent response (NER). Differences of preablative stimulated thyroglobulin (psTg) and clinical baseline characteristics between two groups were assessed by using independent-sample t test, paired t test, or Mann-Whitney U test. Predictive value of lymphocyte subsets before and after 131I treatment for therapeutic response was assessed through logistic regression analysis, ROC curve analysis, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:In ER group ( n=33) and NER group ( n=13), most lymphocyte subsets showed different degrees of reduction 30 d after 131I treatment compared to before 131I treatment, such as T, B, CD4 + T and Th1 cells in ER group, as well as T, B, CD4 + T, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells in NER group ( t values: 2.41-9.57, all P<0.05). Before 131I treatment, NER group had significantly higher levels of psTg, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells compared to the ER group ( t values: from -3.32 to -2.48, U=29.00, all P<0.05). After 131I treatment, most of lymphocyte subsets in NER group (T, B, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, Th1 and Treg cells) showed higher trend than those in ER group but without statistical significances ( t values: from -1.12 to -0.06, all P>0.05). Th2 cells before 131I treatment (odds ratio ( OR)=25.00, 95% CI: 1.36-459.10, P=0.030) was identified as a risk factor for NER. ROC curve analysis indicated that AUCs of psTg and Th2 cells for predicting therapeutic response were 0.932 and 0.790, respectively, which was 0.958 for the combined psTg and Th2 cells. DCA showed that within the threshold probability range of 10%-60%, the curves for psTg, Th2 cells, and the combined psTg and Th2 cells were all higher than the extreme curve, suggesting good effect. Conclusions:Most lymphocyte subsets decrease to varying degrees, and NER group shows a significant decrease 30 d after 131I treatment. Th2 cells may be a risk factor for poor response to 131I treatment, providing a certain value in predicting the therapeutic response to 131I treatment.

Autoantibodies ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Singapore/epidemiology*