This study investigated the functions and regulatory mechanism of Portulacae Herba and its chemical components on the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathway in the colon tissue of mice with dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC). A total of 35 mice were randomly divided into groups, including a blank group, a model group, a mesalazine group(0. 5 g·kg~(-1)), and low, medium,and high dose alkaloids from Portulacae Herba groups(9, 18, 36 mg·kg~(-1)), and a combination treatment group, with 5 mice in each group. The blank group was given purified water, while the other groups were continuously given a 3% DSS solution for 7 days to induce the UC model. From day 8 onwards, the treatment group received oral gavage according to the prescribed doses for 14 days. The overall condition, body weight, stool characteristics, and presence of blood in the stool were recorded daily. After the experiment, the disease activity index(DAI) was assessed for each group, and colon length was measured. Histopathological changes in colon tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were measured using Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).Compared to the blank group, the model group showed a significant decrease in body weight, a notable increase in DAI scores, a significant shortening of colon length, and evident histopathological damage. The levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum were significantly elevated, and the protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were significantly up-regulated. In contrast, the alkaloids from Portulacae Herba treatment groups significantly improved symptoms and reduced body weight loss in mice, decreased DAI scores, alleviated colon shortening, lowered serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β,significantly down-regulated the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB proteins and genes in colon tissue, as well as reduced histopathological damage. Therefore, the study suggests that alkaloids from Portulacae Herba can alleviate intestinal inflammation damage in DSS-induced UC mice, with its mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology* ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism* ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Alkaloids/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Female ; Colon/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual, sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer, while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment. However, in China, thousands of laboratories do not use the improved Neubauer hemocytometer or method; instead, the Makler counting chamber is one of the most widely used chambers. To study sources of error that could impact the measurement of the apparent concentration and motility of sperm using the Makler counting chamber and to verify its accuracy for clinical application, 67 semen samples from patients attending the Department of Andrology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between 13 September 2023 and 27 September 2023, were included. Compared with applying the cover glass immediately, delaying the application of the cover glass for 5 s, 10 s, and 30 s resulted in average increases in the sperm concentration of 30.3%, 74.1%, and 107.5%, respectively (all P < 0.0001) and in the progressive motility (PR) of 17.7%, 30.8%, and 39.6%, respectively (all P < 0.0001). However, when the semen specimens were fixed with formaldehyde, a delay in the application of the cover glass for 5 s, 10 s, and 30 s resulted in an average increase in the sperm concentration of 6.7%, 10.8%, and 14.6%, respectively, compared with immediate application of the cover glass. The accumulation of motile sperm due to delays in the application of the cover glass is a significant source of error with the Makler counting chamber and should be avoided.
Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility/physiology* ; Sperm Count ; Semen Analysis/methods* ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Time Factors

Objective:To analyze the surveillance results of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, to gain a understanding of the epidemic characteristics and changing trend of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies and measures for brucellosis.Methods:The surveillance data of brucellosis in Shanxi Province from Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the active surveillance results of 5 national brucellosis surveillance sites from 2018 to 2023 were collected for descriptive analysis.Results:From 2018 to 2023, a total of 24 041 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Shanxi Province, with the number of cases increased from 2 800 in 2018 to 5 131 in 2023. The annual reported incidence was 11.22/100 000, ranging from 7.56/100 000 to 14.74/100 000, showing an overall upward trend (χ 2trend = 1 377.43, P < 0.001). The epidemic had affected all counties (cities and districts) in the province, mainly concentrated in Linfen City, Jinzhong City, Datong City, and Shuozhou City, with a total of 13 489 cases of human brucellosis reported, accounting for 56.11%. The population distribution was mainly composed of individuals aged 40 - 69 (17 682 cases), males (18 513 cases), farmers (20 295 cases), and household and unemployed individuals (1 017 cases). The onset of the disease showed obvious seasonality, with the peak time from March to August, accounting for 66.39% (15 961/24 041). A total of 14 130 occupational individuals were investigated at the surveillance sites, and 11 141 underwent serological tests, with a positive rate of 5.25% (585/11 141), including 299 new cases. The positive rate of serological tests was relatively high in Qinyuan County, at 8.51% (241/2 832). Etiological culture was conducted on 338 human blood samples, and 43 strains of Brucella were isolated, with a detection rate of 12.72%. All strains were Brucella melitensis, including 42 strains of Brucella melitensis biovar 3. Conclusions:The overall trend of human brucellosis epidemic in Shanxi Province from 2018 to 2023 is on the rise, and it is still at a high level. It is suggested to continue strengthening monitoring, study the epidemic situation in a timely manner, take comprehensive prevention and control measures, and effectively control the spread of brucellosis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction disease caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.It has com-plex pathophysiological changes,and in severe cases,it can rap-idly develop into septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction or multiple organ failure.At present,the pathological mechanism of sepsis and its induced organ dysfunction is complex and the in-fluencing factors are numerous.So far,there is still a lack of specific and effective treatment strategies.RNA modify-N6-methyladenosine(m6 A)is one of the most common post-tran-scriptional modifications on eukaryotic RNAs.It is involved in the regulation of the occurrence and development of a variety of inflammatory diseases,including sepsis,and even multiple organ dysfunction induced by sepsis by affecting the metabolism of RNAs.It includes cardiac dysfunction,acute lung injury(ALI)and acute kidney injury(AKI).Therefore,this article will dis-cuss the effect of m6A modification on the function of immune cells,and its important role in sepsis and its induced multiple or-gan dysfunction diseases by regulating inflammatory signals,py-roptosis,mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis.This will provide new therapeutic targets and strategies for the clinical prevention and treatment of sepsis and its induced multiple organ dysfunc-tion diseases.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction disease caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.It has com-plex pathophysiological changes,and in severe cases,it can rap-idly develop into septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction or multiple organ failure.At present,the pathological mechanism of sepsis and its induced organ dysfunction is complex and the in-fluencing factors are numerous.So far,there is still a lack of specific and effective treatment strategies.RNA modify-N6-methyladenosine(m6 A)is one of the most common post-tran-scriptional modifications on eukaryotic RNAs.It is involved in the regulation of the occurrence and development of a variety of inflammatory diseases,including sepsis,and even multiple organ dysfunction induced by sepsis by affecting the metabolism of RNAs.It includes cardiac dysfunction,acute lung injury(ALI)and acute kidney injury(AKI).Therefore,this article will dis-cuss the effect of m6A modification on the function of immune cells,and its important role in sepsis and its induced multiple or-gan dysfunction diseases by regulating inflammatory signals,py-roptosis,mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis.This will provide new therapeutic targets and strategies for the clinical prevention and treatment of sepsis and its induced multiple organ dysfunc-tion diseases.

Objective:To analyze the surveillance results of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, to gain a understanding of the epidemic characteristics and changing trend of brucellosis in Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention and control strategies and measures for brucellosis.Methods:The surveillance data of brucellosis in Shanxi Province from Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the active surveillance results of 5 national brucellosis surveillance sites from 2018 to 2023 were collected for descriptive analysis.Results:From 2018 to 2023, a total of 24 041 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Shanxi Province, with the number of cases increased from 2 800 in 2018 to 5 131 in 2023. The annual reported incidence was 11.22/100 000, ranging from 7.56/100 000 to 14.74/100 000, showing an overall upward trend (χ 2trend = 1 377.43, P < 0.001). The epidemic had affected all counties (cities and districts) in the province, mainly concentrated in Linfen City, Jinzhong City, Datong City, and Shuozhou City, with a total of 13 489 cases of human brucellosis reported, accounting for 56.11%. The population distribution was mainly composed of individuals aged 40 - 69 (17 682 cases), males (18 513 cases), farmers (20 295 cases), and household and unemployed individuals (1 017 cases). The onset of the disease showed obvious seasonality, with the peak time from March to August, accounting for 66.39% (15 961/24 041). A total of 14 130 occupational individuals were investigated at the surveillance sites, and 11 141 underwent serological tests, with a positive rate of 5.25% (585/11 141), including 299 new cases. The positive rate of serological tests was relatively high in Qinyuan County, at 8.51% (241/2 832). Etiological culture was conducted on 338 human blood samples, and 43 strains of Brucella were isolated, with a detection rate of 12.72%. All strains were Brucella melitensis, including 42 strains of Brucella melitensis biovar 3. Conclusions:The overall trend of human brucellosis epidemic in Shanxi Province from 2018 to 2023 is on the rise, and it is still at a high level. It is suggested to continue strengthening monitoring, study the epidemic situation in a timely manner, take comprehensive prevention and control measures, and effectively control the spread of brucellosis.

Objective To explore the computed tomography angiography(CTA)and clinical features of Takayasu's arteritis(TA)with peripheral artery involvement.Methods In this retrospective study,CTA scan was performed in a total of 184 TA patients.TA patients were divided into two groups:60 patients within peripheral artery involvement(peripheral artery involvement group)and 124 patients without peripheral artery involvement(peripheral artery non-involvement group).The difference in comparison of clini-cal data and CTA findings were analyzed.Results A total of 194 peripheral arteries were involved in 60 patients.The most suscep-tible peripheral artery were axillary artery(52,26.8％),middle cerebral artery(26,13.4％)and femoral artery(22,11.3％).In the peripheral artery involvement group,the most common CTA manifestation was luminal stenosis(141,72.7％).The lumen dilata-tion,lumen stenosis with dilatation and wall calcification were not easy to be observed.The age and duration of disease in peripheral artery involvement group were significantly greater than those in peripheral artery non-involvement group(P＜0.05).The proportion of the peripheral artery involvement group in the active phase was significantly lower than that of the peripheral artery non-involvement group(P＜0.05).The incidence of pain in the limbs in peripheral artery involvement group was significantly higher than that in peripheral artery non-involvement group(P＜0.05).The utilization rate of tocilizumab in the peripheral artery involvement group was significantly higher than that in the peripheral artery non-involvement group(P＜0.05).Conclusion TA involving peripheral arteries is more common in patients with a long course of disease and in the inactive phase.Patients are prone to pain in their limbs.The CT A manifestations of these patients are also special,that is,the involved peripheral arteries are not prone to lumen dilatation and wall calcification.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases from 2019 to 2023 after the elimination of malaria in Shanxi Province, and provide reference for formulating scientific and effective malaria prevention and control strategies in Shanxi Province.Methods:The data of imported malaria cases were collected China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and National Parasitic Disease Control Information Management System in Shanxi Province, from 2019-2023. Descriptive epidemiological method and SPSS 26.0 statistical software were used for descriptive epidemiological statistical analysis.Results:A total of 51 malaria cases were reported in Shanxi Province in 2019-2023, all imported from abroad. Among them, there were 38 cases of falciparum malaria (74.51%), 6 cases of plasmodium ovale (11.77%), 5 cases of plasmodium vivax (9.80%), 1 case of plasmodium triticum malaria (1.96%), and 1 case of mixed infections (1.96%), with nodeaths; cases were predominantly males (94.12%, 48/51) and workers who went abroad for work (84.31%,43/51); the median age of onset was 37 years old; and there were imported cases every month, with no obvious peak of incidence; Taiyuan City reported the most cases, accounting for 72.55% (37/51) of the total number of cases,the source of infection of cases was mainly from Africa (96.08%), with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (16 cases), Nigeria (6 cases), Equatorial Guinea (5 cases), Mozambique (3 cases), and Republic of the Congo (3 cases) in that order; the median time between the onset of disease and first diagnosis, and the median time between first diagnosis and confirmation, were two times longer than that of first diagnosis, and the median time between first diagnosis and confirmation was two times longer than that of first diagnosis. The M( Q1, Q3) intervals from onset to first diagnosis and from first diagnosis to confirmed diagnosis were 2(0,4) days and 1(0,3) days, respectively, with statistically significant differences between different years from onset to first diagnosis ( H=17.41, P=0.048), and from first diagnosis to confirmed diagnosis ( H=20.82, P=0.010). A total of 101 146 blood tests for febrile patients were conducted in the province during the five years, with the minimum number of blood tests in 2020 (19 867 person-times) and the maximum number of blood tests in 2023 (20 778 person-times). Conclusions:After the elimination of malaria in Shanxi Province from 2019 to 2023, all malaria cases were imported from abroad, and it is still necessary to strengthen the surveillance of people traveling to and from malaria-endemic areas, implement the combination of medical treatment and prevention, and jointly prevent and control the occurrence of imported malaria.

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]