ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

Objective: To characterize perioperative dynamic changes in immune-cell phenotypes and inflammatory cytokines in patients undergoing CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass) cardiac surgery, and to explore their associations with postoperative outcomes. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 120 adult patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital from May 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Perioperative immune-cell phenotypes and concentrations of 40 inflammation-related cytokines were measured. The primary outcomes were the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at 24 h after surgery and ΔSOFA (the peak SOFA score within 48 h after surgery minus the preoperative SOFA score). Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory failure, severe liver injury, and infection. Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 57±10 years. Of these, 52% (62/120) were male and 90% (108/120) underwent valve surgery. During the rewarming to the end of CPB, neutrophil counts rapidly increased (7.39×10 /L vs preoperative 3.07×10 /L, P<0.001), with significant upregulation of CD11b (7.30×10 /L vs preoperative 3.05×10 /L, P<0.001) and CD54 (7.15×10 /L vs preoperative 2.99×10 /L, P<0.001). Lymphocyte counts increased at the end of CPB (1.75×10 /L vs preoperative 1.12×10 /L, P<0.001) but decreased significantly at 24 h after surgery (0.59×10 /L vs preoperative 1.12×10 /L, P<0.001). Plasma analysis showed that multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines increased during CPB and remained elevated up to 24 h after surgery; five chemokines and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 peaked at the end of CPB. The SOFA score increased from 1 (1, 2) preoperatively to 7 (5, 10) at 24 h after surgery, with a ΔSOFA of 6 (4, 8). Within 30 days after surgery, 48 patients (40.0%) developed AKI, 17 (14.2%) developed infection, 4 (3.3%) developed severe liver injury, 3 (2.5%) developed respiratory failure, and 3 (2.5%) experienced MACE. During the 2-year follow-up, 8 patients (6.7%) experienced MACE and 5 (4.2%) died. Conclusion: Multi-organ dysfunction is common after cardiac surgery under CPB (median ΔSOFA, 6), accompanied by perioperative activation of multiple immune-cell subsets and upregulation of pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and chemotactic mediators. This study provides data-driven evidence and research clues for further investigation of the associations between CPB-related immune perturbations and postoperative organ dysfunction and clinical outcomes.

Background Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can influence gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); however, current studies on their association are limited and have yielded inconsistent findings. Objective To investigate the association between maternal exposure to PFAS, as measured by urinary concentrations in early pregnancy, and the risk of developing GDM. Methods Based on the Wuhu Birth Cohort in Anhui Province conducted between 2020 and 2023, this study included 1910 pregnant women. Urine samples were collected during the first trimester, and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was completed at 24–28 gestational weeks. The concentrations of six PFAS in urine were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Participants were categorized into low, medium, and high exposure groups according to tertiles of individual PFAS concentrations. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the potential impact of early-pregnancy PFAS exposure levels on the risk of GDM, with stratified analyses by maternal age and fetal sex. A generalized weighted quantile sum regression (gWQS) model was applied to evaluate the relative weight distribution of the six PFAS in their mixture effect. Results The logistic regression results revealed that both medium exposure to perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (OR=1.475, 95%CI: 1.040, 2.093) and high exposure to perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (OR=1.430, 95%CI: 1.013, 2.018) were positively associated with diagnosed GDM. This association was more pronounced among women older than 28 years. Among pregnant women carrying male fetuses, high-level exposures to per fluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (OR=1.708, 95%CI: 1.006, 2.899) and PFHxS (OR=2.116, 95%CI: 1.247, 3.584) showed positive associations with diagnosed GDM. In contrast, among those carrying female fetuses, moderate perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure was associated with a lower risk of GDM (OR=0.542, 95%CI: 0.311, 0.946). The gWQS results demonstrated that PFOS (0.48) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) (0.34) contributed the most to the mixture effect. Conclusion Early-pregnancy exposure to PFAS (particularly PFHxS and PFNA) may be an etiological factor for GDM, with maternal age and fetal sex potentially acting as effect modifiers in this association.

This article reported a case of a newborn with congenital absence of the penis. The prenatal examinations were unremarkable. Physical examination of the newborn revealed abnormal external genitalia, with well-developed scrotum and fully descended testicle in normal size, but without the penis. Postnatal ultrasound showed no obvious signals of uterus and ovaries in pelvis and had normal bilateral testicles and urinary system. The diagnosis was congenital absence of the penis.

AIM:To investigate the protective ef-fect of plumbagin(PL)against pulmonary fibrosis(PF)and its possible mechanisms.METHODS:Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control,bleomycin group(BLM),low dose PL group(1 mg/kg)and high dose PL group(2 mg/kg).The mice PF model was replicated using intratracheal injection of BLM(3 mg/kg),and then PL(1 or 2 mg/kg)was injected intraperitoneally for 3 weeks and the animals were executed.HE and Masson staining were used to observe morphological changes in lung tissue and collagen deposition.The activities or levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),malondialdehyde(MDA)and hy-droxyproline(HYP)were measured in mouse lung tissue;ELISA for interleukin-6(IL-6)in mouse lung tissue.Immunohistochemical detection of nuclear factor-related factor 2(Nrf2)and reduced nicotin-amide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4(NOX4)positive cell expression in mouse lung tis-sue.The expression levels of α-smooth muscle ac-tin(α-SMA),collagen Ⅰ(Col Ⅰ),collagen Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ),IL-6,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),p-Smad2,Nrf2 and NOX4 were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with the BLM group,PL treatment attenuated lung parenchymal and in-terstitial injury and extracellular matrix deposition in mice,reduced HYP content(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),de-creased protein expression of α-SMA,collagen Ⅰand Ⅲ(P＜0.01,P＜0.05),diminished IL-6 secretion(P＜0.01);improved the body's antioxidant capacity(increased SOD and GSH activity and decreased MDA content,P＜0.01,P＜0.05),significantly down-regulated TGF-β1,p-Smad2 and NOX4-positive cells and protein expression(P＜0.01,P＜0.05)and up-regulated Nrf2-positive cells and protein expression(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:PL may slow down the PF process by modulating the TGF-β1/Smad2 and Nrf2/NOX4 pathways to attenuate inflammato-ry responses and collagen deposition and improve the body's antioxidant capacity.

AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect of Tongfeng-Qingli mixture(TFQLM)and its mechanism in hyperuricemic(HUA)rats based on uric acid(UA)transporter and Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and acti-vator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway.METHODS:(1)In vivo experiment:36 male SD rats were random-ly divided into control(CON)group,model(MOD)group,benzbromarone(BEN)group,low-dose TFQLM(TFQLM-L)group,medium-dose TFQLM(TFQLM-M)group,and high-dose TFQLM(TFQLM-H)group,with 6 rats in each group.In all groups except CON group,HUA was induced in rats by giving hypoxanthine(HP)combined with potassium oxybate(OP)for 35 consecutive days.The rats in CON group were given sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage.A fully automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detecte serum UA,serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels.The xanthine oxidase(XOD)and adenosine deaminase(ADA)levels in the liver were detected by ELISA kits.The histopathological changes of kidneys were observed by HE staining.Immunohistochemistry was performed to de-tect urate transporter 1(URAT1)and glucose transporter 9(GLUT9),organic anion transporter 1(OAT1)and OAT3 ex-pression in the kidney.Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of URAT1,GLUT9,OAT1,OAT3,interleu-kin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),JAK2,p-JAK2,STAT3,p-STAT3 and repressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3)in the kidney.(2)In vitro experiments:HUA cellular model was established by UA stimulation in HK2 cells,and the protein levels of URAT1,GLUT9,OAT1,OAT3,IL-6,TNF-α,JAK2,p-JAK2,STAT3,p-STAT3,and SOCS3 were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with MOD group,serum UA,SCr and BUN levels of the rats in all TFQLM groups were reduced(P<0.05).The XOD and ADA levels in liver tissues were significantly reduced(P<0.05).The protein levels of URAT1,GLUT9,IL-6,TNF-α,JAK2,p-JAK2,STAT3,p-STAT3 and SOCS3 were decreased(P<0.05),and OAT1 and OAT3 protein expression was increased(P<0.05)in kidneys and HK2 cells.CONCLUSION:By establishing rat and HK2 cell HUA models,it is hypothesized that TFQLM may reduce UA levels and attenuate renal inflammation in HUA rats,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of UA transport proteins and inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

To investigate the infection status of two arboviruses,akabane orthobunyavirus(AKAV)and bluetongue virus(BTV),in cattle herds of Guizhou Province,we employed the indirect ELISA method to detect AKAV and BTV antibody levels in the present experiment.A total of 1504 bovine serum samples from 37 large-scale farms and 88 free-range households from 26 districts or coun-ties of 7 cities(prefectures)of Guizhou Province were collected to detect AKAV antibody levels.Additionally,1 241 serum samples from 30 large-scale farms and 15 free-range households in 19 districts or counties of 3 cities(prefectures)were tested for BTV antibody levels.Moreover,two influencing factors,breeding mode and sampling season,were statistically analyzed for their effects.The results showed that the overall positive rate of AKAV antibodies was 11.64％(175/1 504),with individual positive rates of 13.20％(123/934)and 9.12％(52/570)in large-scale farms and free-range households,respectively.No significant differences were observed between the two groups.However,the farm positive rate(64.86％,24/37)in large-scale farms was significantly higher than that(26.14％,23/88)in free-range households.Seasonal statistics showed that the positive rate was highest during the summer season at 60.00％(12/20).The total positive rate of BTV antibodies was 25.42％(222/1 241).The farm positive rate and individual positive rate in free-range households were 66.67％(10/15)and 41.91％(57/136),respectively.For large-scale farms,these rates were 60.00％(18/30)and 14.93％(165/1 105),respectively.The individual pos-itive rate in free-range households was significantly higher than that in large-scale farms.Seasonal statistics showed that the positive rates in summer and autumn seasons were 50.00％(5/10)and 72.41％(21/29),respectively,both of which were significantly higher than those in winter and spring seasons.All these findings indicated that both AKAV and BTV were present to a certain ex-tent in Guizhou Province,with seasonality.Furthermore,differences were observed between the different breeding modes.Our results could provide a data reference for the formulation of preven-tion and control measures for the two insect-borne diseases.

Objective:To investigate the life expectancy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) HIV-infected patients and its trends in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2023.Methods:The data were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention , and the study subjects were HIV-infected patients received ART in Taizhou City. An abbreviated life expectancy table was prepared based on Chiang's method to analyze the differences in life expectancy of HIV-infected patients receiving ART in Taizhou City with different characteristics in 2023 and to compare the trends in life expectancy of patients with different CD4 +T lymphocytes (CD4) counts at the time of initiation of ART from 2014 to 2023. Results:A total of 4 825 patients were enrolled in this study, with a cumulative follow-up of 276 648.56 person-years, and a case-fatality rate of 18.07 (95% CI: 16.48-19.65) /1 000 person-years. In 2023, male patients had lower life expectancy than females in all age groups, and those who were married had higher life expectancy than those who were unmarried and those who were divorced or widowed; patients who had been transmitted heterosexually had lower life expectancy than those who had been transmitted through homosexual transmission. Patients with different CD4 counts at the time of initiating ART had different life expectancies in all age groups. The life expectancy of patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl when initiating the treatment was higher than that of patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl in all age groups. The life expectancy of HIV-infected patients on ART at age 20 and 50 increased from 39.0 years and 19.1 years in 2014 to 46.0 years and 24.1 years in 2023, respectively, with an average annual percentage change of 2.43% (95% CI: 0.81%-4.07%) and 3.34% (95% CI: 1.17%-5.56%). The change in life expectancy was similar for patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl and 200-349 cells/μl at the time of initiating treatment in 2016-2023, and was higher than that for patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl. The rate of increase in life expectancy for patients at age 50 was higher than that at age 20 for all CD4 counts. Conclusions:The rising trend of life expectancy among HIV-infected patients on ART in Taizhou City is obvious. But the disparity between patients with different characteristics is obvious, especially among patients with baseline CD4 counts <200 cells/μl, suggesting the importance of expanded testing, early diagnosis and timely initiation of ART to improve the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious intracranial hemorrhage characterized by acute bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The effects of shikonin, a natural compound from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in SAH was evaluated in this study. A rat model of SAH was established by endovascular perforation to mimic the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Rats were then administered 25 mg/kg of shikonin or dimethylsulfoxide after surgery. Brain edema, SAH grade, and neurobehavioral scores were measured after 24 h of SAH to evaluate neurological impairment. Concentrations of the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain cortex were determined using the corresponding commercially available assay kits. Evans blue staining was used to determine BBB permeability. Western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. After modeling, the brain water content increased significantly whereas the neurobehavioral scores of rats with SAH decreased prominently. MDA levels increased and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD decreased after SAH. These changes were reversed after shikonin administration. Shikonin treatment also inhibited Evans blue extravasation after SAH. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of tight junction proteins after SAH modeling was rescued after shikonin treatment. In conclusion, shikonin exerts a neuroprotective effect after SAH by mitigating BBB injury and inhibiting oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious intracranial hemorrhage characterized by acute bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The effects of shikonin, a natural compound from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in SAH was evaluated in this study. A rat model of SAH was established by endovascular perforation to mimic the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Rats were then administered 25 mg/kg of shikonin or dimethylsulfoxide after surgery. Brain edema, SAH grade, and neurobehavioral scores were measured after 24 h of SAH to evaluate neurological impairment. Concentrations of the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain cortex were determined using the corresponding commercially available assay kits. Evans blue staining was used to determine BBB permeability. Western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. After modeling, the brain water content increased significantly whereas the neurobehavioral scores of rats with SAH decreased prominently. MDA levels increased and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD decreased after SAH. These changes were reversed after shikonin administration. Shikonin treatment also inhibited Evans blue extravasation after SAH. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of tight junction proteins after SAH modeling was rescued after shikonin treatment. In conclusion, shikonin exerts a neuroprotective effect after SAH by mitigating BBB injury and inhibiting oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex.