Aim To investigate the effect of Dahuang Tangluo pills(DHTL)on NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteine aspartate proteolytic enzyme-1(caspase-1)/apodermic D(GSDMD)pathway-media-ted pyroptosis in db/db mice with diabetic kidney dis-ease(DKD)and the underlying mechanism.Methods Eight db/m mice were selected as control group,and forty db/db mice were randomly divided into mod-el group,low dose group,medium dose group,high dose group and dapagliflozin group,with eight mice in each group.The control group and model group were given equal volume normal saline intragastric adminis-tration,the low,medium and high dose groups were given DHTL solution of 0.9,1.8 and 3.6 mg·kg-1,respectively,and the dapagliflozin group was given dapagliflozin tablet solution of 1.5 mg·kg-1,and the six groups were given intragastric administration once a day for 10 weeks.The body weight of mice was meas-ured daily and the dose was adjusted during adminis-tration.Fasting blood glucose(FBG)and body weight were measured after administration.The levels of 24-hour urinary total protein(24h-UTP),blood creatinine(Scr)and urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured by au-tomatic biochemical analyzer.The levels of interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-18(IL-18)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in re-nal tissue of mice were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological changes of renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The DNA damage in mouse kid-ney tissue was observed using in situ end labeling(TUNEL)staining.The mRNA and protein expres-sions of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD in mouse kid-ney tissues were detected by Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,FBG,body weight,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-18 and TNF-α in the model group significantly increased(P＜0.01).The mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD in mouse kidney tis-sues significantly increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the levels of FBG,body weight,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-18 and TNF-α in each administration group significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The patho-logical morphology of renal tissue was improved in dif-ferent degrees,and the number of positive cells in re-nal tissue was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1 and GSDMD in renal tissue of mice in high and medi-um dose of DHTL and dapagliflozin group significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions DHTL can im-prove the renal injury of DKD,and its mechanism may be through the regulation of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSD-MD pathway to inhibit pyroptosis and relieve the in-flammatory response of DKD mice.

Here,5 important pathogens carried by ticks in Maanshan City,Anhui Province,China were identified.In to-tal,642 ticks were collected from 13 villages around Maanshan City and identified by morphological and mitochondrial COI genes.The 16S rRNA gene of Francisella tularensis,ssrA gene of Bartonella,16S rRNA,ompA and ompB genes of Rickett-sia,16S rRNA and gltA genes of Anaplasma,and groEL and rpoB genes of Coxiella were sequenced.Reference sequences were retrieved from a public database.Phylogenetic trees were constructed with MEG A1 1.0 software.In total,36 Rickettsiae isolates were detected in 640 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks,which included 20 isolates of Rickettsia heilongjian-gensis,16 of Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis,2 of Ana-plasma bovis,and 186 of Coxiella-like endosymbiont.R.hei-longjiangensis HY2 detected in this study and Anhui B8 strain,Ca.R.jingxinensis QL3 and those from Shanxi Prov-ince and Jiangsu Province,A.bovis JX4 and those from Shanxi Province were clustered on the same branch.Overall,17 ticks had combined infections and none of the 5 bacteria were detected in two Amblyomma testudinarium ticks.This is the first report of Ca.R.jingxinensis detected in H.longicornis ticks from Anhui Province.It is recommended that the two types of Rickettsia that cause spotted fever and A.bovis should be reported to local health authorities to initiate appropriate prevention and control measures.

Objective:To analyze the effect of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells(PBSC)collection from unrelated donors and its influencing factors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the mobilization and collection of PBSC from 113 unrelated donors at Yueyang Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023.Results:113 donors were successfully mobilized.The average count of PBSC mononuclear cells(MNC)and CD34+cells were(12.40±7.41)x 108/kg and(10.64±8.07)x 106/kg,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that the PBSC CD34+cells ratio of male donors was significantly higher than that in female donors(P=0.015).The peripheral blood(PB)white blood cell(WBC)count before collection was positively correlated with the PBSC nucleated cells count(r=0.388),and the donor's body weight,the PB CD34+cell ratio before collection were positively correlated with the PBSC CD34+cell ratio(r=0.259,r=0.780).The daily dose of rhG-CSF was negatively correlated with the PBSC CD34+cell ratio(r=-0.285).Both rhG-CSF agents achieved successful mobilization.Multivariate analysis showed that PB WBC count before collection was a factor affecting the count of PBSC nucleated cells(P＜0.001),while the PB CD34+cell ratio before collection was a factor affecting the PBSC CD34+cell ratio(P＜0.001).Conclusion:The mobilization and collection of PBSC from unrelated donors are good,and the PB WBC count and CD34+cell ratio before collection are reliable indicators for predicting the collection effect.

AIM To explore the protective effects of Tongxie Yaofang on the intestinal mucosa of rats with ulcerative colitis(UC)due to Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency.METHODS The rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the mesalazine group(0.4 g/kg),the high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose Tongxie Yaofang groups(20.8,10.4,5.2 g/kg).The rat models were induced by DNBS/ethanol solution enema,restraint stress and inappropriate diet.All rats had their serum levels of IL-8 and TNF-α detected by ELISA;their colonic pathological changes observed by HE staining;and their colonic TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein expressions detected by RT-qPCR,Western blot and immunohistochemistry method.RESULTS Compared with the model group,all theother groups intervened with the medical agents displayed lower serum levels of TNF-a and IL-8(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased colonic expressions of MyD88 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The mesalazine group and the high-dose and medium-dose Tongxie Yaofang groups shared decreased colonic expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and the low-dose Tongxie Yaofang group demonstrated decreased colonic TLR4 protein expression(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Tongxie Yaofang may inhibit the inflammatory reaction of the rats and repair their intestinal mucosal barrier damage via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signal pathway.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),a metabolic stress-induced liver injury,is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver,which is closely related to insulin resistance and genetic susceptibility.It is es-timated that 25％of the world's population are currently diagnosed with NAFLD,which has a huge impact on socioeconomic development and people's health.The prevalence of NAFLD in different countries/regions is different based on the living customs and population genetic differences in different regions,and there are also certain differences in the diagnostic crite-ria and treatment plans of NAFLD in the recommendations given by the national/regional diagnosis and treatment guide-lines.This article aims to compare the latest domestic and international guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD,as well as summarise the latest research advances in the treatment of NAFLD,in order to provide recommenda-tions for the clinical management of NAFLD.

Objective To explore the application value of ultrasonic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)and cerebral blood flow parameters in intracranial hypertension caused by AIDS cryptococ-cal meningitis.Methods A total of 27 patients with cryptococcal meningitis diagnosed by Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from February to July,2022 were included.All patients were examined with ultrasound measurement of ONSD and ultrasound measurement of cerebral blood flow of intracranial middle cerebral ar-tery(MCA),including peak systolic velocity(PSV),end diastolic velocity(EDV),peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity(S/D)and resistance index(RI),and then lumbar puncture was performed and intracranial pressure(ICP)was recorded.The ICP≥200 mmH2O was defined as the ICP increased group,ICP＜200 mmH2O was defined as the ICP normal group,and 17 AIDS patients without complications were selected as the control group.The baseline data,ONSD and MCA cerebral blood flow parameters of the three groups were compared,and the statistically significant indexes were correlated with ICP,and the receiver operating charac-teristic(ROC)curve of the subjects was drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of ONSD value in predicting intracranial hypertension caused by AIDS cryptococcal meningitis.Results There were no significant differ-ences in gender,age,systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure among the ICP increased group,the ICP normal group and the control group(P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in PSV,EDV,S/D and RI among the three groups of MCA(P＞0.05),but there was significant difference in ONSD among the three groups(P＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between ICP and ONSD in the patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis(P＜0.01,r=0.736).The ROC curve analysis showed that when the ONSD cutoff value was 3.965 mm,it predicted the highest efficacy of intracranial high pressure in the patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis.The area under the ROC curve was 0.90(95％CI:0.714-1.000,P=0.001),the sensitivity was 90％,and the specificity was 100％.Conclusion Ultrasonic measurement of ONSD can effec-tively predict ICP in patients with AIDS cryptococcal meningitis and guide clinical decompression measures in time,which is worthy of clinical application.

BACKGROUND: There are few multi-city studies on the association between temperature and mortality in basin climates. This study was based on the Sichuan Basin in southwest China to assess the association of basin temperature with non-accidental mortality in the population and with the temperature-related mortality burden. METHODS: Daily mortality data, meteorological and air pollution data were collected for four cities in the Sichuan Basin of southwest China. We used a two-stage time-series analysis to quantify the association between temperature and non-accidental mortality in each city, and a multivariate meta-analysis was performed to obtain the overall cumulative risk. The attributable fractions (AFs) were calculated to access the mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperature. Additionally, we performed a stratified analyses by gender, age group, education level, and marital status. RESULTS: A total of 751,930 non-accidental deaths were collected in our study. Overall, 10.16% of non-accidental deaths could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures. A majority of temperature-related non-accidental deaths were caused by low temperature, accounting for 9.10% (95% eCI: 5.50%, 12.19%), and heat effects accounted for only 1.06% (95% eCI: 0.76%, 1.33%). The mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperatures was higher among those under 65 years old, females, those with a low education level, and those with an alternative marriage status. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that a significant association between non-optimal temperature and non-accidental mortality. Those under 65 years old, females, and those with a low educational level or alternative marriage status had the highest attributable burden.
Female ; Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Cold Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Mortality ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Middle Aged ; Male

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of HHQ 16, a derivative of astragaloside Ⅳ, on hepatocyte lipid accumulation. Methods Free fatty acids were used to stimulate lipid hepatocyte accumulation. Triglyceride and Oil Red O staining were detected to reflect hepatocyte lipid accumulation. The expression of α1-acidglycoprotein （ORM） and its regulators were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. The expression of ORM1 was interfered with siRNA to determine whether it mediated the action of HHQ16.The expression of ORM1 was interfered by siRNA to determine whether it mediated the action of HHQ16. Results HHQ16 significantly ameliorated FFA-induced hepatocyte lipid deposition. HHQ16 elevated ORM expression, and the protective effect of HHQ16 on hepatocyte lipid accumulation was reversed by ORM interference. Conclusion HHQ16 could ameliorate hepatocyte lipid accumulation by elevating ORM.

Objective To provide a toxicological basis for HMS-01 in future clinical trials, through genotoxicity testing of safety evaluation. Methods The genotoxicity of HMS-01 was evaluated by Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay （Ames test） with Salmonella typhimurium. Results HMS-01 was non-mutagenic against Salmonella typhimurium at six doses of 20.6, 61.7, 185.2, 555.6, 1666.7, and 5000 μg/dish with （or without） a metabolic activation system. Conclusion HMS-01 was not found to be mutagenic in the dose range of this experiment.

The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM)is complex.Autophagy plays a pivotal role in the development of DCM,and whether its level is stable or not is closely related to the development of the course of DCM.Numerous active components found in traditional Chinese medicines and compound formulations have demonstrated the ability to modulate autophagy levels.These interventions occur through various mechanisms,such as hypoglycemic,anti-apoptotic,anti-inflammatory,and anti-oxidative stress pathways.By mitigating autophagy-induced myocardial damage,enhancing cardiac function,and slowing the progression of DCM,these compounds offer promising avenues for DCM management.This paper aims to consolidate and present research findings from the last 5 years.Our goal is to provide valuable insights and references for the research,development,and clinical application of Chinese medicine in the context of combating DCM.