ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the prophylactic effects of caloric restriction (CR) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective actions of CR. This research aims to provide innovative strategies and theoretical support for the prevention of SCM. MethodsA total of forty-eight 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, weighing between 20-25 g, were randomly assigned to 4 distinct groups, each consisting of 12 mice. The groups were designated as follows: CON (control), LPS, CR, and CR+LPS. Prior to the initiation of the CR protocol, the CR and CR+LPS groups underwent a 2-week acclimatization period during which individual food consumption was measured. The initial week of CR intervention was set at 80% of the baseline intake, followed by a reduction to 60% for the subsequent 5 weeks. After 6-week CR intervention, all 4 groups received an intraperitoneal injection of either normal saline or LPS (10 mg/kg). Twelve hours post-injection, heart function was assessed, and subsequently, heart and blood samples were collected. Serum inflammatory markers were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum myocardial enzyme spectrum was analyzed using an automated biochemical instrument. Myocardial tissue sections underwent hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of protein in myocardial tissue, including inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-9, IL-18), oxidative stress markers (iNOS, SOD2), pro-apoptotic markers (Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, CASP3), and SIRT3/SIRT6. ResultsTwelve hours after LPS injection, there was a significant decrease in ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) ratios, along with a notable increase in left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD). Morphological and serum indicators (AST, LDH, CK, and CK-MB) indicated that LPS injection could induce myocardial structural disorders and myocardial injury. Furthermore, 6-week CR effectively prevented the myocardial injury. LPS injection also significantly increased the circulating inflammatory levels (IL-1β, TNF-α) in mice. IF and Western blot analyses revealed that LPS injection significantly up-regulating the expression of inflammatory-related proteins (TNF-α, IL-9, IL-18), oxidative stress-related proteins (iNOS, SOD2) and apoptotic proteins (Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, CASP3) in myocardial tissue. 6-week CR intervention significantly reduced circulating inflammatory levels and downregulated the expression of inflammatory, oxidative stress-related proteins and pro-apoptotic level in myocardial tissue. Additionally, LPS injection significantly downregulated the expression of SIRT3 and SIRT6 proteins in myocardial tissue, and CR intervention could restore the expression of SIRT3 proteins. ConclusionA 6-week CR could prevent LPS-induced septic cardiomyopathy, including cardiac function decline, myocardial structural damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The mechanism may be associated with the regulation of SIRT3 expression in myocardial tissue.

ObjectiveTobacco-related diseases remain one of the leading preventable public health challenges worldwide and are among the primary causes of premature death. In recent years, accumulating evidence has supported the classification of nicotine addiction as a chronic brain disease, profoundly affecting both brain structure and function. Despite the urgency, effective diagnostic methods for smoking addiction remain lacking, posing significant challenges for early intervention and treatment. To address this issue and gain deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence, this study proposes a novel graph neural network framework, termed TI-GNN. This model leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to identify complex and subtle abnormalities in brain connectivity patterns associated with smoking addiction. MethodsThe study utilizes fMRI data to construct functional connectivity matrices that represent interaction patterns among brain regions. These matrices are interpreted as graphs, where brain regions are nodes and the strength of functional connectivity between them serves as edges. The proposed TI-GNN model integrates a Transformer module to effectively capture global interactions across the entire brain network, enabling a comprehensive understanding of high-level connectivity patterns. Additionally, a spatial attention mechanism is employed to selectively focus on informative inter-regional connections while filtering out irrelevant or noisy features. This design enhances the model’s ability to learn meaningful neural representations crucial for classification tasks. A key innovation of TI-GNN lies in its built-in causal interpretation module, which aims to infer directional and potentially causal relationships among brain regions. This not only improves predictive performance but also enhances model interpretability—an essential attribute for clinical applications. The identification of causal links provides valuable insights into the neuropathological basis of addiction and contributes to the development of biologically plausible and trustworthy diagnostic tools. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that the TI-GNN model achieves superior classification performance on the smoking addiction dataset, outperforming several state-of-the-art baseline models. Specifically, TI-GNN attains an accuracy of 0.91, an F1-score of 0.91, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.83, indicating strong robustness and reliability. Beyond performance metrics, TI-GNN identifies critical abnormal connectivity patterns in several brain regions implicated in addiction. Notably, it highlights dysregulations in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with prior clinical and neuroimaging findings. These regions are well known for their roles in emotional regulation, reward processing, and impulse control—functions that are frequently disrupted in nicotine dependence. ConclusionThe TI-GNN framework offers a powerful and interpretable tool for the objective diagnosis of smoking addiction. By integrating advanced graph learning techniques with causal inference capabilities, the model not only achieves high diagnostic accuracy but also elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. The identification of specific abnormal brain networks and their causal interactions deepens our understanding of addiction pathophysiology and lays the groundwork for developing targeted intervention strategies and personalized treatment approaches in the future.

Aim To explore the effect of Danggui Shaoyao San on edema in rats with nephrotic syndrome and the underlying mechanism.Methods Rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,Danggui Shaoyao San group(17.2 g·kg-1·d-1),losartan group(30 mg·kg-1·d-1)and tolvaptan group(3 mg·kg-1·d-1).The rat model of nephrot-ic syndrome was established by tail vein injection of adriamycin.After four weeks of treatment,the levels of renal function and 24 h urinary protein were detected.The distribution of aquaporin 2(AQP2)and pS256-AQP2 in renal tissue was detected by immunohisto-chemistry.The levels of plasma arginine vasopressin(AVP)and angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)were measured by radioimmunoassay.The expressions of renal AQP2,pS256-AQP2,angiotensin type 1 receptor(AT1R),arginine vasopressin receptor 2(V2R)protein and mRNA were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.Results The three drugs could improve renal function,reduce proteinuria,decrease plasma AVP and Ang Ⅱ levels,and down-regulate AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 protein and mRNA expression in model rats.Danggui Shaoyao San and tolvaptan were more ef-fective than losartan in reducing plasma AVP levels.Conclusions Danggui Shaoyao San may regulate the expression of AQP2 by reducing the levels of AVP and Ang Ⅱ,and improve the edema of nephrotic syndrome rats.

Objective To compare the efficacy of renal proximal renal artery denervation(pRDN)and full-length renal artery denervation(fRDN)for treatment of hypertension.Methods Fifty-six hypertensive patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to full-length renal artery denervation group(n=25)and proximal renal artery denervation group(n=31).After the procedure,24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(24 h-ABPM)at 6 months and office blood pressure at 12 months was recorded for statistical analysis.Results The blood pressure at follow-up reduced significantly in both groups,while there was no significant difference between groups.The baseline office blood pressure in fRDN group and pRDN group was(180±15)/(104±10)mmHg and(180±12)/(103±8)mmHg,respectively,which decreased to(142±9)/(82±7)mmHg and(143±10)/(83±6)mmHg at 12 months postoperatively(P＜0.001 within groups and P＞0.05 between groups).The baseline 24 h-ABPM in the two groups was(162±13)/(95±8)mmHg and(160±12)/(94±8)mmHg,respectively,which decreased to(142±11)/(83±7)mmHg and(141±8)/(81±7)mmHg at 6 months postoperatively(P＜0.001 within groups and P＞0.05 between groups).However,there was no significant difference in the reduction of office blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure between the two groups.No treatment-related adverse events were observed.Conclusions pRDN has similar antihypertensive effect to fRDN.

Objective To explore the risk factors related to afterload mismatch(AM)after transcatheter mitral valve repair(MitraClip).Methods This was a retrospective cohort study.48 patients hospitalized in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine,the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from December 2021 to December 2023,who underwent MitraClip due to severe mitral regurgitation(MR)were included.Preoperative clinical data,laboratory tests,and preoperative and postoperative color Doppler echocardiographic examination results of surgical patients were collected.AM was defined as the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)decreased by 15％or more after surgery compared with the one before(dLVEF≤-15％).Patients were divided into AM group and non-AM group according to whether afterload mismatch occurred.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of postoperative AM.Results Among 48 patients who underwent MitraClip,14 of them(29.2％)developed afterload-mismatched.For those without AM,their overall LVEF was improved after the operation;for patients in both AM group and non-AM group,their overall left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDd),left ventricular end-diastolic diameter volume index(LVEDVi)was reduced compared with the preoperative ones.Univariate regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein levels(OR 1.98,95％CI 1.02-3.83),platelets(OR 2.22,95％CI 1.08-4.53),systemic immune inflammation index(OR 1.96,95％CI 1.03-3.71)were associated with an increased risk of AM in patients undergoing MitraClip(all P＜0.05),while those with larger right atrial diameter(OR 0.35,95％CI 0.13-0.93)or moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation(OR 0.19,95％CI 0.05-0.81)were less likely to develop into AM(both P＜0.05),which is still satisfied after adjustment.Conclusions For patients who underwent MitraClip,C-reactive protein levels,platelets and systemic immune inflammation index(SII)are associated with an increased risk of afterload mismatched,while those with larger right atrial diameter or moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation were less likely to develop into AM.

Objective To investigate the changing distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus in hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted for the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus according to the unified protocol of CHINET(China Antimicrobial Surveillance Network)using disk diffusion method and commercial automated systems.The CHINET antimicrobial resistance surveillance data from 2015 to 2021 were interpreted according to the 2021 CLSI breakpoints and analyzed using WHONET 5.6.Results During the period from 2015 to 2021,a total of 204,771 nonduplicate strains of Staphylococcus were isolated,including 136,731(66.8％)strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 68,040(33.2％)strains of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(CNS).The proportions of S.aureus isolates and CNS isolates did not show significant change.S.aureus strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(38.9±5.1)％,wound,pus and secretions(33.6±4.2)％,and blood(11.9±1.5)％.The CNS strains were predominantly isolated from blood(73.6±4.2)％,cerebrospinal fluid(12.1±2.5)％,and pleural effusion and ascites(8.4±2.1)％.S.aureus strains were mainly isolated from the patients in ICU(17.0±7.3)％,outpatient and emergency(11.6±1.7)％,and department of surgery(11.2±0.9)％,whereas CNS strains were primarily isolated from the patients in ICU(32.2±9.7)％,outpatient and emergency(12.8±4.7)％,and department of internal medicine(11.2±1.9)％.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains was 32.9％in S.aureus(MRSA)and 74.1％in CNS(MRCNS).Over the 7-year period,the prevalence of MRSA decreased from 42.1％to 29.2％,and the prevalence of MRCNS decreased from 82.1％to 68.2％.MRSA showed higher resistance rates to all the antimicrobial agents tested except trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole than methicillin-susceptible S.aureus(MSSA).Over the 7-year period,MRSA strains showed decreasing resistance rates to gentamicin,rifampicin,and levofloxacin,MRCNS showed decreasing resistance rates to gentamicin,erythromycin,rifampicin,and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,but increasing resistance rate to levofloxacin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were detected.The prevalence of linezolid-resistant MRCNS increased from 0.2％to 2.3％over the 7-year period.Conclusions Staphylococcus remains the major pathogen among gram-positive bacteria.MRSA and MRCNS were still the principal antibiotic-resistant gram-positive bacteria.No S.aureus isolates were found resistant to vancomycin or linezolid,but linezolid-resistant strains have been detected in MRCNS isolates,which is an issue of concern.

Objective:To compare the short-term effect and adverse reaction of venetoclax(VEN)combined with azacitidine(AZA)versus"7+3"regimen in newly diagnosed elder patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods:From January 2021 to January 2022,the clinical data of seventy-nine newly diagnosed elder patients with AML at the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and the Shanxi Bethune Hospital were retrospectively analyzed,including VEN+AZA group(41 cases)and"7+3"group(38 cases).The propensity score matching(PSM)method was used to balance confounding factors,then response,overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS)and adverse reactions between the two groups were compared.Results:The ORR of VEN+AZA group and"7+3"group was 68％and 84％,respectively,and the CRc was 64％and 72％,respectively,the differents were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).In the VEN+AZA group,there were 5 non-remission(NR)patients,4 with chromosome 7 abnormality(7q-/-7),and 1 with ETV6 gene mutation.Median followed-up time between the two groups was 8 months and 12 months,respectively,and the 6-months OS was 84％vs 92％(P=0.389),while 6-months PFS was 84％vs 92％(P=0.258).The main hematological adverse reactions in two groups were stage Ⅲ-Ⅳmyelosuppression,and the incidence rate was not statistically different(P＞0.05).The median time of neutrophil recovery in two groups was 27(11-70)d,25(14-61)d(P=0.161),and platelet recovery was 27(11-75)d,25(16-50)d(P=0.270),respectively.The infection rate of VEN+AZA group was lower than that of"7+3"group(56％vs 88％,P=0.012).The rate of lung infections of two groups was 36％and 64％,respectively,the difference was statistically significant(P=0.048).Conclusion:The short-term effect of VEN+AZA group and"7+3"regimens in eldrly AML patients are similar,but the VEN+AZA regimen had a lower incidence of infection.The presence of chromosome 7 abnormality(7q-/-7)may be a poor prognostic factor for elderly AML patients treated with VEN+AZA.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2(rIL-2)therapy on immunocyte subsets and its side effects in children with solid tumor.Methods:A total of 22 children(11 males and 11 females)with solid tumor in our department from December 2012 to November 2017 were selected,with a median age of 9(3-16)years old when starting IL-2 therapy.ALL surgeries and chemotherapy of children had been completed before low-dose rIL-2 therapy,and 17 cases achieved complete remission(CR)and 5 cases achieved partial remission(PR).A low-dose rIL-2 therapy was given 1 month after chemotherapy for 1 year:4 × 105 IU/(m2·d),s.c.for every other day,3 times per week.The immunocyte subsets were detected every 3 months until the end of treatment,meanwhile,disease condition and therapy-related side effects were followed up.Results:After low-dose rIL-2 therapy in 22 children,the absolute values of CD3+T cells,CD3-CD56+natural killer cells,CD3+CD4+helper T cells(Th)and CD3+CD8+cytotoxic T cells were up-regulated remarkably,as well as Th/suppressor T cells(all P＜0.05).While,there were no significant differences in absolute value and proportion of CD4+CD25+CD127-Treg cells during therapy.Among the 17 children who achieved CR before rIL-2 therapy,14 cases continued to maintain CR after therapy,while 3 cases relapsed,and with 2 died after treatment abandonment.The 5 children who achieved PR before low-dose rIL-2 therapy were evaluated CR by PET/CT scan after treatment.In the early stage of low-dose rIL-2 therapy,1 child developed skin rashes at the injection sites,and 2 children ran a slight to mild transient fever.Their symptoms disappeared without any organ damage after symptomatic treatment.Conclusion:Low-dose rIL-2 therapy has good drug tolerance,and changes the distribution of anti-tumor immune-cell subgroup in peripheral blood of children with solid tumor remarkably without up-regulation of absolute value and ratio of Treg cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect of feeder layer cells expressing interleukin(IL)-21 on the amplification of NK cells in vitro.Methods:The K562 cell line with IL-21 expression on its membrane was constructed by electroporation,and co-cultured with NK cells after inactivation.The proliferation of NK cells was observed.The killing function of the amplified NK cells in vitro was evaluated by the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and interferon-γ(IFN-y)release assay.A colorectal cancer xenograft model in NOD/SCID mice was established,and a blank control group,a NK cell group and an amplified NK cell group were set up to detect the tumor killing effect of amplified NK cells in vivo.Results:K562 cells expressing IL-21 on the membrane were successfully constructed by electroporation.After co-culturing with K562 cells expressing IL-21 on the membrane for 17 days,the NK cells increased to 700 times,which showed an enhanced amplification ability compared with control group(P＜0.001).In the tumor cell killing experiment in vitro,there was no significant difference in the killing activity on tumor cells between NK cells and amplified NK cells,and there was also no significant difference in mice in vivo.Conclusion:K562 cells expressing IL-21 on the membrane can significantly increase the amplification ability of NK cells in vitro,but do not affect the killing function of NK cells in vitro and in vivo.It can be used for the subsequent large-scale production of NK cells in vitro.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the n-butanol fraction of Siegesbeckiae glabrescens Makino.METHODS The n-butanol fraction from S.glabrescens was isolated and purified by silica gel,ODS and preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as orientalin B(1),ent-2-oxo-15,16,19-trihydroxypimar-8(14)-ene(2),ent-12α,16-epoxy-2β,15α,19-trihydroxypimar-8-ene(3),ent-12α,16-epoxy-2β,15α,19-trihydroxy-pimar-8(14)-ene(4),kirenol(5),benzyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(6),hexyl-β-glucopyranoside(7),(Z)-3-hexenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside(8),phenylethyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(9),(6R,9S)-3-oxo-α-ionol-β-D-glucopyranoside(10),2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenyl-β-D-glucoside(11),4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl glucoside(12),2-hydroxy-methylphenyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(13),icarside B2(14),everlastoside D(15),(2S,4R,5S,7S,9S,10R,13S,15R)-2,7,15,16,19-pentahydroxypimar-8(14)-ene(16),and benzyl-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopy-ranoside(17).Compound 9 showed weak ABTS radical scavenging capability,and compound 15 had strong DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging activities.CONCLUSION Compounds 7-9,14-15 are isolated from genus Siegesbeckia for the first time.Compounds 2-4,7-17 are first isolated from this plant.Compound 9 and 15 exhibit antioxidant activities.