ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Zuoguiwan improves the pancreas development in the gestational diabetes mellitus （GDM） model by observing the effects of Zuoguiwan on the expression of key regulatory factors in different stages of pancreas development. MethodsPregnant Wistar rats were randomly assigned into blank， model， insulin detemir （20 U·kg^-1） and Zuoguiwan （1.89 g·kg^-1） groups （n=18）. GDM was induced by peritoneal injection of streptozotocin on day 6.5 （E6.5d） in the embryonic stage， and the blank group was given an equal volume of sodium citrate buffer. The modeling performance was assessed by measuring the blood glucose of pregnant rats. Except the blank group and model group， pregnant rats in other groups were administrated with corresponding drugs from E9.5d to delivery. The random blood glucose of pregnant rats was monitored， and the embryos and offspring rats were measured for the length and weighed on E12.5d， E18.5d and day 21 after birth （B21d）. The Lee's index of rats on B21d was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the fasting insulin （FINS） levels of B22d rats and the Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance （HOMA-IR） was calculated. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， total bilirubin （TBIL）， total cholesterol （CHO）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL） in E18.5d pregnant rats and B22d offspring were determined. The pathological changes in the pancreas of E12.5d， E18.5d and B22d rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Western blot was used to determine the protein levels of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 （Pdx1）， pancreas-specific transcription factor 1a （Ptf1a）， and sex-determining region Y-box protein 9 （Sox9） in the pancreas of E12.5d embryos， Pdx1， Nkx2 homeobox 2 （Nkx2.2）， and hairy and enhancer of split-1 （Hes1） in the pancreas of E18.5d embryos， and Pdx1， v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A （Mafa）， and NK transcription factor-related homeobox gene family 6 locus 1 （Nkx6.1） in the pancreas of B22d rats. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed elevated blood glucose levels in pregnant rats on B0d， E9.5d， E12.5d， E15.5d， and E18.5d （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased body weight and body length （P<0.01） and increased Lee's index in the offspring. In addition， the B22d offspring showed rising levels of FBG， FINS， HOMA-IR， AST， and TG （P<0.01）， a declined level of HDL （P<0.01）， and pancreatic acinous cells with edema and loose arrangement. The pregnant rats on E18.5d exhibited raised levels of ALT， AST， and TG （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the pancreas and a declined level of HDL （P<0.05）. The E12.5d embryos showed up-regulated protein levels of Pdx1， Sox9， and Ptf1a in the pancreas （P<0.01） and the E18.5d embryos exhibited down-regulated protein levels of Pdx1， Nkx2.2， and Hes1 in the pancreas （P<0.01）. The protein levels of Pdx1， Nkx6.1， and Mafa in the pancreas of B22d offspring were down-regulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the insulin group exhibited lowered blood glucose in pregnant rats on B0d， E15.5d， and E18.5d （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The offspring in all treatment groups showcased increased body weight and body length （P<0.01） and decreased Lee's index. The B22d offspring exhibited declined levels of FBG， FINS， and HOMA-IR in the insulin group （P<0.01） and lowered levels of FBG and HOMA-IR in the Zuoguiwan group （P<0.01）. The B22d offspring in all the treatment groups showed reduced levels of ALT， AST， TBIL， CHO， TG， and LDL， a raised level of HDL， and alleviated edema of pancreatic acinous cells. The pregnant rats on E18.5d demonstrated declined levels of TG and ALT （P<0.05， P<0.01） and an elevated level of HDL （P<0.05）. The pancreas of E12.5d embryos presented down-regulated protein levels of Pdx1 and Sox9 and an up-regulated protein level of Ptf1a in the insulin group （P<0.05）. The pancreas of E12.5d embryos in the Zuoguiwan group presented down-regulated protein levels of Pdx1， Sox9， and Ptf1a （P<0.01）. All the treatment groups showed up-regulated protein levels of Pdx1， Nkx2.2， and Hes1 in the pancreas of E18.5d embryos （P<0.01） and Pdx1， Nkx6.1， and Mafa in the pancreas of B22d embryos （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionZuoguiwan can promote the growth and development and ameliorate the pathological changes in the pancreas of the offspring of GDM model by regulating the expression of Pdx1 pathway-related regulatory factors in different stages of pancreas development.

Objective To analyze a case of violations by an occupational medical examination (OME) institution and to explore the key control points for the supervision and management of OME institutions, as well as the core role of quality assessment in this context. Methods An OME institution suspected of illegal activities was used as the study subject. Retrospective analysis was conducted. Clues of suspected violations were identified by an on-site quality assessment. After investigation and verification by the local health authorities, legal action was taken against the institution for its violations. Results During an on-site quality assessment, the Guangdong Province OME quality control expert group discovered that the OME institution violated regulations, including unqualified personnel file, exceeding the scope of services category, issuing false reports, failing to report suspected occupational diseases on time, and failing to notify workers about suspected occupational diseases as required. The evidence was then submitted to the Guangdong Province OME Quality Control Center, which subsequently forwarded the case to local health administration department for filing and investigation. After the investigation, penalties were imposed on the OME institution for its illegal activities. Conclusion The key supervision and inspection points in the quality assessment of OME institutions include personnel file configuration, the quality control management system and its implementation, the quality of OME reports, and information reporting. Quality assessment plays a pivotal role in ensuring the legal and compliant practice of OME institutions, safeguarding the health rights and interests of workers, and enhancing the overall standard of the OME industry.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the horizontal transfer mechanisms and genetic evolutionary characteristics of virulence genes in hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae(HvKP)and resistance genes in carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP).METHODS The donor strain was a CRKP strain harboring both VIM and KPC resist-ance genes.The positive control was a CRKP strain containing blaIMP-4.The recipient strain was Escherichia coli J53.The horizontal transfer capability of the resistance genes was verified by plasmid conjugation assay.Fifty HvKP strains were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from 2017 to 2021 and conjuga-ted with the plasmids of five CRKP strains which could mediate the transmission of drug resistance genes.The conjugants were screened by selective medium containing meropenem,and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect the resistance and virulence genes in the conjugation-successful strains.The lethality of conjugants was verified by Galleria mellonella larval assays.RESULTS The donor CRKP strain had the ability to mediate re-sistance gene transmission.Its blaKPC gene was successfully transferred to E.coli J53,but the transference of the VIM gene failed.Five CRKP strains with the ability to mediate resistance gene transmission were screened,of which one strain carried both VIM and KPC resistance genes,and the other four strains carried the IMP-4 resist-ance gene.Only one CRKP strain with the blaIMP-4 resistance gene was successfully conjugated with HvKP,carry-ing both virulence genes(aerobactin and RmpA)and the blaIMP-4 resistance gene,with positive wire drawing test result.The Galleria mellonella larvae test showed that the conjugation-successful strain caused the death of all lar-vae within 24 hours.CONCLUSIONS In the hospital environment,CRKP and HvKP can form"superbugs"with both drug resistance and high virulence through plasmid conjugation,posing a severe challenge to clinical an-ti-infection treatment.It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of the degree of neuromuscular blockade on the intraoperative surgical conditions and postoperative recovery quality in patients undergoing lumbar interbody fusion.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, 100 patients of either sex, aged 18-79 yr, with a body mass index of 18.5-35.0 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification < Ⅳ, scheduled for elective lumbar interbody fusion at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from August to October 2024, were allocated into 2 groups ( n=50 each) using stratified randomization based on the number of lumbar segments: deep neuromuscular blockade group (group D) and moderate neuromuscular blockade group (group M). The intraoperative post-tetanic count was maintained at 1 or 2 in group D, and the intraoperative train-of-four was maintained at 1 or 2 in group M. The scores for surgical conditions, duration of operation, blood loss, length of incision, occurrence of severe hypoxemia after extubation, requirement for rescue analgesia in post-anesthesia care unit, 15-item Quality of Recovery scale score and length of stay were recorded. Results:Compared with group M, the scores for surgical conditions were significantly increased, the rate of rescue analgesia in post-anesthesia care unit was decreased, 15-item Quality of Recovery scale scores were increased at 3 days after surgery ( P<0.05), and no significant changes were found in the duration of operation, blood loss, length of incision, incidence of severe hypoxemia after extubation and length of hospital stay in group D ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with moderate neuromuscular blockade, deep neuromuscular blockade can provide better surgical conditions and improve the quality of early postoperative recovery for patients undergoing lumbar interbody fusion.

Toxic encephalopathy is a term used to describe a group of diseases that are caused by poisoning with a variety of harmful substances. The main clinical manifestation of these diseases is damage to the central nervous system. Previously reported cases of selenium poisoning had only general clinical manifestations, and head imaging changes were rarely reported. This article reports a 58 year-old selenium-poisoned female patient who had been taking a selenium-containing dietary supplement for a long period of time and subsequently developed neurological impairment. The head magnetic resonance imaging indicated the presence of irregular and abnormal signals in the midbrain and cerebellum. The objective of reporting this case is to show the neurological manifestations of selenium toxic encephalopathy and to provide references for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease, as well as the standardized utilisation of selenium-containing supplements.

Objective To analyze ancient prescriptions for knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and explore their application patterns,for providing clinical reference value.Methods Prescriptions were collected from ancient documents,and a database was created by using Excel 2016 for frequency analysis.Association rules and hidden structures were analyzed by using SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Lantern 5.0.Results A total of 373 prescriptions and 421 herbs were collected,with 3894 times of frequency of medication.Danggui was the most frequently used herb.Herbs primarily tonified deficiencies,relieved exterior symptoms,and expelled wind-dampness,with warm properties and pungent,sweet,or bitter tastes,mainly targeting the spleen and kidney meridians.Thirteen strong association rules were identified,including Chuanxiong+Niuxi-Danggui,and Bixie-Niuxi.Hidden structure analysis revealed 10 variables,leading to 4 clusters and 4 core prescriptions.Common syndromes included wind-damp,wind-cold-damp,wind-damp-heat,and qi-blood deficiency.Conclusion The treatment of KOA in ancient literature focuses on dispelling wind and removing dampness,taking into account both positive deficiency and evil excess,flexible use of tonifying spleen and kidney,clearing dampness-heat,tonifying Qi and blood and other drugs.

Objective To evaluate the promoting effect of continuous low-intensity pulsed ultrasound(LIPUS)combined with microbubble(MB)cavitation therapy(hereinafter referred to as ultrasound cavitation therapy)on microcirculatory perfusion in the ischemic hindlimbs of mice,and to explore the non-invasive therapeutic potential of this treatment for limb arterial ischemic injury.Methods A mouse model of left hindlimb ischemia was established,and the mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups(16 mice per group)according to different treatment methods:model group,ultrasound contrast microbubble group(MB group),LIPUS treatment group(LIPUS group),and ultrasound cavitation therapy group(LIPUS+MB group).Mice in the model group were injected with 0.1 mL of normal saline via the tail vein,those in the MB group were injected with 0.1 mL of MB via the tail vein,those in the LIPUS group were treated with LIPUS on the ischemic hindlimb after injection of 0.1 mL of normal saline via the tail vein,and those in the LIPUS+MB group were treated with LIPUS on the ischemic hindlimb after injection of 0.1 mL of MB via the tail vein;each group was injected once a day for a total of 7 d.On the 1st,4th and 7th days after treatment,the microcirculatory perfusion in the ischemic hindlimbs of mice was evaluated using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.The effects of different treatments on promoting microcirculatory perfusion in the ischemic hindlimbs of mice were assessed by combining hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)staining and CD31 immunohistochemical staining of the gastrocnemius muscle tissue in the hindlimbs.Results The left hindlimb ischemia model was successfully constructed,and all model mice showed obvious ischemic microcirculation perfusion disorders with good model stability.After the 7th day of treatment,the LIPUS+MB group showed a increase in microcirculation perfusion in the ischemic hindlimb,with the ratio of microvascular flow on the ischemic to non-ischemic sides higher than that of the LIPUS group([94.33±4.51]%vs[70.33±2.09]%,P＜0.05).H-E staining results showed that the LIPUS+MB group had more newly formed capillaries and myofibroblasts in the gastrocnemius muscle,with better muscle structure repair compared to the LIPUS group,while the model group and MB group showed muscle cell necrosis,disorganized arrangement of muscle bundles,and sparse capillaries.CD31 immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed that ultrasonic cavitation therapy significantly outperformed traditional LIPUS treatment in promoting microcirculation perfusion,microvascular neogenesis,and tissue repair in ischemic skeletal muscles(CD31 relative expression level 5.03±0.33 vs 3.57±0.21,P＜0.01).Conclusion Compared with single LIPUS treatment,continuous ultrasound cavitation therapy has a more significant effect on promoting microcirculation perfusion in the ischemic hindlimb of mice,which provides a new strategy for microcirculatory perfusion disorders in skeletal muscles of limbs caused by peripheral arterial ischemic diseases.

Objective To explore the effect of Sangxing Zhike Formula in rats with cough vari-ant asthma(CVA)and its possible mechanism based on the cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)/cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR)pathway.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,dexamethasone group(0.5 mg/kg)and low-,medium-,high-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula groups(9.6,19.2 and 38.4 g/kg)using a ran-dom number table method,with 9 rats in each group.Except for the control group,CVA rat models were established in the other groups.Rats in each group were administered the drug by gavage once a day for 14 consecutive days.The general conditions of rats in each group were observed.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)in rat serum.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)staining were used to observe the pathological changes in rat lung and bronchial tissues,and the acid-base balance of airway surface liquid(ASL)was measured.Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to detect the expression levels of pro-tein kinase A(PKA),CFTR protein and their mRNA in lung tissues of rats.Results Compared with the control group,rats in the model group showed listlessness,dull fur,slow weight gain,a significantly expanded area of alveolar septal consolidation,and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltrations around the bronchi.Compared with the model group,rats in each intervention group had better general conditions and reduced inflammatory infiltrations in lung tissues and bronchial lu-mens.Compared with the control group,the serum levels of IL-1 β and IL-18 in the model group were increased,and the pH values of ASL in the model group,low-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group,medium-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group,and high-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group were all decreased,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in each intervention group were decreased,and the pH values of ASL in the dexamethasone group,medium-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group,and high-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group were increased,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of PKA protein and PKA mRNA in the model group,low-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group,and medium-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group were all decreased,and the expressions of CFTR protein and CFTR mRNA in the model group and each intervention group were all decreased,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the expressions of PKA protein and PKA mRNA in the dexametha-sone group and high-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group were increased,and the expressions of CFTR protein and CFTR mRNA in the high-dose Sangxing Zhike Formula group were increased,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion Sangxing Zhike Formula can im-prove the general conditions of CVA rats,regulate the acid-base balance of ASL,reduce airway in-flammatory cell infiltration andairway remodeling,and decrease the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18.Its mechanism may be related to the cAMP/CFTR pathway.

Objective To understand the instrument distribution and capacities of inter-laboratory comparisons among occupational medical examination (OME) institutions in Guangdong Province. Methods A total of 291 OME institutions in Guangdong Province that were within the validity period of filing in June 2024 and 101 OME institutions that participated in inter-laboratory comparisons in 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Their filing categories, instrument distribution and external quality assessment in laboratories were collected and analyzed. Results The location of 291 OME institutions distributed in 21 prefectural-level cities in the province, mainly in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, accounting for 68.4% of the total. The public hospitals, private medical institutions, the center for disease control and prevention and occupational disease prevention and treatment institutions (hereinafter referred to as "occupational prevention institutions") accounted for 61.2%, 28.5% and 10.3%, respectively. The filing rates for physical factors, chemical factors, and dust categories among OME institutions were 91.1%, 86.9%, and 86.6%, respectively. The average number of institutional instruments, from high to low, was 53.8, 38.8 and 38.2 per unit in occupational prevention institutions, private medical institutions and public hospitals, respectively. The passing rates of inter-laboratory comparisons among OME institutions of external quality assessment in laboratories among OME institutes in Guangdong Province, from high to low were occupational prevention institutions, public hospitals and private medical institutions (96.2% vs 86.8% vs 73.0%, P<0.05). Conclusion The regional distribution of OME institutes in Guangdong Province is unbalanced, mainly concentrated in the PRD region. Low overall level of OME capacity is found in public hospitals and private medical institutions. Leading by the occupational prevention institutions, public hospitals and private medical institutions should strengthen the development and investment in OME hardware, in order to improve the OME level.