Oral solid dosage forms require processes such as disintegration and dissolution to release the drug before it can be absorbed and utilized by the body. In this manuscript, imaging technology was used to continuously visualize and characterize the in vitro static drug release process of gliclazide modified release tablets from 15 manufacturers, combined with the traditional method of in vitro dissolution testing, to determine the release profile of gliclazide modified release tablets, to evaluate the similarity of the release profiles by using the similarity factor (f₂) method and based on the analysis of the release profiles fitted with a variety of mathematical models. The results indicate that the gliclazide modified release tablets produced by 14 companies are hydrophilic gel matrix tablets. Compared to the reference listed drug, the release profiles of formulations from 11 companies show high similarity (f₂ > 50) to the reference. Among these, formulations with visual characteristics similar to the reference exhibit similar release curves. This study provides an alternative method for the in vitro consistency evaluation of gliclazide modified release tablets, aiming to assess the in vitro release behaviour of generic formulations more accurately and comprehensively.

BACKGROUND:Cadmium is a common environmental pollutant,which can damage multiple organs and tissues,such as the kidney and bone,but its effect on annulus fibrosus cells in the intervertebral disc has been less reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of cadmium chloride on the senescence of annulus fibrosus cells and the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. METHODS:Annulus fibrosus cells from Sprague-Dawley rat intervertebral discs were harvested and passage 3 cells were intervened with different concentrations of cadmium chloride(0,1,5,10,20 μmol/L).Cell viability and proliferation were detected by cell counting kit-8 assay.Transcriptome sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis were performed on annulus fibrosus cells with or without cadmium chloride addition.Passage 3 annulus fibrosus cells were divided into control group,cadmium chloride group and LY294002 group.Cell proliferation rate was detected by EdU method,positive cell rate was detected by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining,and expressions of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)and p-Akt at protein and mRNA levels were measured by western blot,RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:5 μmol/L cadmium chloride could inhibit the proliferation of annulus fibrosus cells.Results from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis showed that the main signal transduction pathways included PI3K/Akt,cell cycle and p53 signaling pathways,which were related to cell senescence and proliferation.PI3K/Akt signaling pathways with significant differential expression were selected for validation.Compared with the control group,the EdU-positive rate was significantly decreased in the cadmium chloride group(P<0.05),while the β-galactosidase-positive rate,the expression of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)and p-Akt significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the cadmium chloride group,the EdU-positive rate and p-Akt expression were significantly decreased in the LY294002 group(P<0.05),while the β-galactosidase-positive rate and the expression of senescence-associated proteins(p16,p21 and p53)significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,cadmium chloride can regulate the senescence of annulus fibrosus cells by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,thereby inducing the occurrence and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To investigate the application value of tear inflammatory factors in early evaluation of the occurrence of complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients.Methods A total of 150 eyes of 150 patients with angle-closure glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy in Department of Ophthalmology of Zhangjiagang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included.The clinical data of all patients were collected,and the levels of inflammatory factors(including G-CSF,GM-CSF,IFN-γ,MCP-1,TNF-α,IL-12,IL-13,IL-15,IL-1β,IL-4,IL-7,IL-10,IL-17,IL-5)in tears were detected before surgery.According to the occurrence of postoperative complications,the patients were divided into the complication group and the control group,and the clinical data of the two groups were compared.Logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors of the occurrence of complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients.The predictive model of tear inflammatory factors was established by Logistic regression,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the value of this model in early evaluation of the occurrence of complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients.Results Complications occurred in 35(23.33%)of 150 glaucoma patients after trabeculectomy,including 24 cases of shallow anterior chamber,5 cases of ciliary body or choroid detachment,3 cases of iridocyclitis,2 cases of hyphema,and 1 case of retinal detachment.IFN-γ,GM-CSF and IL-5 levels of the patients in the complication group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the levels of other inflammatory factors of patients between the two groups(P>0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that increased levels of IFN-γ(OR=0.999),GM-CSF(OR=0.988)and IL-5(OR=0.996)were independent protective factors for complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the model were 94.29%and 83.84%in early evaluation of the occurrence of complications after trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients,and the AUC was 0.906,which was higher than that predicted by IFN-γ(AUC=0.642),GM-CSF(AUC=0.721)and IL-5(AUC=0.666)alone.Conclusion Preoperative analysis of tear inflammatory factors in glaucoma patients can early evaluate the occurrence of postoperative complications,especially the combined detection of IFN-γ,GM-CSF and IL-5 levels is of great significance for predicting the occurrence of complications.

Objective To investigate the associations of reproductive health indicators with lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)among women aged 40 years and above.Methods From Jul to Sep,2021,female subjects aged 40 years and above were randomly selected from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank for COPD screening.A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics and reproductive health indicators.Linear regression was used to analyze the effects of reproductive health indicators on forced vital capacity(FVC)and forced expiratory volume in the first second(FEV1).Logistic regression was also used to analyze the effects of reproductive health factors on FVC as a percentage of the predicted value(FVC%Pred)and FEV1%Pred as well as on COPD.Results A total of 1876 women aged 40 years and above were enrolled with mean age of(62.1±8.2)years old,among them,78.1%were menopausal,and 40.9%had been pregnant≥3 times.Multivariate analysis showed that FVC and FEV1 decreased in postmenopausal women,but menopause was not associated with a decrease in their percentage of predicted values.Pregnancies≥3 times was a risk factor for COPD(for 3 times,OR=4.92,95%CI:1.48-19.95,P<0.05;for≥4 times,OR=9.06,95%CI:2.32-41.57,P<0.01),while pregnancies of 2 times did not increase the risk of COPD.Conclusion In women aged 40 years and above,menopause is associated with poorer FVC and FEV1,and excessive pregnancy(≥3 times)is a risk factor for COPD.

Methods To investigate how the timing of cooling therapy affects organ injuries in rats with exertional heat stroke(EHS)and explore the possible mechanisms.Methods A total of 60 adult male Wistar rat models of EHS were randomized into model group without active cooling after modeling,immediate cooling group with cold water bath immediately after modeling,delayed cooling groups with cold water bath at 5,15 and 30 min after modeling,with another 12 mice without EHS as the normal control group.The changes in core body temperature of the mice were recorded and the cooling rate was calculated.After observation for 24 h,the mice were euthanized and blood samples were collected for detection of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,and interferon-γ,followed by pathological examination of the vital organs.The rats that died within 24 h were immediately dissected for examination.Results The number of deaths of the model rats within 24 h increased significantly with the time of delay of cooling treatment.The delay of cooling was positively correlated(r=0.996,P=0.004)while the cooling rate negatively correlated with the mortality rate(r=-0.961,P=0.009).The inflammatory cytokine levels presented with different patterns of variations among the cooling intervention groups.All the rat models of EHS had significant organ damages characterized mainly by epithelial shedding,edema,effusion,and inflammatory cell infiltration,and brain and renal injuries reached the peak level at 24 h after EHS.Conclusion EHS causes significant nonspecific pathologies of varying severities in the vital organs of rats,and the injuries worsen progressively with the delay of cooling.There is a significant heterogeneity in changes of serum inflammatory cytokines in rats with different timing of cooling intervention following EHS.

Critically ill patients are at high risk for hospital acquired infections, which can significantly increase the mortality rate and treatment costs for these patients. Therefore, in the process of treating the primary disease, strict prevention and control of new hospital infections is an essential component of the treatment for critically ill patients. The treatment of critically ill patients involves multiple steps and requires a concerted effort from various aspects such as theory, management, education, standards, and supervision to achieve effective prevention and control of hospital infections. However, there is currently a lack of unified understanding and standards for hospital infection prevention and control. To address this, in March 2024, a group of experts in critical care medicine, infectious diseases, and hospital infection from China discussed the current situation and issues of hospital infection control in the intensive care unit together. Based on a review of the latest evidence-based medical evidence from both domestic and international sources, 2024 Expert Consensus on Hospital Acquired Infection Control Principles in the Department of Critical Care Medicine was formed, aiming to provide a basis for the development of hospital infection prevention and control strategies in the field of critical care medicine.

Methods To investigate how the timing of cooling therapy affects organ injuries in rats with exertional heat stroke(EHS)and explore the possible mechanisms.Methods A total of 60 adult male Wistar rat models of EHS were randomized into model group without active cooling after modeling,immediate cooling group with cold water bath immediately after modeling,delayed cooling groups with cold water bath at 5,15 and 30 min after modeling,with another 12 mice without EHS as the normal control group.The changes in core body temperature of the mice were recorded and the cooling rate was calculated.After observation for 24 h,the mice were euthanized and blood samples were collected for detection of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10,and interferon-γ,followed by pathological examination of the vital organs.The rats that died within 24 h were immediately dissected for examination.Results The number of deaths of the model rats within 24 h increased significantly with the time of delay of cooling treatment.The delay of cooling was positively correlated(r=0.996,P=0.004)while the cooling rate negatively correlated with the mortality rate(r=-0.961,P=0.009).The inflammatory cytokine levels presented with different patterns of variations among the cooling intervention groups.All the rat models of EHS had significant organ damages characterized mainly by epithelial shedding,edema,effusion,and inflammatory cell infiltration,and brain and renal injuries reached the peak level at 24 h after EHS.Conclusion EHS causes significant nonspecific pathologies of varying severities in the vital organs of rats,and the injuries worsen progressively with the delay of cooling.There is a significant heterogeneity in changes of serum inflammatory cytokines in rats with different timing of cooling intervention following EHS.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangtong Animal Husbandry,and whether vectors carry any bacterial pathogens that may cause diseases to humans,to provide scientific basis for prospective pathogen discovery and disease prevention and control. Methods Using a metataxonomics approach in concert with full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and operational phylogenetic unit(OPU)analysis,we characterized the species-level microbial community structure of two important vector species,biting midges and ticks,including 33 arthropod samples comprising 3,885 individuals,collected around Poyang Lake. Results A total of 662 OPUs were classified in biting midges,including 195 known species and 373 potentially new species,and 618 OPUs were classified in ticks,including 217 known species and 326 potentially new species.Surprisingly,OPUs with potentially pathogenicity were detected in both arthropod vectors,with 66 known species of biting midges reported to carry potential pathogens,including Asaia lannensis and Rickettsia bellii,compared to 50 in ticks,such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus sciuri.We found that Proteobacteria was the most dominant group in both midges and ticks.Furthermore,the outcomes demonstrated that the microbiota of midges and ticks tend to be governed by a few highly abundant bacteria.Pantoea sp7 was predominant in biting midges,while Coxiella sp1 was enriched in ticks.Meanwhile,Coxiella spp.,which may be essential for the survival of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann,were detected in all tick samples.The identification of dominant species and pathogens of biting midges and ticks in this study serves to broaden our knowledge associated to microbes of arthropod vectors. Conclusion Biting midges and ticks carry large numbers of known and potentially novel bacteria,and carry a wide range of potentially pathogenic bacteria,which may pose a risk of infection to humans and animals.The microbial communities of midges and ticks tend to be dominated by a few highly abundant bacteria.

Objective Recombinase-aided polymerase chain reaction(RAP)is a sensitive,single-tube,two-stage nucleic acid amplification method.This study aimed to develop an assay that can be used for the early diagnosis of three types of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus(SA),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA),and Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)in the bloodstream based on recombinant human mannan-binding lectin protein(M1 protein)-conjugated magnetic bead(M1 bead)enrichment of pathogens combined with RAP. Methods Recombinant plasmids were used to evaluate the assay sensitivity.Common blood influenza bacteria were used for the specific detection.Simulated and clinical plasma samples were enriched with M1 beads and then subjected to multiple recombinase-aided PCR(M-RAP)and quantitative PCR(qPCR)assays.Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency between the two assays. Results The M-RAP method had sensitivity rates of 1,10,and 1 copies/μL for the detection of SA,PA,and AB plasmids,respectively,without cross-reaction to other bacterial species.The M-RAP assay obtained results for<10 CFU/mL pathogens in the blood within 4 h,with higher sensitivity than qPCR.M-RAP and qPCR for SA,PA,and AB yielded Kappa values of 0.839,0.815,and 0.856,respectively(P<0.05). Conclusion An M-RAP assay for SA,PA,and AB in blood samples utilizing M1 bead enrichment has been developed and can be potentially used for the early detection of bacteremia.

Objective:To explore the clinical application of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) in an unique case with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2+ 0.Methods:A special SMA family presented at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University on October 19, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and molecular tagging linkage analysis were carried out to identify the SMN1 genotype of the couple and their fetus. Subsequently, next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular tagging linkage analysis, and chromosomal microarray analysis were employed to determine the haplotypes and validate the result of PGT-M on the 11 embryos derived for the couple. Results:The female partner was identified as a carrier of the rare SMN1[2+ 0] variant, and prenatal diagnosis confirmed the fetus to be affected by SMA. Ultimately, PGT-M has successfully selected four embryos free from the pathogenic SMN1 variants and X chromosome deletion. Conclusion:PGT-M can effectively prevent the transmission of rare genetic variants such as the SMA 2+ 0 subtype in the families. Above finding has provided guidance for genetic counseling and family planning for the couple.