This study aims to explore the mechanism of lung and gut protection by Tanreqing Capsules on the mice infected with influenza virus based on "the lung-gut axis". A total of 110 C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control group, model group, oseltamivir group, and low-and high-dose Tanreqing Capsules groups. Ten mice in each group underwent body weight protection experiments, and the remaining 12 mice underwent experiments for mechanism exploration. Mice were infected with influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/08/1934(PR8) via nasal inhalation for the modeling. The lung tissue was collected on day 3 after gavage, and the lung tissue, colon tissue, and feces were collected on day 7 after gavage for subsequent testing. The results showed that Tanreqing Capsules alleviated the body weight reduction and increased the survival rate caused by PR8 infection. Compared with model group, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate the lung injury by reducing the lung index, alleviating inflammation and edema in the lung tissue, down-regulating viral gene expression at the late stage of infection, reducing the percentage of neutrophils, and increasing the percentage of T cells. Tanreqing Capsules relieved the gut injury by restoring the colon length, increasing intestinal lumen mucin secretion, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and reducing goblet cell destruction. The gut microbiota analysis showed that Tanreqing Capsules increased species diversity compared with model group. At the phylum level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while reducing the abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria to maintain gut microbiota balance. At the genus level, Tanreqing Capsules significantly increased the abundance of unclassified＿f＿Lachnospiraceae while reducing the abundance of Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Phocaeicola to maintain gut microbiota balance. In conclusion, Tanreqing Capsules can alleviate mouse lung and gut injury caused by influenza virus infection and restore the balance of gut microbiota. Treating influenza from the lung and gut can provide new ideas for clinical practice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Lung/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Capsules ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Influenza A virus/physiology* ; Influenza, Human/virology*

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome and pediatric heart failure (PHF) has a high mortality rate. Early diagnosis is crucial for treatment and management of PHF. In clinical practice, various tests and examinations play a key role in the diagnosis of PHF, including continuously updated biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This article focuses on summarizing relevant research on biomarkers, examinations, combined testing, clinical models, and the grading and staging of PHF diagnosis, aiming to provide insights and directions for the diagnosis of PHF.
Humans ; Heart Failure/diagnosis* ; Child ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Echocardiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genomic characteristics and prognostic factors of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with RAS mutations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of JMML children with RAS mutations treated at the Hematology Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2008 to November 2022. RESULTS: A total of 34 children were included, with 17 cases (50%) having isolated NRAS mutations, 9 cases (27%) having isolated KRAS mutations, and 8 cases (24%) having compound mutations. Compared to children with isolated NRAS mutations, those with NRAS compound mutations showed statistically significant differences in age at onset, platelet count, and fetal hemoglobin proportion (P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and hepatomegaly (≥2 cm below the costal margin) were factors affecting the survival rate of JMML children with RAS mutations (P<0.05); hepatomegaly was a factor affecting survival in the non-HSCT group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Children with NRAS compound mutations have a later onset age compared to those with isolated NRAS mutations. At initial diagnosis, children with NRAS compound mutations have poorer peripheral platelet and fetal hemoglobin levels than those with isolated NRAS mutations. Liver size at initial diagnosis is related to the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations. HSCT can improve the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/therapy* ; Mutation ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Infant ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Adolescent ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of circ_0044556 on the malignant biological behavior of triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)cells by targeting the miR-338-3p/bromodomain-containing protein 4(BRD4)axis.Methods The TargetScan online website was used to predict the binding sites of circ_0044556 with miR-338-3p and miR-338-3p with BRD4.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to determine the relationship among circ_0044556,miR-338-3p,and BRD4 in MDA-MB-231 cells.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of circ_0044556,miR-338-3p,and BRD4 protein in human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 and human normal breast epithelial cells MCF-10A.MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into NC group,si-NC group(transfected with si-NC),si-circ_0044556 group(transfected with si-circ_0044556),si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group(transfected with si-circ_0044556 and inhibitor NC),and si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group(transfected with si-circ_0044556 andmiR-338-3p inhibitor).qRT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of circ_0044556 and miR-338-3p;Western blotting was used to detect the expression of BRD4,E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin;the CCK-8 assay was applied to detect cell proliferation;flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis;and Transwell assays were used to detect cell invasion and migration.Thirty nude mice were randomly divided into NC group(tail vein injection of normal saline),si-NC group(tail vein injection of LV-NC),si-circ_0044556 group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556),si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556 and antiagomir NC),and si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556 and antiagomir miR-338-3p),with 6 mice per group.A xenograft tumor model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of MDA-MB-231 cells into nude mice,and tumor volume and weight were measured.Results TargetScan prediction results showed that the downstream miRNA of circ_0044556 was miR-338-3p,and the downstream target gene of miR-338-3p might be BRD4.Compared with transfecting mimic NC,transfection with miR-338-3p mimic significantly reduced the luciferase activities of WT-circ_0044556(0.34±0.03 vs.1.00±0.15,P<0.05)and WT-BRD4(0.41±0.05 vs.1.05±0.13,P<0.05)in MDA-MB-231 cells.Compared with MCF-10A cells,the expression levels of circ_0044556 and BRD4 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly increased,while the expression level of miR-338-3p was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with NC group and si-NC group,the expression levels of circ_0044556,the protein expression levels of BRD4,N-cadherin,and Vimentin,and the OD450 value in MDA-MB-231 cells of si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the number of migrated and invaded cells was significantly reduced(P<0.05),and the expression level of miR-338-3p,the protein expression level of E-cadherin,and the cell apoptosis rate in MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly increased(P<0.05);downregulation of miR-338-3p rescued the inhibitory effect of circ_0044556 knockdown on invasion,migration,and proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells.Compared with NC group and si-NC group,the tumor volume and weight in si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group were significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group,the tumor volume and weight in si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion circ_0044556 may promote the malignant biological behaviors of TNBC cells through the miR-338-3p/BRD4 axis.

Objective To investigate the effect of different strand lengths of 125I seeds with the same activity on the dose of different reference points around the seeds.Methods The scanned images were transferred to the three-dimensional treatment planning system(3D-TPS)according to DICOM format.The target volume was delineated at 5 mm and 10 mm above and below the center of the phantom,and a 0.8 mCi seeds strand was simulated.The 1-20 seeds were arranged with an equal spacing of 5 mm(5 mm-100 mm).The 5 mm points above and below the center of the seeds strand were defined as point A and point A',and the 10 mm points above and below the center were defined as point B and point B'.5 mm above and below the edge of the seeds strand on the left side were defined as AL points and AL'points,and 5 mm above and below the edge of the seeds strand on the right side were defined as AR points and AR'points.Similarly,points 10 mm above the above mentioned positions were defined as BL points,BL'points,BR points,BR'points.The average dose symmetry points were measured at AL,AL',AR,and 5 mm,10 mm,15 mm and 20 mm inside AR' of the 45 mm-100 mm seeds strand.The dose at the center was compared with the dose at the end points.The dose at the center point A was compared with the average dose at the symmetry points of 5 mm,10 mm,15 mm and 20 mm inside of the end points AL,AL',AR and AR',and the dose at each point was curve fitting.The correlation between each point and seeds strands of different lengths was analyzed.Results There was a positive correlation between the dose and the length of each point.There was no statistically significant difference between the center point and the end point.There was a statistically significant difference in dosage at points 5 mm and 10 mm inside from point A,while there was no statistically significant difference in dosage at points 15 mm and 20 mm inside from point A.The dose of A,A',B and B' point increased steadily with the increase of seed chain length,and the fitting curves were obtained respectively:y=e(-0.620/x+5.28)(R2=0.992),y=e(-0.640/x+5.34)(R2=0.987),y=e(-0.82/x+4.80)(R2=0.984),y=e(-0.82/x+4.83)(R2=0.9g1).Conclusion The doses at points A,A',B,and B'are positively correlated with seeds strand length and have a high degree of stability.Point A can be used as a reference point for the target area dose of the seeds strand,and point B can be used as a reference point for the dose to critical organs.The dose at other positions is more variable and thus has a certain degree of uncertainty as a reference point for the seeds strand dose.

Objective To investigate the impact of different 125I seeds strand radian on the dose of different reference points around the seeds.Methods CT scan of self-developed radioactive particle radiation dose measurement phantom was performed,the scanned images were transferred to the three-dimensional treatment planning system(TPS).The target area at the middle level of the model was drawn.The target volume was delineated at 5 mm and 10 mm above and below the center of the phantom.125I seeds strand plans were designed with different radians,with a total length of 8 cm,seed spacing of 0 cm,activity of 0.8 mCi,and a total of 16 particles,with radians ranging from 30°to 170°,increasing by 10° increment.The point 5 mm vertically away from the center of the seeds strand towards the center was named A',and the point away from the center was named A.The point 10 mm vertically away from the center of the seeds strand towards the center was named B',and the point away from the center was named B.The doses at different radians were recorded,and the actual absorbed dose at 1-2 months after operation was calculated based on the particle activity decay formula.Results The doses at points A'and A were(218.3±23.1)and(201.5±16.0)Gy respectively(P=0.001).The actual absorbed doses at 1 month after operation were(65.5±6.9)and(60.5±4.8)Gy respectively(P=0.001),and the actual absorbed doses at 2 months after operation were(109.2±11.5)Gy and(100±7.9)Gy respectively(P=0.001).The doses at points B'and B were(95.9±11.0)Gy and(81.7±4.9)Gy respectively(P＜0.001),and the actual absorbed doses at 1 month after operation were(28.8±3.3)Gy and(24.5±1.5)Gy respectively(P＜0.001).The actual absorbed doses at 2 month after operation were(48.0±5.5)Gy and(41.0±2.4)Gy respectively(P＜0.001).The doses at points A'and A gradually decreased with the increase of the radians,reaching the minimum value at 100 degrees,and then increased gradually,showing a cubic function change.The actual absorbed dose showed the same trend.The doses at points B'and B increased gradually with the increase of the radians,showing a cubic function change.Conclusion At different radians,the point doses and absorbed doses on the centrifugal side of the seeds strand are both less than those on the centripetal side.There is a cubic function relationship between the dose at the reference points and the radian of the seeds strand.

Objective To investigate the population composition,seasonal dynamics,and infestation levels of cockroaches in Lanzhou,China,and to provide information for the scientific development of cockroach control strategies.Methods Monitoring was conducted at three locations using the sticky trap method.Habitats included farm product markets,catering establishments,hotels,hospitals,and residential areas.Results From 2016 to 2023,the average cockroach density was 0.77 insects per board,with an average infestation rate of 10.84%.Blattella germanica was the dominant species.Seasonal density of cockroaches showed an approximately unimodal distribution,peaking in September.The highest average density and infestation rates were observed in farm product markets.Conclusions Cockroach density and infestation levels in Lanzhou remained relatively low.A comprehensive prevention and control strategy focusing on environmental management in key areas should be implemented according to the seasonal fluctuations.

cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is an eukaryotic intranuclear protein widely expressed in a variety of organs, and its activation increases the transcriptional activity of downstream genes and promotes the expression of related genes. The neuronal function of CREB is related to many intracellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, long-term synaptic potentials, neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that CREB plays an important role in the stroke development and therefore, it may serve as a potential target for stroke therapy. Since some herbal medicines as well as their active ingredients regulate the CREB signaling, this article will summarize the role of CREB signaling pathway in stroke pathophysiology. The research progress of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients modulating CREB activity will also be discussed, with the aim of providing the basis and reference for the future research and development of natural medicines against stroke.

Objective To explore the targets and pathways of Cynanchum wilfordii for treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods UPLC-QE-MS was used to identify the components of Cynanchum wilfordii ethanol extract,and their targets were screened using public databases for construction of the core protein-protein interaction(PPI)network and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses.Forty male C57 mice were randomized into normal control group,model group,mesalazine group and Cynanchum wilfordii group(n=10),and in the latter 3 groups,mouse UC models were established by treatment with 2.5%DSS and the latter 2 groups drug interventions by gavage.The therapeutic effect was evaluated by recording body weight changes and DAI score.Pathological changes of the colon tissue were observed with HE and AB-PAS staining,and JAK2 and STAT3 protein expressions were detected with Western blotting.The metabolites and metabolic pathways were identified by metabonomics analysis.Results We identified 240 chemical components in Cynanchum wilfordii alcoholic extracts,including 19 steroids.A total of 177 Cynanchum wilfordii targets,5406 UC genes,and 117 intersection genes were obtained.JAK2 and STAT3 were the core targets and significantly enriched in lipid and atherosclerosis pathways.Cynanchum wilfordii treatment significantly increased the body weight and decreased DAI score of UC mice(P<0.05),alleviated intestinal pathologies,and decreased JAK2 and STAT3 protein expressions in the colon tissues.Most of the 83 intersecting differential metabolites between the control,model and Cynanchum wilfordii groups were identified as glycerophospholipids,arachidonic acid,and amino acids involving glycerophospholipid metabolism and other pathways.Correlation analysis suggested that the core targets of Cynanchum wilfordii for UC participated in regulation of the metabolites.Conclusion Cynanchum wilfordii alleviates lipid and amino acid metabolism disorders to lessen UC in mice by regulating the core targets including JAK2 and STAT3 and the levels of endogenous metabolites.