ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiaozhi Qinggan decoction （XQD） in preventing and treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease （MASLD） by regulating ferroptosis， network pharmacology， in vitro and in vivo experiments. MethodsIn the in vivo experiment， mouse MASLD models were established by high-fat diet （HFD） induction. The model mice were randomly assigned to a positive control group （silybin， 50 mg·kg^-1）， low-， medium- and high-dose XQD groups （4.725， 9.45， 18.9 g·kg^-1）， with a normal control group. After 4 weeks of modeling， mice except the normal group were administered intragastrically for 8 consecutive weeks. Liver function， serum lipid levels， hepatic histopathology， as well as the levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， reduced glutathione （GSH） and oxidized glutathione （GSSG） and Fe²⁺ were detected. The mRNA and protein expression of p53， SLC7A11 and GPX4 were determined by quantitative Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot. In the network pharmacology analysis， active components and potential targets of XQD for MASLD were screened， followed by functional and pathway enrichment analyses， and molecular docking was performed to verify the target binding activity. In the in vitro experiment， the optimal concentration of XQD-containing serum was screened by cytotoxicity assay. HepG2 cells were transfected with ov-NC or ov-p53 plasmid， and a lipid accumulation model was induced by free fatty acid （FFA， 1.0 mmol·L^-1）. Cells were divided into a normal group， FFA model group， ov-NC+XQD （15%） group and ov-p53+XQD （15%） group. Intracellular Fe²⁺ level and lipid accumulation were evaluated， and the protein expression of p53， SLC7A11 and GPX4 was measured by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited markedly elevated body weight， liver weight， liver index， fasting blood glucose， AUC of glucose tolerance test， serum liver function and blood lipid levels at week 12 （P<0.01）. Hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration were observed by pathological staining. Additionally， hepatic levels of MDA， SOD and Fe²⁺ were increased （P<0.01）， while GSH， GSSG and the GSH/GSSG ratio were decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of hepatic p53 was upregulated （P<0.01）， whereas the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low- and medium-dose XQD groups showed significantly decreased body weight at week 12 （P<0.05）. The silybin group， together with the medium- and high-dose XQD groups， presented reduced liver weight and liver index （P<0.05）. Fasting blood glucose and the AUC of glucose tolerance test were lowered in all four treatment groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological staining revealed alleviated hepatic steatosis and inflammation， accompanied by decreased serum liver function and blood lipid levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Moreover， hepatic MDA and SOD levels were markedly reduced， while GSH， GSSG and the GSH/GSSG ratio were significantly elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Hepatic Fe²⁺ level was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of hepatic p53 was downregulated， and the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Network pharmacology analysis identified quercetin， kaempferol， luteolin， tanshinone IIA and isorhamnetin as the core active components of XQD， with p53 serving as the key target. Stable binding was verified between these active components and the p53 protein. The optimal concentration of XQD-containing serum in vitro was determined to be 15%. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased intracellular Fe²⁺ and lipid accumulation， significantly upregulated p53 protein expression （P<0.01）， and markedly downregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the ov-NC group exhibited reduced Fe²⁺ and lipid accumulation， downregulated p53 expression， and upregulated SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression. In the ov-p53 group， p53 expression was upregulated （P<0.01）， while SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression was downregulated （P<0.01）. ConclusionXQD inhibits ferroptosis by downregulating p53 and upregulating SLC7A11 and GPX4， thereby alleviating oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes and improving MASLD.

To review the clinical characteristics, short-term outcomes, and risk factors of patients with infective endocarditis(IE) who underwent surgical treatment at a single center, and to summarize treatment experience.

Pancreatic β-cell failure due to a reduction in function and mass has been defined as a primary contributor to the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Reserving insulin-producing β-cells and hence restoring insulin production are gaining attention in translational diabetes research, and β-cell replenishment has been the main focus for diabetes treatment. Significant findings in β-cell proliferation, transdifferentiation, pluripotent stem cell differentiation, and associated small molecules have served as promising strategies to regenerate β-cells. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the mechanisms implicated in β-cell dynamic processes under physiological and diabetic conditions, in which genetic factors, age-related alterations, metabolic stresses, and compromised identity are critical factors contributing to β-cell failure in T2D. The article also focuses on recent advances in therapeutic strategies for diabetes treatment by promoting β-cell proliferation, inducing non-β-cell transdifferentiation, and reprograming stem cell differentiation. Although a significant challenge remains for each of these strategies, the recognition of the mechanisms responsible for β-cell development and mature endocrine cell plasticity and remarkable advances in the generation of exogenous β-cells from stem cells and single-cell studies pave the way for developing potential approaches to cure diabetes.

Objective To explore the application value of serum CXC chemokine ligand 12(CXCL12)and CXC chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)detection combined with Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of dangerous placenta previa.Methods A sum of 90 patients with dangerous placenta previa admitted to Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in Hebei from June 2020 to January 2023 were collected as research subjects.According to the postpartum pathological results,they were grouped into the placental implantation group(n=38)and the non placental implantation group(n=52),while another 90 healthy pregnant women(with placenta attached to the anterior wall of the uterus)who underwent pregnancy examination in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in Hebei and matched with the patient's gestational age were regarded as the control group.The serum levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in each group were compared.ROC curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 levels for placental implantation.Using postoperative pathological results as the gold standard,the fourfold table method was applied to calculate the diagnostic efficacy of serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 combined with Doppler ultrasound in the occurrence of placental implantation.Results The serum levels of CXCL12(2.75±1.26 ng/ml,5.82±2.14 ng/ml,10.24±3.58 ng/ml)and CXCR4(1.84±0.78 ng/ml,4.47±1.83 ng/ml,8.32±2.763 ng/ml)in the control group,non placental implantation group and placental implantation group were increased successively,and the differences were significant(F=158.998,199.141,all P＜0.05).The detection of serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 combined with Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of placental implantation had an AUC of 0.948,and sensitivity and specificity were 92.11％and 86.54％,respectively,which was better than CXCL12,CXCR4,and Doppler ultrasound alone predicting separately(Z=2.266,2.682,3.472,P=0.023,0.007,0.001).Conclusion The expression levels of serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 in patients with dangerous placenta previa are increased.The combination of serum CXCL12 and CXCR4 with Doppler ultrasound may have good diagnostic efficacy for the occurrence of placental implantation in dangerous placenta previa patients.

Objective:To determine the median effective dose (ED 50) of remimazolam for preoperative sedation in pediatric patients of different ages. Methods:This was a prospective study. American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification I or Ⅱ pediatric patients, aged 1-6 yr, scheduled for elective surgery in our hospital from July to December 2023, in whom the preoperative anxiety was still not relieved after non-drug intervention (preoperative separation anxiety score [PSAS]≥3), were selected. According to the age, the children were divided into 1-<2 yr group, 2-<3 yr group, 3-<4 yr group, 4-<5 yr group and 5-6 yr group. A child's PSAS score = 1 at the time of separation from parents was classified as satisfactory sedation, and a PSAS score ≥ 2 was classified as unsatisfactory sedation. The initial dose of remimazolam in each group was 0.3 mg/kg, dose ratio 1.15. If the child was satisfactorily sedated, the next patient received a lower dose of remimazolam, or conversely if the child was not satisfactorily sedated, a higher dose was given in the next patient. The test was ended when 7 alternating waveforms appeared. The Dixon-Massey method was used to calculate the ED 50 and 95% confidence interval. Results:In 1-<2 yr group, 2-<3 yr group, 3-<4 yr group, 4-<5 yr group and 5-6 yr group, a total of 120 children were included in this study, with 26, 23, 21, 27 and 23 cases, respectively, and the ED 50 (95% confidence interval) of remimazolam for preoperative sedation was 0.152 (0.126-0.178), 0.159 (0.135-0.183), 0.171 (0.147-0.196), 0.150 (0.126-0.174), and 0.146 (0.121-0.170) mg/kg, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The ED 50 of remimazolam for preoperative sedation is 0.152, 0.159, 0.171, 0.150 and 0.146 mg/kg for every 1 yr in children aged 1-6 yr, and the age factor does not affect the preoperative sedative effect of remimazolam in children of this age group.

Critical care medicine-related treatment is an interdisciplinary and multi-professional process,often leading to secondary or concomitant mental disorders in clinical practice.Currently,there is no consensus on the pharmacological treatment of related mental illnesses in China.The Chinese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine collaborated with the Critical Care Medicine expert group to form a consensus writing expert group.After a systematic review of relevant literature,summarizing published domestic and foreign literature,and extensive discussions,the consensus was developed.The consensus elaborates on the principles and processes of the standardized use of psychotropic drugs in critical care medicine,as well as the clinical indications,precautions,and specific drug selection of various psychiatric medications,providing feasible suggestions and guidance for the clinical application of psychiatric medications in the intensive care unit.

Background and aims:Antiviral therapy is essential for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF).No data are available on the long-term prognosis or safety of tenofovir alafenamide(TAF),tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF),or entecavir(ETV)in treating HBV-ACLF globally.This study was conducted to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of the three nucleos(t)ide analogs in the treatment of HBV-ACLF.Methods:In this prospective,real-world cohort study,patients with HBV-ACLF were assigned to the TAF,TDF,and ETV groups.A total of 199 patients completed the 144-week follow-up.After propensity score matching(PSM),44 patients remained in each group for further analysis of survival status,incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),virological response,and liver and renal function indicators.Results:In the original cohort,HCC developed in one patient in each group.No serious drug-related adverse events were observed.In the PSM cohort,the 144-week survival rates were 56.82％,75.00％,and 59.09％in the TAF,TDF,and ETV groups,respectively(P=0.118).When stratified into noncirrhosis and cirrhosis subgroups at baseline,the survival rate of the ETV group was slightly lower than that of the TAF and TDF group in noncirrhosis patients(P=0.338),and the survival rate of the TAF group was slightly lower than that of the TDF and ETV group in cirrhosis patients(P=0.052),but the differences were not statistically significant.The long-term overall survival rates in the TAF,TDF,and ETV groups were comparable.After 144 weeks,no significant difference in the virological response rate or liver or renal function indicators was found among the three groups,except for the level of aspartate amino-transferase,which was significantly higher in the TDF group than in the ETV group at week 144(P=0.001).Conclusions:There were no significant differences in the survival rate,incidence of HCC,efficacy or safety associated with the use of these three nucleos(t)ide analogs in treating HBV-ACLF.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03920618.

Background: Job performance is known as an essential reflection of nursing quality. Colleague solidarity, positive emotion, and turnover intention play effective roles in a clinical working environment, but their impacts on job performance are unclear. Investigating the association between nurses’ colleague solidarity and job performance may be valuable, both directly and through the mediating roles of positive emotion and turnover intention. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 324 Chinese nurses were recruited by convenience sampling method from July 2016 to January 2017. Descriptive analysis, Spearman’s correlation analysis, and the structural equation model were applied for analysis by SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results: A total of 49.69% of participants were under 30 years old, and 90.12% of participants were female. Colleague solidarity and positive emotion were positively connected with job performance. The results indicated the mediating effects of positive emotion and turnover intention in this relationship, respectively, as well as the chain mediating effect of positive emotion and turnover intention. Conclusions In conclusion, dynamic and multiple supportive strategies are needed for nurse managers to ameliorate nursing job performance by improving colleague solidarity and positive emotion and decreasing turnover intention based on the job demand-resource model.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of age factors on the pharmacodynamics of intranasal dexmedetomidine for sedation in the pediatric patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).Methods:American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ pediatric patients, aged 1-24 months, undergoing TTE from August 2019 to May 2022, were selected. This trial was performed in two parts. Part Ⅰ Pediatric patients were divided into 4 age groups: 1-6 month group, 7-12 month group, 13-18 month group and 19-24 month group. The initial dose of dexmedetomidine was 2.0 μg/kg in 0.1 μg/kg increment/decrement. The dose of dexmedetomidine was determined by using modified Dixon′s up-and-down method. The ED 50 and 95% confidence interval of intranasally administered dexmedetomidine for sedation were calculated by the Dexon-Massey method. Part Ⅱ One hundred patients were divided into 4 age groups ( n= 25 each): 1-6 month group, 7-12 month group, 13-18 month group and 19-24 month group. The 4 groups were further divided into 5 subgroups ( n=5 each) according to the dose of dexmedetomidine: 2.1 μg/kg subgroup, 2.2 μg/kg subgroup, 2.3 μg/kg subgroup, 2.4 μg/kg subgroup, and 2.5 μg/kg subgroup. Part Ⅰ and part Ⅱ trials were combined, and the ED 95 and 95% confidence interval of intranasally administered dexmedetomidine for sedation were calculated using the probit method. Results:A total of 220 pediatric patients were enrolled. There was no significant difference in ED 50 and ED 95 of dexmedetomidine intranasally administered for sedation among groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The pharmacodynamics of intranasal dexmedetomidine for sedation shows no significant difference in age in the pediatric patients aged 1-24 months undergoing TTE.

Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) is an important branch of pharmaceutical sciences. The nature of ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and PK (pharmacokinetics) inquiries during drug discovery and development has evolved in recent years from being largely descriptive to seeking a more quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the fate of drug candidates in biological systems. Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade, not only in the characterization of physiochemical properties of drugs that influence their ADME, target organ exposure, and toxicity, but also in the identification of design principles that can minimize drug-drug interaction (DDI) potentials and reduce the attritions. The importance of membrane transporters in drug disposition, efficacy, and safety, as well as the interplay with metabolic processes, has been increasingly recognized. Dramatic increases in investments on new modalities beyond traditional small and large molecule drugs, such as peptides, oligonucleotides, and antibody-drug conjugates, necessitated further innovations in bioanalytical and experimental tools for the characterization of their ADME properties. In this review, we highlight some of the most notable advances in the last decade, and provide future perspectives on potential major breakthroughs and innovations in the translation of DMPK science in various stages of drug discovery and development.