Objective: To investigate the protective effects of morusin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-two male specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): control, LPS, low-dose morusin (morusin-L, 10 mg/kg), and high-dose morusin (morusin-H, 20 mg/kg) groups. The mice in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or normal saline via continuous gavage daily for 16 consecutive days. Except for control group, which received an equal volume of normal saline, other groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) 2 h after the last gavage to establish the acute liver injury model. Serum and liver tissues were collected for subsequent analysis 6 h after LPS injection. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were detected with biochemical methods. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic pathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing was performed to assess the composition of intestinal flora, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was applied for multi-level species discrimination, and Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed. The liver tissues of mice with acute liver injury were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was conducted. The expression levels of selected genes was validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to examine the expression levels of IL-6, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88), and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Results: Morusin significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001), while alleviating the hepatic pathological damage in mice. Based on efficacy comparisons, morusin-H group was selected for subsequent microbiome and transcriptome analyses. Microbiome analysis revealed that morusin-H effectively mitigated LPS-induced gut dysbiosis and restored the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota balance (P < 0.01). At the genus level, morusin-H significantly reduced the abundances of norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Desulfovibrio, Parabacteroides, and Muribaculum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001). At the phylum, family, and genus levels, our findings indicated that morusin-H treatment caused a significant decrease in the abundance of Desulfobacterota, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Desulfovibrio (P < 0.01). Importantly, the abundance of Desulfovibrio was positively correlated with the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses showed that the therapeutic mechanism of morusin-H involved suppression of the IL-17/TNF signaling pathways and downregulating the mRNA levels of Tlr2, Tlr3, Myd88, Il6, and Cxcl10 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), as well as the protein levels of key inflammatory mediators (IL-6, MYD88, and TLR2) (P < 0.001). Conclusion Morusin demonstrates protective effects against LPS-induced acute liver injury, likely through modulation of gut microbiota and suppression of pro-inflammatory factor expression. These findings indicate that morusin exerts its effects through the "microbiota-inflammation-liver" axis, providing a theoretical basis for its use as a multi-target plant-based drug in the treatment of metabolic inflammation-related liver diseases.

Objective:To explore the serological characteristics and genetic variant in a Chinese pedigree with Bw subtype.Methods:A 32-year-old female proband who had undergone prenatal examination on December 10, 2020 at the 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force and five members from her pedigree were selected as the study subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected and subjected to ABO blood group phenotyping with serological methods and ABO blood group genotyping with fluorescent PCR. Genetic testing and haplotype analysis were carried out by direct sequencing of the entire coding region of the ABO gene in the proband and cloned sequencing of exons 1-7. Results:The blood type serology of the proband showed Bw, and the ABO blood type genotype determined by fluorescence PCR was B/O. The direct sequencing results showed that the proband had matched the ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01 genotype and carried a c. 1A>G variant. Cloned sequencing has confirmed the c. 1A>G variant to have occurred in the ABO* B. 01 allele. Family analysis revealed that the mother of the proband had an O blood type, her husband had a B phenotype, and the her three children had a normal B blood type. DNA sequencing showed that the two sons of the proband had a genotype of ABO* B. 01 and c. 1A>G/ ABO* B. 01. The daughter of the proband was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01, whilst her mother was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO * O. 01. 02. The novel c. 1A>G variant sequence has been registered with the database with a number of MZ076785 1. Conclusion:The novel c. 1A>G variant of exon 1 of α- 1, 3 galactose aminotransferase gene probably underlay the reduced expression of B antigen in this pedigree.

Objective:To analyze the mutation characteristics of rpoB gene in rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains. Methods:DNA of 4 rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains (JSY-26, G-9, WSY-13 and AW-3) isolated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was selected, rifampicin rpoB gene was amplified by PCR and its nucleotide sequence was sequenced. The rpoB gene sequences of rifampicin-resistant Brucella standard strain (RB51) and sensitive strain (ALT-8) were used as reference, the mutation sites and types of the rpoB gene inside and outside the rifampicin resistance determination region (RRDR) of the 4 rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains were analyzed by Mega 7.0 software. Results:Through sequence alignment, both JSY-26 and WSY-13 strains underwent a single base point mutation at the RRDR 1 576 bp of the rpoB gene, with the base changing from guanine (G) to adenine (A). The G-9 strain underwent a single base point mutation at the RRDR 1 606 bp of the rpoB gene, with the base changing from cytosine (C) to A. The AW-3 strain showed 5 mutations of 3 types outside rpoB gene RRDR at 2 536, 2 537, 2 626, 2 636 and 2 654 bp, namely 3 insertion mutations [thymine (T) insertion once and C insertion twice], 1 deletion mutation (C deletion), and 1 single base point mutation (from G to C mutation).Conclusion:The RRDR mutations in the rpoB gene of the rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains are mainly characterized by single base point mutations, while multiple insertion and deletion mutations occur outside the RRDR.

Objective:To design and evaluate the application value of intracavitary-interstitial brachytherapy (IC-ISBT) applicator template for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods:MRI data of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018 staging system) before and after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from March 2019 to September 2020 were collected. The range of primary cervical lesions was retrospectively analyzed and compared. Based on the residual mass of patients, the corresponding high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was delineated, and the IC-ISBT applicator template was designed and initially applied to cervical cancer patients. Dosimetry analysis and efficacy evaluation were compared between the applicator template-guided ( n=37) and free-hand implantation groups ( n=63). Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was performed for categorical variables, and t-test or U-test for continuous variables. Results:The median distance between the residual tumor margin (clockwise 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock) and the center of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer after EBRT was 16.5, 14.0, 17.0 and 13.0 mm, respectively. The corresponding HR-CTV was superimposed to reconstruct the three-dimensional diagram, and the cylindrical IC-ISBT applicator template with mushroom-like head was designed and manufactured: the longest and shortest diameter of the head was 35 and 20 mm, respectively; the central channel was adapted to the uterine tube, the C1-C12 channels was arranged in inner circle, and the peripheral B1-B5 and A1-A4 pin channels were expanded bilaterally. In terms of dose coverage, there was no significant difference between the HR-CTV D 90% [(635.12±22.65) vs. (635.80±25.84) cGy], bladder D 2 cm3 [(473.79±44.78) vs. (463.55±66.43) cGy)], rectum D 2 cm3 [(396.99±73.54) vs. (408.00±73.94) cGy] and sigmoid colon D 2 cm3 [(293.07±152.72) vs. (311.31±135.77) cGy] between the template-guided and free-hand implantation groups (all P>0.05), but the HR-CTV D 98% was significantly higher [(544.78±32.07) vs. (536.78±32.04) cGy, P=0.007] and the rectum D 1 cm3 and D 0.1 cm3 were significantly lower [(438.62±69.65) vs. (453.97±67.89) cGy, P=0.016; (519.46±70.67) vs. (543.82±81.24) cGy, P=0.001] in the template-guided implantation group. In addition, there was no significant difference in the complete response rate between two groups (86% vs. 83%, P>0.05). Conclusions:This IC-ISBT applicator template is reasonably designed, and the therapeutic efficacy of the template-guided implantation is equivalent to that of free-hand implantation. The dose coverage of the target area meets the clinical demand with a better protection of the organs at risk. The applicator template has the potential to be widely used as a conventional template in clinical practice as the applicator-guided implantation is convenient to operate and repeat.

Objective:To explore influencing factors of the occurrence of fear of disease progression (FoP) in stroke patients and to construct a risk prediction nomogram model.Methods:A total of 201 stroke patients of the First Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University from July to December 2023 were selected as the survey objects by the convenient sampling method. Baseline data questionnaire, Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used to investigate of patients FoP occurrence, stress perception, social support level and fatigue level of stroke patients. The influencing factors of FoP occurrence in stroke patients were explored and R 4.3.2 was used to construct a risk prediction nomogram model for FoP occurrence in stroke patients. The performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve from the perspectives of discrimination, calibration and clinical practicality.Results:In this study, a total of 201 questionnaires were collected, 199 were valid, and the effective rate was 99%. The FOP-Q-SF score of 199 patients was (29.64±9.50), of which 71 patients (35.7%) developed FoP. Educational level, complications, self-care ability, social support, stress perception and fatigue were the influencing factors of FoP in stroke patients ( P<0.05). A risk prediction nomogram model for FoP in stroke patients was constructed based on the results of binary Logistic regression analysis. The Hosmer-Lemeshow results showed that the nomogram model fitted well (χ 2=10.466, P=0.234). The area under ROC curve was 0.912 (95% CI: 0.871-0.952). The clinical decision curve showed that when the threshold probability ranged from 4% to 99%, choosing this model to predict the risk of FoP could benefit stroke clinically. Conclusions:Educational level, complications, self-care ability, social support, stress perception and fatigue are the influencing factors for fear of disease progression in stroke patients. The risk nomogram model based on multiple evaluation indexes has certain clinical value.

Objective To investigate the gray matter volume(GMV)changes and molecular basis underlying antipsychotic-induced weight gain(AIWG).Methods One hundred twenty-nine first-episode schizophrenia patients from October 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study.Patients with≥7%weight gain(weight gain,WG)and patients with<3%weight changes(weight stable,WS)were studied.All patients underwent T1-weighted MRI scanning at baseline and after 8 week treatment.Transcriptome-neuroimaging correlations were used to investigate brain gene profiles from the Allen Human Brain Atlas and GMV changes induced by AIWG.Results Thirty-three patients with WG and 27 with WS completed the GMV measures.Compared with baseline,the WG group showed reduced GMV in right hippocampus,left basal ganglia,and right inferior parietal lobule,etc.and increased GMV in bilateral thalamus(P<0.05).The WS group showed reduced GMV in bilateral orbital gyrus,bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral hippocampus(P<0.05).These GMV changes in WG group were spatially correlated with expression levels of 354 genes,which were exclusively enriched in Cushing syndrome,neuroinflammation and glutamatergic signaling,and Pnoc+.Conclusion The study has demonstrated increased GMV in thalamus in schizophrenia patients with AIWG which may be associated with Cushing syndrome and Pnoc+.These findings may provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of AIWG.

Objective A comparison of two method of establishing pressure ulcer rat models to determine which is the most suitable for experimental use.Methods 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into control(n=6),model A(n=6)and model B(n=6)groups.In the control group,iodophor treatment was given after hair removal at the simulated modeling site.In model group A,longitudinal compression was performed by simple deep-tissue foreign body implantation.In model group B,transverse compression was performed via the magnet compression method.The times required to complete the process and for each stage of pressure ulcer model establishment in each group were recorded.The general condition of the rats was observed,and the modeling rate,mortality rate,and infection rate were compared.Results By naked eye,we observed that the model A and model B groups gradually developed redness and swelling,ulceration,bleeding,exudation,and necrosis.Comparison of the whole time to produce pressure uler between model A and model B groups:the difference between the two groups was statitically significant(P＜0.05).Comparison of the time to produce pressure injury between Model A and Model B:The difference between the two groups at stage Ⅰ was not statistically significant(P＞0.05);the difference between the two groups at stage Ⅱ was statistically significant(P＜0 05);the difference between the two groups at stage Ⅲ was statistically significant(P＜0 05);the difference between the two groups at stage Ⅳ was statistically significant(P＜0 05).The mental and sports scores of the rats in the control group were significantly different from those in the model A and model B groups(P＜0.05).The general state of rats in the model group A was significantly different from that in the model B group,and coat color was dimer and activity decreased in the model group A.The modelling rate of rats in both model A and model B groups was 100％.The mortality and infection rates of the model group A were higher than those of the model group B,which were 33.34％and 16.70％,respectively.Conclusions Successful preparation of a four-stage model of pressure ulers in both modalities.The two method have both commonalities and distinct characteristics.The magnet compression method required less time,the rats were generally in good condition,and the mortality and infection rates were low;thus it is suitable for short-term intervention research.The simple deep-tissue foreign body implantation method took longer,required rats to have a certain level of tolerance,had high infection and mortality rates,and is more suitable for use for long-term observations of pressure ulcers.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective:To explore the application effect of slope adjustment mattresses in the position management of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mechanically ventilated children, in order to seek methods for maintaining effective posture in clinical practice.Methods:This was a quasi-experimental study. In this study, the mechanically ventilated children in PICU of Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2022 were selected by convenient sampling method and divided into control group ( n=21) and experimental group ( n=21) according to random number table. Children in control group used the hospital bed and the traditional posture management, and children in experimental group used the slope adjustment mattress for posture management. The comfort scores, mechanical ventilation time, PICU length of stay, postural decline, unplanned extubation and blood gas analysis index were compared between the two groups. Results:There were 21 cases were admitted in each group ultimately. In the control group, there were 10 males and 11 females, the age was (31.43 ± 27.01) months. There were 11 males and 10 females in the experimental group, the age was (24.57 ± 24.20) months. The comfort scores of the experimental group were (13.57 ± 0.93) and (12.52 ± 0.60) points at the 24 hour and 72 hour respectively; while the comfort scores of the control group were (16.05 ± 1.72) and (15.81 ± 1.66) points at the 24 hour and 72 hour respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups ( t=5.82, 8.52, both P<0.05). The mechanical ventilation time was (5.43 ± 2.48) d, the PICU length of stay was (9.29 ± 3.04) d, and the number of postural decline was (7.52 ± 2.06) times in the experimental group which was superior to control group (8.52 ± 4.65) d, (12.71 ± 6.76) d, (14.95 ± 6.86) times, the differences were significant ( t=2.69, 2.12, 4.75, all P<0.05). There were 0 case of unplanned extubation in the experimental group and 4 cases of unplanned extubation in the control group .The difference was significant ( χ2=5.97, P<0.05). For blood gas analysis, PaCO 2 on the second day were (56.90 ± 6.77) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in the control group, and (48.67 ± 8.13) mmHg in the experimental group; PaO 2, oxygenation index, PaCO 2 on the third day were (91.19 ± 16.27), (278.19 ± 71.54), (51.62 ± 4.73) mmHg in the control group, and (110.43 ± 21.73), (347.33 ± 90.95), (40.24 ± 5.57) mmHg in the experimental group, the differences were significant ( t values were 7.50-51.00, all P<0.05). There were significant differences about blood gas analysis of time interaction, inter-group interaction, time and inter-group interaction were compared between the two groups ( F values were 3.62-66.38, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Slope adjustment mattresses can maintain effective posture, improve comfort, shorten PICU hospital stay and mechanical ventilation time, significantly reduce posture decline and the risk of unplanned tube withdrawal adverse events in PICU mechanically ventilated children. Improving ventilation and ventilation disorders to enhance blood gas analysis indicators.This appliance can be used as an optimized choice for posture management and expected to effectively improve the quality of nursing care.