[Objective] To explore the relationship between neutrophil activation under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the incidence of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI). [Methods] This prospective cohort study enrolled adult patients who scheduled for cardiac surgery under CPB at West China Hospital between May 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The primary outcome was acute kidney injury (AKI). Blood samples (5 mL) were obtained from the central vein before surgery, at rewarming, at the end of CPB, and 24 hours after surgery. Neutrophils were labeled with CD11b, CD54 and other markers. To assess the effect of neutrophils activation on AKI, propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to equilibrate covariates between the groups. [Results] A total of 120 patients included into the study, and 17 (14.2%) developed AKI. Both CD11b⁺ and CD54⁺ neutrophils significantly increased during the rewarming phase and the increases were kept until 24 hours after surgery. During rewarming, the numbers of CD11b⁺ neutrophils were significantly higher in AKI compared to non-AKI (4.71×10⁹/L vs 3.31×10⁹/L, Z=-2.14, P<0.05). Similarly, the CD54⁺ neutrophils counts were also significantly higher in AKI than in non-AKI before surgery (2.75×10⁹/L vs 1.79×10⁹/L, Z=-2.99, P<0.05), during rewarming (3.12×10⁹/L vs 1.62×10⁹/L, Z=-4.34, P<0.05), and at the end of CPB (4.28×10⁹/L vs 2.14×10⁹/L, Z=-3.91, P<0.05). An analysis of 32 matched patients (16 in each group) revealed that CD11b⁺ and CD54⁺ neutrophil levels of AKI were 1.74 folds (4.83×10⁹/L vs 2.77×10⁹/L, Z=-2.72, P<0.05) and 2.34 folds (3.32×10⁹/L vs 1.42×10⁹/L, Z=-4.12, P<0.05), respectively, of non-AKI at rewarming phase. [Conclusion] Neutrophils are activated during CPB, and they can be identified by CD11b/CD54 markers. The activated neutrophils of AKI patients are approximately 2 folds of non-AKI during the rewarming phase, with disparity reached peak between groups during rewarming. These findings suggest the removal of 50% of activated neutrophils during the rewarming phase may be effective to reduce the risk of AKI.

OBJECTIVE To explore the potential mechanism of ketamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice based on metabolomics. METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and ketamine group （25 mg/kg）， with 12 mice in each group. Each group of mice was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline or corresponding drugs， 4 times a day， for 10 consecutive days. On the last 2 days of drug administration， the cognitive behavior was evaluated by Y maze and novel object recognition test， and the histopathological changes in the prefrontal cortex （PFC） were observed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology was used to analyze the changes of metabolites in PFC， screen for differential metabolites， and perform pathway enrichment analysis. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the morphology of PFC neurons in the ketamine group of mice was inconsistent. There were cavities around the nucleus， and the number of deeply stained cells increased. The mean optical density value of the Nissl staining positive area was significantly reduced， and the alternation rate and discrimination index were significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the PFC tissue samples of mice of the two groups， there were a total of 114 differential metabolites， including 73 up-regulated and 41 down-regulated metabolites， including glutamine， succinic acid， ketoglutarate， and choline， etc. The differential metabolites mentioned above were mainly enriched in metabolism of alanine， aspartate and glutamate， metabolism of arginine and proline， γ aminobutyric acid synapses， pyrimidine metabolism， cholinergic synapses pathways， etc. CONCLUSIONS Ketamine can induce cognitive impairment in mice. Its neurotoxicity is related to abnormal synaptic transmission and energy metabolism， and neuroimmune regulation disorders.

Objective:To compare the outcomes of multiple scales, primarily the speech, spatial, and other qualities of hearing scale for parents（SSQ-P）, in children with ipsilateral vs. Contralateral cochleareimplantat ion（CRI）. Methods: A total of 69 children who received cochlear implantation surgery from April 1999 to June 2024 were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the implantation was on the same side. General information such as gender, age, age at initial implantation and reimplantation was collected. The primary caregivers of the children were followed up by telephone using the categories of auditory performance（CAP）, speech intelligibility rating（SIR）, and SSQ-P questionnaires. Statistical methods including stepwise regression, linear regression, and permutation tests were employed to investigate if there were any statistically significant differences in the scores of CAP, SIR, SSQ-P total, SSQ-P speech perception, SSQ-P spatial hearing, and SSQ-P auditory quality dimensions between the ipsilateral and contralateral reimplantation groups. Results:Of the 69 children included, 62 were in the ipsilateral reimplantation group with a mean age of 11.1 years, and 7 were in the contralateral reimplantation group with a mean age of 11.7 years. Statistical analysis showed that patients in the contralateral reimplantation group had significantly lower SSQ-P total scores （P<0.05） and spatial hearing dimension scores （P<0.05） than those in the ipsilateral reimplantation group after controlling for the corresponding confounders. Conclusion:The effect of ipsilateral reimplantation of cochlear implants is superior to that of contralateral reimplantation in terms of overall auditory function and spatial hearing in daily life for children, but the mechanisms require further investigation.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Child ; Parents ; Speech Perception ; Male ; Cochlear Implants ; Female ; Hearing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Speech ; Child, Preschool

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) level on the first day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 28-day mortality in adult septic patients, and to evaluate the value of NRBC as an independent predictor of death. METHODS: Single-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed using the GSE167363 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (including 2 healthy controls, 3 surviving septic patients, and 2 non-surviving septic patients). A retrospective clinical analysis was conducted using the America Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database, including adult patients (≥ 18 years) with first-time admission who met the Sepsis-3.0 criteria, excluding those without NRBC testing on the first ICU day. The demographic information, vital signs, laboratory test indicators, disease severity score and survival data on the first day of admission were collected. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of NRBC for predicting 28-day mortality in patients. Patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups based on this cut-off value for intergroup comparison, with Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis conducted. Independent risk factors for 28-day mortality were analyzed using Logistic regression and Cox regression analysis, followed by the construction of regression models. RESULTS: NRBC were detected in the peripheral blood of septic patients by single-cell transcriptomic. A total of 1 291 sepsis patients were included in the clinical analysis, with 576 deaths within 28 days, corresponding to a 28-day mortality of 44.6%. RCS curve analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between the first-day NRBC level and the 28-day mortality. When NRBC ≥ 1%, the 28-day mortality of patients increased significantly. Compared to the low-risk group (NRBC < 1%), the high-risk group (NRBC ≥ 1%) had significantly higher respiratory rate, heart rate, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and simplified acute physiology score II (SAPSII), and significantly lower hematocrit and platelet count. The high-risk group also had a significantly higher 28-day mortality [49.8% (410/824) vs. 35.5% (166/467), P < 0.05], and shorter median survival time (days: 29.8 vs. 208.6, P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that compared with the low-risk group, the survival time of high-risk group was significantly shortened (Log-rank test: χ ² = 25.1, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors including body mass, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, serum creatinine, pulse oximetry saturation, hemoglobin, hematocrit, Na⁺, K⁺, platelet count, and SOFA score, multivariate regression analysis confirmed that NRBC ≥ 1% was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality [Logistic regression: odds ratio (OR) = 1.464, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.126-1.902, P = 0.004; Cox regression: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.268, 95%CI was 1.050-1.531, P = 0.013]. CONCLUSIONS NRBC ≥ 1% on the first day of ICU admission is an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in septic patients and can serve as a practical indicator for early prognostic assessment.
Humans ; Sepsis/blood* ; Intensive Care Units ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Metastasis remains the primary cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent critical targets for metastasis prevention and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine may prevent lung cancer metastasis through long-term intervention in CTC activity. Tiao-Shen-Zhi-Ai Formular (TSZAF) represents a Chinese medicine compound prescription utilized clinically for lung cancer treatment. This study combined three principal active ingredients from TSZAF into a novel TSZAF monomer combination (TSZAF mc) to investigate its anti-metastatic effects and mechanisms. TSZAF mc demonstrated significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion in CTC-TJH-01 and LLC cells, while inducing cellular apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, TSZAF mc substantially inhibited LLC cell growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, TAZSF mc significantly suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and CXCL5 expression in lung cancer cells and tissues. Additionally, TAZSF mc notably reduced neutrophil infiltration in metastatic lesions. These findings indicate that TSZAF mc inhibits lung cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and reducing CXCL5 secretion, thereby decreasing neutrophil recruitment and infiltration. TSZAF mc demonstrates potential as an effective therapeutic agent for lung cancer metastasis.
Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects* ; Animals ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis/prevention & control* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neutrophil Infiltration/drug effects* ; Down-Regulation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; beta Catenin/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/drug effects*

Narrow leaf 1 (NAL1) plays an important role in plant branching, while little is known about the roles of this gene in petunias. In this study, PhNAL1b was cloned from Petunia×hybrida cv. Mitchell Diploid, with a total length of 1 767 bp, encoding a protein composed of 588 amino acid residues and containing the peptidase S64 domain. The PhNAL1b promoter region contained several elements involved in the responses to auxin, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and light. The expression analysis showed that PhNAL1b had the highest expression level in roots and the lowest expression level in flowers, and its transcription could be inhibited by decapitation and cytokinin. The subcellular localization analysis showed that PhNAL1b was located in the nucleus and was a nuclear protein. Virus-induced gene silencing was employed to downregulate the expression of PhNAL1b, which resulted in significant increases in branch number and plant height. The results indicated that PhNAL1b played an important role in regulating the branching of petunias. This study lays a foundation for revealing the mechanism of NAL1 in regulating branch development and provides genetic resources for plant architecture improvement.
Petunia/growth & development* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Diploidy ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Cloning, Molecular ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Objective: To establish anin vitromodel of ferroptosis induced by Erastin and RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3) in hepatoma cells, and to provide theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Methods: Hepatoma cells(HCCLM3, HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5) in logarithmic growth phase were treated with Erastin(0-40 μmol/L) and RSL3(0-10 μmol/L) at double concentrations respectively. After 24 h, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability, draw growth curve, calculate IC50, and HCC cells sensitive to inducers were selected for follow-up experiments. The effect of inducer on the state of hepatoma cells was observed under light microscope, and immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to verify whether the ferroptotic modelin vitrowas successfully constructed. Results: Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were sensitive to Erastin and RSL3, but HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 were insensitive to Erastin and RSL3. When the concentration of Erastin and RSL3 reached the maximum, the survival rate was still above 65%. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of Glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), a ferroptotic marker, was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. In Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L Erastin, respectively; in Huh7 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 0.5 μmol/L and 1 μmol/L RSL3, respectively; in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L RSL3, respectively, compared with control group. Conclusion Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells are highly sensitive to Erastin and RSL3. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 10 μmol/L Erastin for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by Erastinin vitro, Huh7 cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h and Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 1 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by RSL3in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To explore the anti-inflammatory and antifungal action mechanism of taste-masked Lithospermum Saf-flower emulsion in vivo and in vitro.METHODS In vitro,the anti-inflammatory effect was detected by MTT assay,qPCR and ELISA.The anti-fungal effect of the product was investigated by broth dilution experiment,bactericidal kinetics,germ tube inhibition and XTT reduction test.In vivo,the effect was evaluated and the mechanism was investigated on the skin disease model of Candida al-bicans in mice.RESULTS Lithospermum in taste-masked Lithospermum Safflower emulsion had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells,and Safflower inhibited the production of IL-6 induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner.Litho-spermum significantly inhibited the activity of Candida albicans,and its bactericidal mode is time-and concentration-dependent;Lithospermum significantly reduced the formation of Candida albicans germ tubes and destroyed its biofilm;Safflower had no direct kill-ing effect on Candida albicans,was not able to inhibit its biofilm formation,but significantly reduced the hyphal growth of Candida al-bicans and increased its ROS level.CONCLUSION The combination of Lithospermum and Safflower in the taste-masked Lithosper-mum Safflower emulsion can work synergistically to reduce inflammatory damage and treat Candida albicans infection of the skin.

Objective:To analyze the role of home medical and nursing care team in the service system of home disabled elderly.Methods:A total of 100 home disabled elderly managed by our hospital from Jan to Dec 2022 were enrolled,and the home medical and nursing care teams strengthened home rehabilitation nursing services and guidance,health risk guidance,psychological support,and nutrition guidance and intervention.The management results before and after intervention was compared.Results:After intervention,the mastery of health risk management,psychological support and nutritional intervention,and the compliance rate of rehabilitation exercise were higher than those before intervention(P＜0.05).The incidence of pressure injury was lower than that before intervention(P＜0.05).After intervention,the satisfaction rate of the elderly to the work of the home medical and nursing care team was 95%.Conclusion:Home medical and nursing care team plays an important role in the nursing service system of the disabled elderly,and play an important role in the construction of a three-level service health management system of institution-community-home.

[Objective]To evaluate the efficacy of Yiqi Yangyin Quyu Prescription in the treatment of primary Sj?gren's syndrome(pSS),and study the epigenetic markers related to the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine through whole genome bisulfate sequencing(WGBS)technology.[Methods]Fifty patients with pSS were included,including 30 in Chinese medicine group and 20 in western medicine group.Clinical information before treatment and 12 weeks after treatment was evaluated,and the therapeutic effect was analyzed.Three effective patients were selected from Chinese medicine group and their whole blood samples before and after Chinese medicine treatment were subjected to WGBS.Through methylation site analysis,gene ontology(GO)of differentially methylated genes,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG),and molecular signature database(MSigDB)enrichment analysis,efficacy-related differentially methylated genes and pathways were identified.[Results]Compared with pre-Chinese medicine treatment group,the group treated with Chinese medicine after 12 weeks showed a significant decrease in Sj?gren's syndrome disease activity index(SSDAI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),and immunoglobulin G(IgG)level(P<0.05).Compared with pre-western medicine treatment group,the SSDAI and ESR levels in western medicine treatment group after 12 weeks decreased significantly(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in SSDAI,ESR,and other indicators between the group treated with Chinese medicine after 12 weeks and the group treated with western medicine after 12 weeks(P>0.05).WGBS identified a total of 29 differentially methylated regions(DMRs),mainly concentrated at the sites of repetitive elements and protein coding genes,covering a total of 68 genes,including three RNA categories:mRNA,long noncoding RNA(lncRNA),and circRNA.Enrichment analysis suggested that the therapeutic effect was closely related to pathways such as antigen processing and presentation,interferon related pathways,and helper T cell(Th)1 and Th2 cell differentiation.[Conclusion]Yiqi Yangyin Quyu Prescription can regulate DNA methylation,thereby inhibiting the immune response in patients with pSS and exerting therapeutic effects.