ObjectiveTo explore the interaction among root fungi of Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata， soil factors， and main components of medicinal materials in lithosol habitats. MethodHigh-throughput sequencing technology was employed to determine the fungal community of the root system of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata at different levels （bulk soil， rhizosphere soil， rhizoplane soil， and root interior） and the soil properties of the root system （bulk and rhizosphere）， and the relationship among the fungal community， soil properties， and the main components of medicinal materials was analyzed. ResultThe total phosphorus， available phosphorus， alkaline nitrogen， dissolved organic carbon， and soil water content in the rhizosphere soil of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata were slightly higher than those in the rhizosphere， but the difference was not significant. Ascomycota is the dominant phylum of root fungi in S. dichotoma var. lanceolata. In the progressive level of bulk-rhizosphere-rhizoplane-root interior system， although the fungal diversity gradually decreased， the abundance of Hypocreales， a new phylum （unclassified_ k_ Fungi）， Helotiales， and Natipusilales gradually increased， among which Hypocreales is the most important fungal group in the root system of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata. The structural equation model （SEM） shows that the physicochemical factors of the root-soil play an important regulatory role in the fungal community and the main components of medicinal herbs， with soil total nitrogen， alkaline nitrogen， soil water content， and pH being the main regulatory factors. Soil nitrogen content is the key to promoting the main components of the medicinal herbs， and Penicillium fungi are the key fungal group to regulate the main components of the medicinal herbs. ConclusionIt highlights that the physicochemical properties of the soil of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata play a crucial role in the fungal community and the components of medicinal materials. Hypocreales fungi in the root of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata were an important group， and Penicillium fungi had a certain role in mediating the components of medicinal materials.

Objective To systematically evaluate the relationship between the dietary inflammatory in-dex(DII)and the onset risk of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Methods The databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI and Wanfang Data were retrieved.The retrieval time was from the database establishment to September 10,2023.Two researchers separately screened the lit-eratures,extracted the data and conducted the bias risk assessment.The meta analysis was conducted by the RevMan 5.4 software.Results A total of 8 observational studies were included,involving 96 904 pregnant women.The results of meta-analysis showed that in the classified DII,compared with the DII anti-inflammato-ry tendency group,the risk of GDM onset in the DII pro-inflammatory tendency group was increased(OR=1.27,95％CI:1.07-1.50,P=0.006).In the continuous DII,for every unit increase in DII,the risk of GDM was increased by 29％(OR=1.29,95％CI:1.13-1.48,P＜0.001).In the subgroup analysis,the most of the stratified analysis results were consistent with the main analysis results.Conclusion The current evidence suggests that the high DII scores will increase the risk of GDM onset,but the aforementioned conclusion re-quires the validation through more high quality,large samples and multicenter studies.

Background and aims:Kehuang(KH)capsule is an herbal medical product approved for the treatment of liver diseases,including liver injury,in China.However,the mechanism is still unclear.This study aimed to elucidate the protective effects of KH capsule against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced acute liver injury(ALI)in a murine model.Methods:Mice were randomly divided into control,model(CCl4),CCl4+KH_Low and CCl4+KH_High group.Liver enzyme levels and histological changes were assessed to evaluate liver injury.Oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissues were measured.Additionally,network pharmacology was employed to explore the potential mechanisms of KH capsule.Results:KH capsule significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate amino-transferase(AST)levels,as well as the necrotic area in liver tissue.KH capsule also decreased the infil-tration of macrophages and neutrophils,thereby inhibiting the expression of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),and interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β).Furthermore,KH capsule decreased liver malondialdehyde(MDA)levels and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity.The number of ter-minal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)-positive cells in liver tissue was also reduced.The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)proteins was significantly elevated,while the protein expression of cyto-chrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1)was significantly reduced.Mass spectrometry identified genistein,galangin,wogonin,skullcapflavone Ⅱ,and hispidulin as potential active ingredients of KH capsule.Network pharmacology analysis revealed enrichment in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathways.Western blot analysis confirmed that KH capsule suppressed AKT,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),and p38 signaling.Conclusions:These findings suggest that KH capsule could exert protective effects against CCl4-induced ALI,with the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways playing a crucial role in its mecha-nism of action.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum proenkephalin A 119-159 (penKid) on incidence and the 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI).Methods:This study was a single center, observational cohort study. Sepsis/septic shock patients admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected and divided into the SA-AKI group and the non-SA-AKI group according to whether acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred within 28 days. Patients in the SA-AKI group were subdivided into the death group and the survival group according to whether death occurred within 28 days. Baseline data and laboratory indicators such as penKid concentration were compared among different groups. COX regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors of death within 28 days in the SA-AKI patients, And Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze patient prognosis.Result:A total of 161 patients were included in this study, of whom 66 (41.0%) developed AKI. The baseline penKid concentration in the SA-AKI group was significantly higher than that in the non-SA-AKI group [(2.99 ± 0.68) μg/L vs. (1.86±0.75) μg/L, P<0.05]. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the baseline penKid ( HR=5.608, 95% CI: 3.507-8.967, P<0.001) and lactate (LA) ( HR=1.089, 95% CI: 1.003-1.183, P=0.043) were independent risk factors for AKI in sepsis/septic shock patients. Of the 66 SA-AKI patients, 27 (40.9%) died within 28 days, and the baseline penKid concentration in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group [ (3.55 ± 0.54) μg/L vs. (2.60±0.47) μg/L, P<0.05]. COX regression analysis showed that penKid ( HR=5.892, 95% CI: 2.457-14.132, P<0.001) was an independent risk factor for mortality in SA-AKI patients. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the 28-day mortality of patients with baseline penKid ≥ 3.24 μg/L was significantly higher than that of patients with baseline penKid <3.24 μg/L ( P<0.001). Conclusions:In sepsis/septic shock patients, the penKid concentration measured on the first day in the SA-AKI group is significantly higher than that in the non-SA-AKI group. In SA-AKI patients, the penKid concentration measured in patients who survived within 28 days is significantly lower than that in the death group. PenKid is an independent risk factor for the occurrence and death of SA-AKI.

Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter (NHX) gene subfamily plays an important role in plant response to salt stress. In this study, we identified the NHX gene family members of Chinese cabbage and analyzed the expression patterns of BrNHXs gene in response to abiotic stresses such as high temperature, low temperature, drought and salt stress. The results showed that there were 9 members of the NHX gene family in Chinese cabbage, which were distributed on 6 chromosomes respectively. The number of amino acids was 513-1 154 aa, the relative molecular weight was 56 804.22-127 856.66 kDa, the isoelectric point was 5.35-7.68. Members of BrNHX gene family mainly existed in vacuoles, the gene structure is complete, and the number of exons is 11-22. The secondary structures of the proteins encoded by the NHX gene family in Chinese cabbage had alpha helix, beta turn and random coil, and the alpha helix occurred more frequently. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the gene family members had different responses to high temperature, low temperature, drought and salt stress, and their expression levels differed significantly in different time periods. BrNHX02 and BrNHX09 had the most significant responses to these four stresses, and their expression levels were significantly up-regulated at 72 h after treatments, which could be used as candidate genes to further verify their functions.
Genome, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Brassica/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

Chronic hepatitis B is a public health issue worldwide. Nucleotide analogues and interferon therapy can effectively inhibit HBV replication, but they still have the shortcomings such as inability to achieve the clearance of HBV cccDNA and low HBsAg clearance rate. The academic viewpoint of "kidney-tonifying therapy for chronic hepatitis B" provides new ideas and methods for the treatment of hepatitis B. During long-term clinical practice, Department of Hepatology in Shuguang Hospital has identified that "deficiency of spleen and kidney with damp heat remaining" is the key pathogenesis of the continuous progression of chronic hepatitis B and has established the treatment regimen for chronic hepatitis B with the basic treatment method of tonifying the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and promoting diuresis. The clinical research of National Science and Technology Major Project from The 11th Five Year Plan to The 13th Five Year Plan has validated the clinical efficacy of this regimen and clarified that regulating the immune function of the body is the main mechanism of the kidney-tonifying, spleen-strengthening, and diuresis-promoting therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Penicillium oxalicum strain can be isolated from the Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f. tubers.Its solid-state fermentation products are concentrated by percolation extraction. Separation and purification have been conducted to the ethyl acetate extracts by preparative HPLC.Based on the use of spectrometry, we have determined 17 known compounds, 12,13-dihydroxy-fumitremorgin C (1), pseurotin A (2), tyrosol (3), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Val) (4), cis-4-hydroxy-8-O-methylmellein (5), uracil (6), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Ala) (7), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-4-quinolin carboxylic acid (8), cyclo-(Gly-L-Pro) (9), 2’-deoxyuridine (10), 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)thymine (11), cyclo-(L-Val-Gly) (12), 2’-deoxythymidine (13), cyclo-(Gly-D-Phe) (14), cyclo-L-(4-hydroxyprolinyl)-D-leucine (15), cyclo-(L)-4-hydroxy-Pro-(L)-Phe (16), uridine (17). Here, we report compounds 1–3, 5, 7–8, 11–12, 14–17 are first found and isolated from this endophyte.

Objective:To develop a list of basic and expanded medical laboratory tests in community health service centers in Shanghai.Methods:The status quo of human and equipment resource allocation, the test items and quality control currently performed, the perspectives of various stakeholders, the capacity building of community clinical laboratory in community health service centers in Shanghai were investigated by quantitative survey and qualitative interview; and the rating scores of each test item were assessed by expert consultation using Delphi method. The expert focus discussion was conducted, and each test item was rated and classified. Finally a list of the basic tests and expanded tests in clinical laboratories of community health service center was developed.Results:A total of 247 questionnaires were distributed and 192 (77.7%) were answered. A list of 94 laboratory test items was screened out based on the questionnaire survey of the laboratories of the community health centers. Thirty one experts in the relevant areas were invited to rate the test items, the average authority coefficient of experts was 0.90, with which the weighted average of the expert ratings was made. There were 45 (47.9%) items scored 7 or higher, 38 (40.4%) scored between 5 and 7, and 11 (11.7%) scored less than 5. Based on the results of the expert focus discussion, 48 items were recommended as the basic tests and 46 items as the extended tests.Conclusion:In this study a list of tests recommended to clinical laboratories in Shanghai community health service centers has been developed, which contains 48 basic tests and 46 extended tests.

Objective To investigate the effect of naringenin on the killing rate of natural killer (NK) cells and related mechanism by amplification of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells into NK cells in vitro and co-culture with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) CLC5 cells at a ratio of 1∶ 1. Methods A lymphocyte separation medium was used to isolate human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which were induced with recombinant human interleukin-2 in vitro to culture NK cells. CCK-8 assay was used to measure the proliferation of HCC cells after human HCC cells were treated with naringenin (0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 μmol/L) for 0, 24, and 48 hours, and after human NK cells were treated with different concentrations of naringenin for 24 hours, CCK-8 assay was used to measure the proliferation of NK cells. CellTiter-LumiTM was used to measure the killing rate of NK cells after the NK-HCC cell co-culture system at the ratio of 1∶ 1 was treated with naringenin for 24 hours. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the gene expression of the activating receptor NKG2D in NK cells and NKG2D ligands in HCC cells. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results After being induced and cultured by recombinant human interleukin-2, NK cells were amplified to 82.33%±0.70% of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After naringenin treatment for 24 hours, there was no significant difference in the proliferation rate of HCC CLC5 cells between all mass concentration groups (all P > 0.05), and in the 25 and 50 μmol/L mass concentration groups, naringenin significantly promoted the proliferation of NK cells (both P < 0.000 1). After the NK-HCC cell co-culture system at the ratio of 1∶ 1 was treated with naringenin for 24 hours, there was a significant increase in the killing rate of NK cells in the 25 and 50 μmol/L mass concentration groups (both P < 0.000 1). After the co-culture system was treated with naringenin for 24 hours, naringenin had no effect on the expression of NKG2D in NK cells in the 25 and 50 μmol/L mass concentration groups, and it also had no effect on the expression of MICB and ULBP2 in HCC cells (all P > 0.05); it significantly upregulated the expression of the NKG2D ligands such as ULBP1 and ULBP3 in HCC cells (all P < 0.001). Conclusion Naringenin may increase the killing activity of NK cells by upregulating the expression of NKG2D ligands in HCC cells.