Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

Objective:To investigate impacts of usnic acid(UA)on malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating the chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)-CCL2 receptor(CCR2)signal axis.Methods:SGC-7901 cells,a well growing human gastric cancer cell line,were treated with different concentrations of UA,which were grouped into low concentration(UA-L)group(62.5 μmol/L UA),medium concentration(UA-M)group(125 μmol/L UA)and high concentration(UA-H)group(250 μmol/L UA);meantime,the cells were transfected with CCL2 overexpression vector(pc DNA3.1 CCL2),empty vector(pc DNA3.1),silenced CCL2(si CCL2)and negative control(si control),and SGC-7901 cells were treated with 250 μmol/L UA,labeled as UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group,UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,UA-H+si control group and UA-H+si CCL2 group,another untreated SGC-7901 cells were taken as the control group.Flow cytometry,MTT and qRT-PCR were applied to detect cell apoptosis,proliferation,and expres-sion levels of CCL2 and CCR2 mRNA;Western blot was applied to detect expression levels of PD-L1,apoptotic protein(Bax),proli-ferative protein(CyclinD1,CCL2,CCR2)and immune escape related protein(B7H1);after co-culturing with CD8+T cells isolated and cultured in vitro,ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-4,IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatant.Gastric cancer cells in each group were co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)1∶1 for 72 hours,and the sensitivity of gastric can-cer cells in each group to T-cell-mediated killing was compared.Results:Compared with control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-L group,UA-M group and UA-H group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group were obviously increased,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,and Bax protein ex-pression were obviously reduced(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+si control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+si CCL2 group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:UA can inhibit gastric cancer cells proliferation,immune escape,and induce apoptosis,which may be related to the inhibition of the CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis.

As a Chinese saying goes， "good Chinese medicinal material makes good medicine"， the quality of Chinese herbal medicines is related to the development prospect of Chinese medicine industry in China. With the rapid development of new technologies such as traceability methods and monitoring instruments， it is imperative to integrate and innovate traditional Chinese herbal medicines with new-generation information technology in view of the quality problems existing in the current production and circulation of Chinese herbal medicines， and it is of great significance for the construction of traceability system to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese herbal medicines and to promote the industry of Chinese herbal medicines to move towards high-quality development. This paper reviews the development history of the traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines in China， takes the influencing factors of the quality of Chinese herbal medicines as the entry point， and proposes that the construction of the traceability system should satisfy the traceability requirements of the characteristics of Chinese herbal medicines and their traditional medication experience. By analyzing the influencing factors of the quality of Chinese herbal medicines， it is pointed out that focusing on the influencing factors to build a traceability system is of great significance for targeting the problematic links at a later stage and exploring the interrelationship between environmental factors and the quality of Chinese herbal medicines. Based on the previous explorations， the author summarizes the system framework， functional modules and practical applications of the traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines， and looks forward to the development of a traceability system with risk early warning function and expert decision-making function in its functional development. Finally， based on the factors affecting the quality of Chinese herbal medicines， the author puts forward several thoughts on construction of the traceability system， and makes an in-depth analysis and puts forward a solution for the current situation that a unified， standardized and universal traceability system has not yet been built， with a view to providing ideas and references for the construction of traceability system of Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective To study the effects of Chrysanthemum Flos on blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)and evaluate its antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo.Methods SHR were randomly divided into model,control and experimental-L,-H groups with 10 rats per group,and 10 WKY rats as blank group.Experimental-H,-L groups were given 2.10 and 0.525 g·kg-1 Chrysanthemum Flos extract by gavage;control group received 5.25 mg·kg-1 losartan by gavage;blank and model groups were given the same volume of 0.9％NaCl solution by gavage.Rats in each group were gavaged once a day for 8 weeks.After 8 weeks of continuous intragastric administration,the systolic blood pressure(SBP)and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were observed.The contents of catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in serum were measured with kit colorimetry method.The in vitro free radical scavenging rates of Chrysanthemum Flos extract were detected by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)and 2,2'-amino-di(2-ethyl-benzothiazoline sulphonic acid-6)ammonium salt(ABTS)methods.Results The SBP of blank,model,control and experimental-H,-L groups were(132.00±2.45),(204.00±4.55),(171.00±2.16),(181.00±3.74)and(184.67±4.78)mmHg;the DBP were(73.33±4.03),(175.67±3.40),(120.33±0.94),(125.33±2.87)and(125.67±2.36)mmHg;the contents of serum CAT were(9.24±3.99),(8.40±2.98),(9.24±2.42),(8.59±2.70)and(8.49±1.47)U·mL-1;the contents of serum SOD were(122.40±12.30),(75.30±28.37),(125.39±31.35),(110.92±26.14)and(103.37±22.31)U·mL-1;the contents of serum GSH were(117.93±10.18),(78.29±23.68),(118.57±26.08),(109.89±20.52)and(98.73±14.71)U·mL-1;the contents of serum MDA were(8.36±2.08),(8.45±3.38),(8.22±3.04),(7.09±3.21)and(7.24±3.32)nmol·L 1,respectively.Compared with model group,the differences of above indicators in control group and experimental-H,-L groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Chrysanthemum Flos extract showed certain free radical scavenging ability in vitro.The highest scavenging rates of DPPH and ABTS were 90.29％and 92.67％,respectively.Conclusion Chrysanthemum Flos extract had good antihypertensive activity.The antioxidation ability might be its antihypertensive mechanisms.

Objective:To investigate the prospective association of sleep duration with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults in Suzhou.Methods:The study used the data of 53 269 participants aged 30-79 years recruited in the baseline survey from 2004 to 2008 and the follow-up until December 31, 2017 of China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) conducted in Wuzhong District, Suzhou. After excluding participants with airflow limitation, self-reported chronic bronchitis/emphysema/coronary heart disease history at the baseline survey and abnormal or incomplete data, a total of 45 336 participants were included in the final analysis. The association between daily sleep duration and the risk for developing COPD was analyzed by using a Cox proportional hazard regression model, and the hazard ratio ( HR) values and their 95% CI were calculated. The analysis was stratified by age, gender and lifestyle factors, and cross-analysis was conducted according to smoking status and daily sleep duration. Results:The median follow-up time was 11.12 years, with a total of 515 COPD diagnoses in the follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that daily sleep duration ≥10 hours was associated with higher risk for developing COPD ( HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.03-1.97). The cross analysis showed that excessive daily sleep duration increased the risk for COPD in smokers ( HR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.35-4.59, interaction P<0.001). Conclusion:Longer daily sleep duration (≥10 hours) might increase the risk for COPD in adults in Suzhou, especially in smokers.

Objective To investigate the mechanism that mediates the inhibitory effect of Xinfeng Capsule(XFC)on interleukin(IL)-1β-induced impairment of chondrocytes.Methods XFC-medicated serum was collected from SD rats with XFC gavage,and its optimal concentration for chondrocyte treatment was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry.Dual luciferase reporter analysis was performed to analyze the targeting relationship between miR-502-5p and TRAF2.In cultured human chondrocytes induced with IL-1β,the effects of transfection with miR-502-5p inhibitor and XFC-medicated serum,alone or in combination,on expression levels of IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-4,and IL-10 were examined with ELISA,and the changes in the expressions of collagen type Ⅱ alpha 1(COL2A1),matrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP13),adisintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS5),and miR-502-5p/TRAF2/NF-κB axis gene expression were detected using RT-qPCR,Western blotting,and immunofluorescence assay.Results In cultured human chondrocytes,treatment with IL-1β significantly decreased the cell viability,increased cell apoptosis rate,lowered miR-502-5p,IL-4,IL-10,and COL2A1 expressions,and enhanced IL-1β,TNF-α,ADAMTS5,MMP13,TRAF2,and NF-κB p65 expressions(P<0.05),and these changes were significantly improved by treatment with XFC-medicated serum at the optimal concentration of 20％(P<0.05).Transfection of the chondrocytes with miR-502-5p inhibitor resulted in elevated expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α,ADAMTS5,MMP13,TRAF2,and NF-κB p65 and lowered expressions of miR-502-5p,IL-4,IL-10,and COL2A1,and XFC-medicated serum obviously reversed the effects of miR-502-5p inhibitor.Conclusion XFC can inhibit IL-1β-induced inflammatory response and ECM degradation in cultured human chondrocytes possibly by regulating the miR-502-5p/TRAF2/NF-κB axis.

Objective:To observe the changes in the nutritional status of pediatric patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)for one year,and to analyze the risk factors.Methods:We collected data from 88 pediatric patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the Department of Hematology and Oncology in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between May 2018 and November 2022.All pediatric patients underwent nutritional status analysis before transplantation,at enrollment,3 months,6 months and 1 year after allo-HSCT.Linear regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for growth rate.Results:The body mass index Z score(BMI-Z)before allo-HSCT was(0.096±1.349),and decreased to(-0.258±1.438)、(-0.715±1.432)、(-0.584±1.444)at enrollment,3 months,6 months after allo-HSCT,and(-0.130±1.317)at 1 year after allo-HSCT(P<0.001).There was no significant change in BMI-Z between pre-transplantation and 1 year after transplantation(P=1.000).Height for age Z score(HAZ)before transplantation was(0.137±1.305)and decreased to(-0.083±1.267)、(-0.221±1.299)、(-0.269±1.282)in 3 months,6 months and 1 year after allo-HSCT(P<0.001).Multivariate linear regression showed that age≥10 years old(P=0.015)and chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD)(P=0.005)were independent risk factors for change in HAZ.Conclusion:The BMI-Z of pediatric patients treated with allo-HSCT returned to the pre-transplantation level after one year,while HAZ continued to decrease.Allo-HSCT may cause impaired growth rate in pediatric patients.Attention should be paid to HAZ changes in pediatric patients before and after allo-HSCT,especially in pediatric patients≥10 years old of age and those with cGVHD.Effective nutritional intervention should be provided in time.

Objective To investigate the mechanism that mediates the inhibitory effect of Xinfeng Capsule(XFC)on interleukin(IL)-1β-induced impairment of chondrocytes.Methods XFC-medicated serum was collected from SD rats with XFC gavage,and its optimal concentration for chondrocyte treatment was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry.Dual luciferase reporter analysis was performed to analyze the targeting relationship between miR-502-5p and TRAF2.In cultured human chondrocytes induced with IL-1β,the effects of transfection with miR-502-5p inhibitor and XFC-medicated serum,alone or in combination,on expression levels of IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),IL-4,and IL-10 were examined with ELISA,and the changes in the expressions of collagen type Ⅱ alpha 1(COL2A1),matrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP13),adisintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS5),and miR-502-5p/TRAF2/NF-κB axis gene expression were detected using RT-qPCR,Western blotting,and immunofluorescence assay.Results In cultured human chondrocytes,treatment with IL-1β significantly decreased the cell viability,increased cell apoptosis rate,lowered miR-502-5p,IL-4,IL-10,and COL2A1 expressions,and enhanced IL-1β,TNF-α,ADAMTS5,MMP13,TRAF2,and NF-κB p65 expressions(P<0.05),and these changes were significantly improved by treatment with XFC-medicated serum at the optimal concentration of 20％(P<0.05).Transfection of the chondrocytes with miR-502-5p inhibitor resulted in elevated expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α,ADAMTS5,MMP13,TRAF2,and NF-κB p65 and lowered expressions of miR-502-5p,IL-4,IL-10,and COL2A1,and XFC-medicated serum obviously reversed the effects of miR-502-5p inhibitor.Conclusion XFC can inhibit IL-1β-induced inflammatory response and ECM degradation in cultured human chondrocytes possibly by regulating the miR-502-5p/TRAF2/NF-κB axis.

ObjectiveIn recent years， with the sharp decline of wild resources in Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma and the immaturity of medicinal cultivation technology， their adulterants have appeared frequently in the market， and the main identifying characteristics have mostly disappeared in the circulation of medicinal materials. Therefore， there is an urgent need to establish a molecular identification method that can quickly and effectively identify the specificity of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma. MethodAfter comparison of the rbcL sequences of Arisaematis Rhizoma，Pinelliae Rhizoma， and their adulterants， the specific enzyme cleavage sites Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma， respectively， were selected and identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism（PCR-RFLP）. The main system conditions of PCR-RFLP reaction were established and optimized， and their durability and the ability to detect genuine， adulterants， and mixed counterfeits were investigated. ResultThe PCR-RFLP identification method of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma was established. After specific primer amplification， Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma could be digested by Hae Ⅲ and Dra Ⅰ-restricted endonucleases respectively， at annealing temperature of 54 ℃， the number of cycles of 35， and the amount of DNA template of 3-30 ng， producing two fragments or small cut fragments with a single band between 100-250 bp， whereas the mixed counterfeits were not cleaved and both showed a band at 250 bp. The method is highly accurate in identifying adulterants and mixed counterfeits of Arisaematis Rhizoma or Pinelliae Rhizoma. ConclusionThe PCR-RFLP method developed in this study allows for the rapid identification of Arisaematis Rhizoma and Pinelliae Rhizoma.

Objective: To explore the epidemiological characteristic of a COVID-19 outbreak caused by 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BF.7 and other provinces imported in Shenzhen and analyze transmission chains and characteristics. Methods: Field epidemiological survey was conducted to identify the transmission chain, analyze the generation relationship among the cases. The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid positive samples were used for gene sequencing. Results: From 8 to 23 October, 2022, a total of 196 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Shenzhen, all the cases had epidemiological links. In the cases, 100 were men and 96 were women, with a median of age, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 33(25, 46) years. The outbreak was caused by traverlers initial cases infected with 2019-nCoV who returned to Shenzhen after traveling outside of Guangdong Province.There were four transmission chains, including the transmission in place of residence and neighbourhood, affecting 8 persons, transmission in social activity in the evening on 7 October, affecting 65 persons, transmission in work place on 8 October, affecting 48 persons, and transmission in a building near the work place, affecting 74 persons. The median of the incubation period of the infection, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 1.44 (1.11, 2.17) days. The incubation period of indoor exposure less than that of the outdoor exposure, M (Q₁, Q₃) was 1.38 (1.06, 1.84) and 1.95 (1.22, 2.99) days, respcetively (Wald χ²=10.27, P=0.001). With the increase of case generation, the number and probability of gene mutation increased. In the same transmission chain, the proportion of having 1-3 mutation sites was high in the cases in the first generation. Conclusions: The transmission chains were clear in this epidemic. The incubation period of Omicron variant BF.7 infection was shorter, the transmission speed was faster, and the gene mutation rate was higher. It is necessary to conduct prompt response and strict disease control when epidemic occurs.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; China/epidemiology*