Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Objective:This study aims to construct a monitoring index system for early child development(ECD)that is consistent with China's actual situation,to scientifically and systematically evaluate the level of ECD and service capacity in various regions.Methods:The study was predicated on the theoretical foundation of the Nutrition Care Framework(NCF).Indicators were initially selected through a literature review and focus group interviews.The evaluation indicators were then determined through two rounds of expert consultation utilising the Delphi method.The Priority Sequence Diagram Method(PSDM)was subsequently implemented to determine indicator weights.Results:The final framework encompasses six first-level indicators(good health,adequate nutrition,responsive caregiving,opportunities for learning,security and safety,and demand and investment),12 second-level indicators,and 31 third-level indicators.Conclusion:The ECD index system constructed in this study integrates macro,meso,and micro levels,emphasises cross-sectoral collaboration and attention to child caregivers,and incorporates equity indicators to measure regional disparities.The research outcomes provide a reference for quantitatively assessing the level of ECD and service capacity across various regions in China.By leveraging mechanisms for cross-sectoral collaboration and goal-oriented approaches,the study provides a framework for the allocation of resources to key areas,thus laying the foundation for the sustained implementation and resource assurance of the child-priority development strategy.

BACKGROUND:Observational studies have found a dual effect of lipids and immune cells on osteoarthritis progression,but the exact mechanism of action is not yet clear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether the causal relationship between lipids and knee osteoarthritis is regulated by immune cells.METHODS:179 lipids were obtained from the Linda Ottensman database,731 immune cell-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms were obtained from Open GWAS as instrumental variables,and genome-wide association data for knee osteoarthritis were obtained from the Osteoarthritis Genetics Consortium.First,we used a two-sample Mendelian randomization method to investigate the causal relationships between lipids and knee osteoarthritis,between immune cells and knee osteoarthritis,and between lipids and immune cells from a genetic perspective.In addition,Bayesian-weighted Mendelian randomization verified the causal relationship between lipids and knee osteoarthritis,and reverse Mendelian randomization and Steiger directionality test assessed the positive relationship.Second,sensitivity analyses were performed,including Cochran's Q test to eliminate heterogeneity,MR-PRESSO global test and MR-Egger intercept to rule out horizontal pleiotropy,and leave-one-out method to assess the effect of individual single nucleotide polymorphism drivers on random estimates.Finally,the mediating effect of specific immune cell traits in the causal relationship between lipids and knee osteoarthritis was determined by a two-step Mendelian randomization method.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The inverse variance weighting method and Bayesian-weighted algorithm together identified eight lipid species that were causally associated with knee osteoarthritis.The results of Cochran's Q,MR-PRESSO,and MR-Egger intercept were not statistically significant(P<0.05).Meanwhile,a total of three sets of mediated relationships were calculated,with the lowest mediation percentage of 11.85%and the highest of 45.48%.These findings indicate the level of immune cells plays a potential role in the regulatory process of lipids and knee osteoarthritis,which provides new perspectives for in-depth exploration of knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND:Dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension are commonly used methods for modeling sarcopenia in animal experiments due to their short modeling time,ease of operation,and low cost.OBJECTIVE:To compare the differences in muscle mass,strength and functional phenotypes and molecular mechanisms between two mouse sarcopenia models induced by dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension.METHODS:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups(n=10 per group).The normal control group received no intervention.The dexamethasone group received daily intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg/kg/d dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution for 6 continuous days to establish sarcopenia models in mice,while mice in the hindlimb suspension group were suspended by tail harness for 16 hours,once per day,to establish sarcopenia models.Within 6 weeks after modeling,changes in body mass were monitored.After 6 weeks of modeling,mice were tested for limb grip strength,mobility(swimming test),skeletal muscle wet mass,and skeletal muscle pathological morphology.Expressions of skeletal muscle protein synthesis and catabolism indexes as well as the AMPK/FoXO3α signaling pathway were detected by RT-PCR and western blot.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Two weeks after modeling,both dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension groups showed a significant decrease in body mass compared with the normal control group(P<0.001).After 6 weeks of modeling,grip strength of mice in both dexamethasone and hindlimb suspension groups was lower than that in the normal control group(P<0.001).The wet mass of gastrocnemius and extensor digitorum longus muscles and the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the dexamethasone group were lower than those in the normal control group(P<0.05).Compared with the hindlimb suspension group,the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle was significantly smaller in the dexamethasone group(P<0.05),while the cross-sectional area of soleus muscle was larger in the dexamethasone group(P<0.05).Mice in the dexamethasone group had reduced mobility when compared with those in the normal control group and the hindlimb suspension group(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the normal control group,PI3K,mTOR,AMPK,and PGC-1α mRNA expression and P-AMPK/AMPK protein were decreased in the two modeling groups(P<0.05),and FoXO3α mRNA expression and PGC-1α and FoXO3 protein expression were elevated(P<0.05);in the dexamethasone group,Akt1 mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.05),while Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.05);in the hindlimb suspension group,Akt1 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.05).(4)Compared with the dexamethasone group,mTOR,Akt1,and FoXO3α mRNA expression was elevated in the hindlimb suspension group(P<0.05),while Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.05).To conclude,both modeling methods could decrease the levels of mitochondrial energy metabolism in skeletal muscle,with the dexamethasone group mediating atrophy of skeletal muscle through the dual action of ubiquitin proteasome and energy metabolism pathways,and the hindlimb suspension group inducing atrophy of skeletal muscle by mediating the energy metabolism pathway through the AMPK/FoXO3α signaling pathway,subsequently causing a reduction in mass,strength,and function of skeletal muscle.

Aim To investigate the effect of Brusatol a-gainst small cell lung cancer(SCLC)and its potential mechanism.Methods CCK-8 assay and flow cytome-try were used to detect the cytotoxic effect of Brusatol on SCLC cells.Western blot was employed to measure the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins,in-cluding cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(cleaved-PARP),B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2)and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax).Network pharma-cology databases were utilized to identify common tar-gets of Brusatol,SCLC,and apoptosis.Kyoto Encyclo-pedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)and Gene On-tology(GO)enrichment analyses were performed on the intersecting genes.Molecular docking simulations between Brusatol and core targets were conducted using the CB-DOCK2 online platform to calculate binding en-ergies and sites.Western blot was further applied to detect the expression levels of signal transducer and ac-tivator of transcription 3(STAT3)and phosphorylated-STAT3(p-STAT3).Results Brusatol inhibited SCLC cell growth and induced apoptosis,significantly downregulating Bcl-2 and cleaved-PARP while upregu-lating Bax expression(P＜0.05).Network pharma-cology analysis revealed 108 common targets of Brusa-tol and SCLC,with the top three core targets being ep-idermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),STAT3,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF).Molecular docking re-sults indicated strong binding affinity between bruceine D and these core targets.Western blot validation con-firmed that bruceine D suppressed the expression of STAT3 and p-STAT3.Conclusion Brusatol exerts anti-SCLC effects by inhibiting STAT3 to induce apop-tosis in SCLC cells.

Objective To investigate the perioperative management of antithrombotic drugs in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.Methods Patients on long-term antithrombotic drugs who underwent non-cardiac surgery in our hospital were included.Through interviews with patients and physicians,perioperative antithrombotic medication regimens were reviewed and compared with the"Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus on Perioperative Management of Antithrombotic Therapy"to evaluate compliance with consensus and analyze influencing factors.Results A total of 372 patients were included in the analysis.Among them,355 patients were on long-term antiplatelet therapy alone,and 17 were on long-term oral anticoagulantion.364(97.8％)discontinued antithrombotic medications prior to surgery.109 patients(29.3％)received low molecular weight heparin(LMWH)bridging therapy.Among the 355 patients on antiplatelet therapy,108(30.4％)had discontinuation durations consistent with the consensus recommendations,while 186(52.4％)discontinued medications for longer periods.Postoperatively,the average hospital stay for antiplatelet therapy patients was 6.64 days,with only 37(10.4％)resuming therapy during hospitalization.The average hospital stay for patients on anticoagulants was 9.94 days,with only 2(11.8％)resuming therapy during hospitalization.Regarding perioperative risk assessment,only 40(10.8％)of patients underwent additional internal medical evaluation for thromboembolic risk after medication discontinuation,with the remainder assessed soly by surgeons.Coronary heart disease was an independent risk factor associated with internal medical evaluation(OR 2.851,95％CI 1.160-7.011,P=0.022).For bleeding risk assessment,surgeons evaluations aligned with the consensus in 68.0％of cases,but surgeons tended to underestimate risk compared to the consensus.Conclusions In this single-center study,perioperative antithrombotic management showed low compliance with expert consensus,characterized by prolonged preoperative medication discontinuation,high rates of LMWH bridging,and low postoperative in-hospital resumption of therapy.A robust multidisciplinary collaboration system should be established to enhance comprehensive patient assessment.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of common pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)in CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods The bacterial strains isolated from CSF were identified in accordance with clinical microbiology practice standards.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and automated systems per the unified CHINET protocol.Results A total of 14 014 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF samples from 2015 to 2021,including the strains isolated from inpatients(95.3％)and from outpatient and emergency care patients(4.7％).Overall,19.6％of the isolates were from children and 80.4％were from adults.Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 68.0％and 32.0％,respectively.Coagulase negative Staphylococcus accounted for 73.0％of the total Gram-positive bacterial isolates.The prevalence of MRSA was 38.2％in children and 45.6％in adults.The prevalence of MRCNS was 67.6％in adults and 69.5％in children.A small number of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium(2.2％)and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis(3.1％)were isolated from adult patients.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone were 52.2％and 76.4％in children,70.5％and 63.5％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli and K.pneumoniae(CRKP)was 1.3％and 47.7％in children,6.4％and 47.9％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA)was 74.0％and 37.1％in children,81.7％and 39.9％in adults.Conclusions The data derived from antimicrobial resistance surveillance are crucial for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding antibiotic therapy.Attention should be paid to the Gram-negative bacteria,especially CRKP and CRAB in central nervous system(CNS)infections.Ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for optimizing antibiotic use in CNS infections.

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates from elderly patients(≥65 years)in major medical institutions across China.Methods Bacterial strains were isolated from elderly patients in 52 hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program during the period from 2015 to 2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by disk diffusion method and automated systems according to the same CHINET protocol.The data were interpreted in accordance with the breakpoints recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2021.Results A total of 514 715 nonduplicate clinical isolates were collected from elderly patients in 52 hospitals from January 1,2015 to December 31,2021.The number of isolates accounted for 34.3％of the total number of clinical isolates from all patients.Overall,21.8％of the 514 715 strains were gram-positive bacteria,and 78.2％were gram-negative bacteria.Majority(90.9％)of the strains were isolated from inpatients.About 42.9％of the strains were isolated from respiratory specimens,and 22.9％were isolated from urine.More than half(60.7％)of the strains were isolated from male patients,and 39.3％isolated from females.About 51.1％of the strains were isolated from patients aged 65-＜75 years.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains(MRSA)was 38.8％in 32 190 strains of Staphylococcus aureus.No vancomycin-or linezolid-resistant strains were found.The resistance rate of E.faecalis to most antibiotics was significantly lower than that of Enterococcus faecium,but a few vancomycin-resistant strains(0.2％,1.5％)and linezolid-resistant strains(3.4％,0.3％)were found in E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible S.pneumoniae(PSSP),penicillin-intermediate S.pneumoniae(PISP),and penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae(PRSP)was 94.3％,4.0％,and 1.7％in nonmeningitis S.pneumoniae isolates.The resistance rates of Klebsiella spp.(Klebsiella pneumoniae 93.2％)to imipenem and meropenem were 20.9％and 22.3％,respectively.Other Enterobacterales species were highly sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics.Only 1.7％-7.8％of other Enterobacterales strains were resistant to carbapenems.The resistance rates of Acinetobacter spp.(Acinetobacter baumannii 90.6％)to imipenem and meropenem were 68.4％and 70.6％respectively,while 28.5％and 24.3％of P.aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem,respectively.Conclusions The number of clinical isolates from elderly patients is increasing year by year,especially in the 65-＜75 age group.Respiratory tract isolates were more prevalent in male elderly patients,and urinary tract isolates were more prevalent in female elderly patients.Klebsiella isolates were increasingly resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents,especially carbapenems.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for accurate empirical antimicrobial therapy in elderly patients.

Objective To develop an animal model that replicates the clinical phenotype of severe asthma.Methods Ovalbumin(OVA)combined with IL-33 or varying doses of lipopolysaccharides(LPS)was used to explore the construction of a severe asthma mouse model.Established model animals were assessed for lung function,number of inflammatory cells,and lung tissue pathology were assessed.Expression of key genes associated with severe asthma identified from the GEO database were validated in the new model.Results Compared with OVA alone,OVA combined with IL-33 or 5 μg LPS significantly increased airway resistance and the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,and aggravated the pathological damage to lung tissues.The expression patterns of key genes in the newly constructed severe asthma models were consistent with those observed in clinical patients with severe asthma.Conclusions The modeling method of combining OVA with IL-33 or LPS(5 μg)can be used to construct experimentalanimal models of severe asthma.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of common pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)in CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods The bacterial strains isolated from CSF were identified in accordance with clinical microbiology practice standards.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and automated systems per the unified CHINET protocol.Results A total of 14 014 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF samples from 2015 to 2021,including the strains isolated from inpatients(95.3％)and from outpatient and emergency care patients(4.7％).Overall,19.6％of the isolates were from children and 80.4％were from adults.Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 68.0％and 32.0％,respectively.Coagulase negative Staphylococcus accounted for 73.0％of the total Gram-positive bacterial isolates.The prevalence of MRSA was 38.2％in children and 45.6％in adults.The prevalence of MRCNS was 67.6％in adults and 69.5％in children.A small number of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium(2.2％)and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis(3.1％)were isolated from adult patients.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone were 52.2％and 76.4％in children,70.5％and 63.5％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli and K.pneumoniae(CRKP)was 1.3％and 47.7％in children,6.4％and 47.9％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA)was 74.0％and 37.1％in children,81.7％and 39.9％in adults.Conclusions The data derived from antimicrobial resistance surveillance are crucial for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding antibiotic therapy.Attention should be paid to the Gram-negative bacteria,especially CRKP and CRAB in central nervous system(CNS)infections.Ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for optimizing antibiotic use in CNS infections.