This article systematically analyzed the historical evolution of the origin， scientific name， producing area， quality evaluation， harvesting and processing， and other aspects of Quisqualis Fructus by consulting the ancient materia medica， medical books， prescription books， local literature and combining with the modern literature and standards， summarized and explored the development rules of its medicinal properties and efficacy along with their underlying causes， in order to provide support for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. According to the textual research， Shijunzi was first recorded as Liuqiuzi in Nanfang Caomuzhuang of the Jin dynasty， and the name of Shijunzi was first used in Kaibao Bencao of the Song dynasty， which has been consistently used throughout subsequent dynasties， and there were also aliases such as Junziren， Sijunzi， and Dujilizi. The mainstream source of Quisqualis Fructus used in the past dynasties has been the dried mature fruits of Quisqualis indica， a plant belonging to the family Combretaceae. In modern times， its variety Q. indica var. villosa has also been recorded as the medicinal material of Quisqualis Fructus. In 2007， the Flora of China（English edition） designated Q. indica var. villosa as a synonym of Q. indica. Today， the accepted name of Shijunzi is updated to Combretum indicum. According to ancient herbal records， the producing areas of Quisqualis Fructus were Guangdong， Hong Kong， Macao， Guangxi， Hainan， Sichuan and Fujian， and then gradually expanded to Yunnan， Taiwan， Jiangxi and Guizhou. Since the Song dynasty， two major production regions have gradually emerged in Sichuan， Chongqing and Fujian. Currently， it is primarily cultivated in Chongqing， Guangxi and other areas， with Chongqing yielding the highest output. Since modern times， superior quality has been defined by large size， a purple-black surface， plump grains， and a yellowish-white kernel. According to ancient herbal records， the harvesting period of Quisqualis Fructus was the July and August of the lunar calendar， mostly used raw after shelling or with the shell intact， it underwent processing methods such as cleaning， slicing， mixing， steaming， roasting， stewing， and frying. Currently， the harvesting period is autumn， followed by sun-drying or low-heat drying， with processing methods including cleaning， stir-frying， and stewing. In ancient and modern literature， the records of the properties， functions and indications of Quisqualis Fructus are basically the same， that is， sweet in taste， warm in nature， predominantly non-toxic， belonging to the spleen and stomach meridians. It possesses effects of insecticide， decontamination and invigorating spleen for ascariasis， enterobiasis， abdominal pain due to worm accumulation and infantile malnutrition.The contraindications for use primarily include avoiding consumption by individuals without parasitic infestations， limiting use for those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold， refraining from drinking hot tea during medication， and avoiding excessive intake. Based on the textual research， it is suggested that the dried mature fruits of Q. indica should be used as the medicinal material for the development of famous classical formulas containing Quisqualis Fructus. Processing methods may be chosen according to prescription requirements， and the raw products is recommended for medicinal use if not specified.

BACKGROUND:In the research and application of neural stem cells,cell culture and passage are key links,which directly affect the quality of cells and experimental results.It is of great significance to find the most suitable digestive enzymes that can maintain the biological characteristics of embryonic mouse spinal cord neural stem cells and enhance their passage efficiency.OBJECTIVE:To explore the most suitable digestive enzyme for passage of neural stem cells from the spinal cord of embryonic mice.METHODS:Microscopic dissection was used to isolate and extract spinal cord tissue from E14 d embryonic mice,which was cultured in DMEM/F12 serum-free medium containing epidermal growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,and B27.After spherulation,Nestin and Sox2 immunofluorescence identification was performed.During neural stem cell passage and culture,single-cell suspensions were prepared using trypsin,papain,and TrypLETM Express enzyme digestion combined with blow molding.The cell dispersion and spheroidization were observed,and passage 3 cells were stained with propidium iodide to detect cell death.Cell proliferation was detected by counting the total number of cells.Immunofluorescence staining,western blot assay and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of Olig2,Tuj1,GFAP,and NeuN at the protein and mRNA levels and to identify cell differentiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 72 hours of culture,E14 d embryonic mouse spinal cord tissue cells could form suspended neurospheres,which could be passaged after 5-7 days.Compared with trypsin and papain,TrypLETM Express enzyme combined with blow beating method was used for passage.The cell dispersion rate was high,the activity was good,and more NeuN-and Tuj1-positive neurons differentiated.This study optimized the culture and passaging process of neural stem cells,laying a foundation for further research on stem cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord diseases.

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the value of myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)in the prognostic assessment of patients undergoing revascularization for acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocar-dial infarction(STEMI).Methods:A total of 234 patients with acute anterior STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)and completed MCE admitted in Dongguan People's Hospital between July 1st 2019 and October 1st 2021 were included.According to presence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)during 6 months,patients were divided into no MACE group(n=188)and MACE group(n=46).General data and MCE indexes were compared between the two groups.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze influencing factors for MACE in patients with acute anterior STEMI after PCI.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze predictive value of MCE indexes for MACE in patients with acute anterior STE-MI after PCI.Results:Compared with patients in no MACE group,those in MACE group had significant higher proportion of previous myocardial infarction,D-dimer,C reactive protein,B-type natriuretic peptide,creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB),incidence of T-wave inversion and ST-segment resolution amplitude(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).MCE showed that compared with those in no MACE group,those in MACE group had significant lower left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)[(52.54±7.66)％ vs.(55.98±10.04)％],and significant higher wall motion score index(WMSI)[(1.22±0.13)vs.(1.17±0.15)]and contrast score index(CSI)[(1.54±0.32)％vs.(1.16±0.21)％](P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that previous myocar-dial infarction,C-reactive protein,CSI and T-wave inversion were independent risk factors for MACE in patients with acute anterior STEMI after PCI(OR=13.790～6601.747,P＜0.05 or＜0.01).ROC curve indicated that CSI had good predictive value for MACE in patients with acute anterior STEMI after PCI,the area under curve(AUC)was 0.874(95％CI 0.825～0.914)and optimal cutoff point was 1.33％.Conclusion:Myocardial contrast echocardiography plays an important role in prognostic assessment of patients undergoing revascularization for acute anterior STEMI.

BACKGROUND:In the research and application of neural stem cells,cell culture and passage are key links,which directly affect the quality of cells and experimental results.It is of great significance to find the most suitable digestive enzymes that can maintain the biological characteristics of embryonic mouse spinal cord neural stem cells and enhance their passage efficiency.OBJECTIVE:To explore the most suitable digestive enzyme for passage of neural stem cells from the spinal cord of embryonic mice.METHODS:Microscopic dissection was used to isolate and extract spinal cord tissue from E14 d embryonic mice,which was cultured in DMEM/F12 serum-free medium containing epidermal growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,and B27.After spherulation,Nestin and Sox2 immunofluorescence identification was performed.During neural stem cell passage and culture,single-cell suspensions were prepared using trypsin,papain,and TrypLETM Express enzyme digestion combined with blow molding.The cell dispersion and spheroidization were observed,and passage 3 cells were stained with propidium iodide to detect cell death.Cell proliferation was detected by counting the total number of cells.Immunofluorescence staining,western blot assay and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of Olig2,Tuj1,GFAP,and NeuN at the protein and mRNA levels and to identify cell differentiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 72 hours of culture,E14 d embryonic mouse spinal cord tissue cells could form suspended neurospheres,which could be passaged after 5-7 days.Compared with trypsin and papain,TrypLETM Express enzyme combined with blow beating method was used for passage.The cell dispersion rate was high,the activity was good,and more NeuN-and Tuj1-positive neurons differentiated.This study optimized the culture and passaging process of neural stem cells,laying a foundation for further research on stem cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord diseases.

Objective To understand the situation of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) quality control testing phantoms in radiation health technical service institutions in Guangdong province, analyze the differences among different phantoms, and provide a reference for dental CBCT quality control testing. Methods The testing phantoms of 49 radiation health technical service institutions were used as the research objects. The designated CBCT equipment was used for scanning and imaging. The Z-score method was used to evaluate the high-contrast resolution, low-contrast resolution, and distance measurement deviation of each phantom. Results The satisfaction rates of various items for the phantoms in 49 institutions ranged from 85.7% to 100%. The distance measurement deviations of four institutions were “suspicious”, and the high-contrast resolution of four institutions and the distance measurement deviation of one institution were “unsatisfactory”. Conclusion The overall performance of dental CBCT quality control testing phantoms in radiological health technical service institutions in Guangdong province is satisfactory. However, there are still some phantoms with poor results in items such as distance measurement deviation and high-contrast resolution. The structural design, material selection, and manufacturing process of the phantom may all affect the results of quality control testing. Therefore, appropriate phantoms, optimized exposure conditions, and suitable reconstruction algorithms should be used in CBCT quality control testing to ensure accurate and reliable measurements.

Objective: To explore the potential category patterns of risk prevention and control behaviors of HIV infection among young students who have sex with men (MSM) and their impact on HIV infection and late detection, aiming to optimize intervention strategies. Methods: From September 2017 to December 2024, a total of 1 637 MSM young students in Tianjin were recruited through both online and offline channels. Latent class analysis was applied to classify 11 HIV risk prevention and control behaviors [condom use during the most recent anal sex in the past 6 months, consistent condom use, use of water based lubricants, abstinence from recreational drugs, regular on site professional testing, fixed sexual partners, partner testing, awareness of partner s HIV testing results, testing before sexual activity, nucleic acid testing, and use of pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)]. Multivariate Logistic regression analyzed associations between demographic characteristics/intervention services factors and latent classes. Differences in HIV infection and late detection across behavior patterns were compared. Results: HIV risk prevention and control behaviors among MSM students were classified into three latent classes:condom dependent group (38.42%), low prevention group (27.73%), and comprehensive prevention group (33.85%). Students who received condom promotion/testing services were more likely to belong to the comprehensive prevention group ( OR =5.58), while those who received peer education were less likely to the comprehensive prevention group ( OR =0.43) (both P <0.01). Among the MSM student population, the HIV infection rate was 4.83%, with 2.26% of cases detected late. The HIV infection rate (1.45%) and late detection proportion (0.82%) in the comprehensive prevention group were lower than those in the low prevention group (7.89% and 3.83%, respectively) ( χ 2=16.20, 7.31, both P <0.01). Conclusions HIV risk prevention and control behaviors among MSM young students exhibit significant heterogeneity. Comprehensive prevention strategies can effectively reduce HIV infection and late detection risks. It is necessary to optimize peer education content and improve the accessibility of diversified prevention measures such as PrEP/PEP to enhance HIV prevention and control.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) in children and to enhance the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 children diagnosed with DPB who were hospitalized at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2011 to December 2019. RESULTS: Among the 6 patients, there were 2 males and 4 females; the age at diagnosis ranged from 7 to 12 years. All patients presented with cough, sputum production, and exertional dyspnea, and all had a history of sinusitis. Two cases showed positive serum cold agglutinin tests, and 5 cases exhibited pathological changes consistent with chronic bronchiolitis. High-resolution chest CT in all patients revealed centrilobular nodules diffusely distributed throughout both lungs with a tree-in-bud appearance. Five patients received low-dose azithromycin maintenance therapy, but 3 showed inadequate treatment response. After empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment, non-tuberculous Mycobacteria were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Follow-up over 2 years showed 1 case cured, 3 cases significantly improved, and 2 cases partially improved. CONCLUSIONS The clinical presentation of DPB is non-specific and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In cases where DPB is clinically diagnosed but does not show improvement with low-dose azithromycin treatment, special infections should be considered.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Bronchiolitis/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Haemophilus Infections/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of single-balloon and double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosing pediatric small bowel diseases and assess the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography enterography (CTE) for small bowel diseases using enteroscopy as the reference standard. METHODS: Clinical data from 576 children who underwent enteroscopy at Hunan Children's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2023 were retrospectively collected. The children were categorized based on enteroscopy type into the single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) group (n=457) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) group (n=119), and the clinical data were compared between the two groups. The sensitivity and specificity of CTE for diagnosing small bowel diseases were evaluated using enteroscopy results as the standard. RESULTS: Among the 576 children, small bowel lesions were detected by enteroscopy in 274 children (47.6%).There was no significant difference in lesion detection rates or complication rates between the SBE and DBE groups (P>0.05), but the DBE group had deeper insertion, longer procedure time, and higher complete small bowel examination rate (P<0.05). The complication rate during enteroscopy was 4.3% (25/576), with 18 cases (3.1%) of mild complications and 7 cases (1.2%) of severe complications, which improved with symptomatic treatment, surgical, or endoscopic intervention. Among the 412 children who underwent CTE, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing small bowel diseases were 44.4% and 71.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SBE and DBE have similar diagnostic efficacy for pediatric small bowel diseases, but DBE is preferred for suspected deep small bowel lesions and comprehensive small bowel examination. Enteroscopy in children demonstrates relatively good overall safety. CTE demonstrates relatively low sensitivity but comparatively high specificity for diagnosing small bowel diseases.
Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy/statistics & numerical data* ; Single-Balloon Enteroscopy/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Operative Time ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/statistics & numerical data* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Intestine, Small/surgery* ; Intestinal Diseases/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible associations between physical function assessment scales, such as Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), with all-cause mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. METHODS: A total of 108 ADHF patients were analyzed from October 2020 to October 2022, and followed up to May 2023. The association between baseline clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality was analyzed by univariate Cox regression analysis, while for SPPB and BBS, univariate Cox regression analysis was followed by receiver operating characteristic curves, in which the area under the curve represented their predictive accuracy for all-cause mortality. Incremental predictive values for both physical function assessments were measured by calculating net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement scores. Optimal cut-off value for BBS was then identified using restricted cubic spline plots, and survival differences below and above that cut-off were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. The clinical utility of BBS was measured using decision curve analysis. RESULTS: For baseline characteristics, age, female, blood urea nitrogen, as well as statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, were predictive for all-cause mortality for ADHF patients. With respect to SPPB and BBS, higher scores were associated with lower all-cause mortality rates for both assessments; similar area under the curves were measured for both (0.774 for SPPB and 0.776 for BBS). Furthermore, BBS ≤ 36.5 was associated with significantly higher mortality, which was still applicable even adjusting for confounding factors; BBS was also found to have great clinical utility under decision curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS BBS or SPPB could be used as tools to assess physical function in ageing ADHF patients, as well as prognosticate on all-cause mortality. Moreover, prioritizing the improvement of balance capabilities of ADHF patients in cardiac rehabilitation regimens could aid in lowering mortality risk.