Objective: To uncover the underlying mechanisms of action of the Yinlai decoction on high-calorie diet-induced pneumonia through proteomics analysis. Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, lung tissue samples from normal and high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice in the GSE16377 dataset were selected as test cohorts to identify differentially expressed genes and conduct bioinformatics analyses. In the animal experiments, mice were randomly divided into the control (N), high-calorie diet pneumonia (M), and Yinlai decoction treatment (Y) groups. Mice in the M group received high-calorie feed and a 0.5 mg/mL lipopolysaccharide solution spray for 30 min for 3 d. The mice in the Y group were intragastrically administered 2 mL/10 g Yinlai decoction twice daily for 3 d. Pathological evaluation of the lung tissue was performed. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the lung tissue were identified using quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analyses. The drug-target relationships between Yinlai decoction and core DEPs in the lung tissue were verified using AutoDock Vina and Molecular Graphics Laboratory (MGL) Tools. DEPs were verified by western blot. Results: GEO data mining showed that an HFD altered oxidative phosphorylation in mouse lung tissue. The Yinlai decoction alleviated pathological damage to lung tissue and pneumonia in mice that were fed a high-calorie diet. A total of 47 DEPs were identified between the Y and M groups. Enrichment analysis revealed their association with energy metabolism pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and oxidative phosphorylation. The protein-protein interaction network revealed that Atp5a1, Pdha1, and Sdha were the target proteins mediating the therapeutic effects of Yinlai decoction. Molecular docking results suggested that the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of Yinlai decoction involves the binding of brassinolide, praeruptorin B, chrysoeriol, and other components in Yinlai decoction to Atp5a1. Conclusion The Yinlai decoction alleviated lung tissue damage and pneumonia in mice that were fed a high-calorie diet by regulating the TCA and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study highlights the importance of a healthy diet for patients with pneumonia and provides a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia through dietary adjustments.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the clinical value of myostatin(MST) and follistatin(FST) as biological biomarkers in evaluating sarcopenia in elderly women.Methods:This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that enrolled 350 females aged 20-89 years who underwent physical examinations in Shanghai Huadong Hospital in 2021. Demographic characteristics, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mineral density, hand grip strength, gait speed, and serum indices of MST and FST were collected.Results:The serum levels of MST did not change significantly with age. However, the serum levels of FST increased with age. In women aged≥60 years, MST was positively correlated with total lean mass and appendicular skeletal muscle index(ASMI; r=0.236, P=0.041; r=0.289, P=0.014), while FST was negatively correlated with ASMI( r=-0.265, P=0.030). In multivariate stepwise regression analysis, after adjusting for age, body mass index, hip bone mineral density, and total fat mass, only FST was independently correlated with ASMI( β=-0.238, P=0.006), while MST was not correlated with ASMI. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted using muscle mass reduction as the state variable and serum FST level as the test variable. The area under the curve was 0.753. And when the FST cutoff value was 17.49 ng/mL, the maximum Jordan index was 0.46, with a sensitivity of 77.3% and a specificity of 68.7%. Women aged ≥60 years were divided into three groups based on serum FST levels. Compared to the upper third of the serum FST level group, the low third of the FST level group had a significantly reduced risk of suffering from sarcopenia( OR=0.098, P =0.036). Conclusions:Serum FST lever has a better correlation with muscle mass among elderly women, making it a promising biomarker for evaluating muscle mass.

Objective:To investigate the levels of osteoporosis-related biomarkers in individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A cross-sectional study. From January 2021 to June 2022, 40 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 40 individuals receiving physical examination in Shanxi Bethune Hospital were selected as subjects in this study. The glucose and lipid metabolism indexes and bone metabolism indexes of the subjects were detected, and the differences and correlations of the metabolic indexes among the groups were analyzed by t-tests, nonparametric tests or correlation analysis. Results:Compared with healthy group, beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen (β-CTX) level in type 2 diabetes group was higher [(344.60±125.61) vs (227.56±68.33) pg/ml] ( t=-5.176, P<0.001), osteocalcin (OC) and total procollagen type 1 aminoterminal peptide (t-PINP) were both lower [(15.76±4.70) vs (28.02±5.83)ng/ml, (43.49±13.63) vs (59.58±15.80) ng/ml] ( t=10.352, t=4.874, P<0.001). The β-CTX level in type 2 diabetes patients complicated with hypothyroidism was higher than that in patients with simple subclinical hypothyroidism [(380.51±122.22) vs (212.41±44.17) pg/ml] ( t=-8.180 ,P<0.001), but the levels of OC and t-PINP were both lower [(13.67±4.06) vs (26.12±4.55) ng/ml, (38.76±9.53) vs (61.50±12.31) ng/ml] ( t=12.897, P<0.001); but there was no significant difference in the three biomarkers between patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by subclinical hypothyroidism and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus alone. [β-CTX: (380.51±122.22) vs (344.60±125.61) pg/ml, OC: (13.67±4.06) vs (15.76±4.70) ng/ml, t-PINP: (38.76±9.53) vs (43.49±13.63) ng/ml] ( t=1.296,1.890,-1.799 ,all P>0.05). In the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by subclinical hypothyroidism, the β-CTX was positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)( r=0.293,0.487,all P<0.05), while OC and t-PINP were negatively correlated with FBG and HbA1c ( r=-0.560,-0.502,-0.289,-0.326, P<0.05). Conclusion:Changes of serum osteoporosis-related biomarkers in subclinical hypothyroidism patients with type 2 diabetes indicate the increased risk of osteoporosis in those patients.

Objective:To explore the effects of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus on the level of frailty and self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, so as to provide new ideas for intervention of diabetic frailty and improvement of self-management.Methods:From January 2021 to June 2021, the 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were treated with the traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine using the quasi experimental research method. General information questionnaire, Tilburg Frailty Indicator(TFI), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), Chinese-Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale(C-DMSES) and the effect evaluation scale of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes mellitus) were investigated on 1 to 2 days after admission, at discharge, 3 months after discharge and were analyzed by t test, analysis of variance, SNK test. Results:The TFI scores of patients were (4.90 ± 2.44), (3.89 ± 1.99), (3.43 ± 2.22) points, the SDSCA scores were (41.31 ± 14.30), (57.90 ± 12.73), (52.33 ± 12.71) points, the C-DMSES scores were (128.99 ± 32.18), (154.69 ± 25.43), (141.27 ± 27.86) points, the effect scores of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus were (13.40 ± 6.02), (6.98 ± 5.04), (5.01 ± 3.96) points at 1-2 days after admission, discharge, and 3 months after discharge, there were statistically significant differences among different time periods ( F values were 11.14-72.50, all P<0.05). The fasting blood glucose and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose of patients were (9.28 ± 3.51), (7.16 ± 1.66), (7.24 ± 1.76) mmol/L and (14.93 ± 4.22), (10.28 ± 4.83), (10.30 ± 2.25) mmol/L at 1-2 days after admission, discharge and 3 months after discharge, and the differences were statistically significant ( F = 21.02, 37.55, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The implementation of traditional Chinese medicine nursing protocols for type 2 diabetes mellitus can delay the degree of frailty of type 2 diabetes mellitus, improve the level of self-management of patients, help patients control blood glucose, with good traditional Chinese medicine nursing effect, worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.

The portable light-weight magnetic resonance imaging system can be deployed in special occasions such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ambulances, making it possible to implement bedside monitoring imaging systems, mobile stroke units and magnetic resonance platforms in remote areas. Compared with medium and high field imaging systems, ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging equipment utilizes light-weight permanent magnets, which are compact and easy to move. However, the image quality is highly susceptible to external electromagnetic interference without a shielded room and there are still many key technical problems in hardware design to be solved. In this paper, the system hardware design and environmental electromagnetic interference elimination algorithm were studied. Consequently, some research results were obtained and a prototype of portable shielding-free 50 mT magnetic resonance imaging system was built. The light-weight magnet and its uniformity, coil system and noise elimination algorithm and human brain imaging were verified. Finally, high-quality images of the healthy human brain were obtained. The results of this study would provide reference for the development and application of ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging technology.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods* ; Head ; Equipment Design ; Magnets

Preoperative sleep loss can amplify post-operative mechanical hyperalgesia. However, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. In the current study, rats were randomly allocated to a control group and an acute sleep deprivation (ASD) group which experienced 6 h ASD before surgery. Then the variations in cerebral function and activity were investigated with multi-modal techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, functional magnetic resonance imaging, c-Fos immunofluorescence, and electrophysiology. The results indicated that ASD induced hyperalgesia, and the metabolic kinetics were remarkably decreased in the striatum and midbrain. The functional connectivity (FC) between the nucleus accumbens (NAc, a subregion of the ventral striatum) and the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vLPAG) was significantly reduced, and the c-Fos expression in the NAc and the vLPAG was suppressed. Furthermore, the electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that both the neuronal activity in the NAc and the vLPAG, and the coherence of the NAc-vLPAG were suppressed in both resting and task states. This study showed that neuronal activity in the NAc and the vLPAG were weakened and the FC between the NAc and the vLPAG was also suppressed in rats with ASD-induced hyperalgesia. This study highlights the importance of preoperative sleep management for surgical patients.
Rats ; Animals ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Sleep Deprivation/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Periaqueductal Gray/pathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism* ; Pain, Postoperative/pathology*

【Objective】 To explore the molecular hereditary and frequency of Jk(a-b-) in blood donors in Yichang. 【Methods】 A total of 49 999 samples from Yichang Red Cross Central Blood Station were screened for Jk(a-b-) by urea hemolysis test(2 mol /L). The phenotypes of JK (a-b -) probands and their families were confirmed by monoclonal anti-Jk^a and anti-Jk^b, and the whole exon of SLC14A1 gene was sequenced. 【Results】 The frequency of Jk(a-b-) in Yichang blood donors was 0.004% (2/49 999), and the exon sequencing of SLC14A1 gene confirmed that both two probands were JK^*02N.01 caused by c. 342-1G>A homozygous mutation.Besides, JK^*01W.01 allele was observed in the pedigree analysis, and weak expression of Jk^a was found in 4 out of 11 family members. 【Conclusion】 The frequency of JK (a-b -) in Yichang blood donors is similar to those in Shanghai 0.004%(2/48 400), and both caused by JK ^* 02N.01 allele with high frequency in Southeast Asia. The epidemiological survey of JK ^* 01w.01 allele frequency should be further performed.

ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Shenlian prescription on acute lung injury induced by particulate matter （PM） exposure in rats and explore the mechanism. MethodFifty male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group， model group， Shenlian low-dose group （4.32 g·kg^-1）， Shenlian high-dose group （8.64 g·kg^-1）， and roflumilast group （3.46 mg·kg^-1）， with 10 in each group. Pre-administration with drugs by gavage was performed for one week. On the 8^th and 11^th days， the control group was instilled with normal saline in the trachea and the other groups with PM suspension to establish a rat model of acute lung injury induced by PM exposure. After modeling， drugs were given continuously until the end of the experiment. Forty-eight hours after the last exposure， the lung function of rats was detected. Then the rats were sacrificed and the lung morphological changes and pathological changes by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining were observed. CD68 expression in lung was detected by immunohistochemistry， and the levels of lung injury markers surfactant protein A （SP-A） and Clara cell protein16 （CC16） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression of interleukin-1α （IL-1α）， IL-6， IL-18， and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） in lung tissue was measured by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with those in the control group， the rats in the model group had decreased lung function and obvious structural damage of lung tissue， PM deposition， and infiltration of CD68 positive cells. The expressions of IL-1α， IL-6， IL-18， and MCP-1 in lung tissue were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Shenlian prescription low and high doses restored the rats' lung function injury（P<0.05，P<0.01）， improved lung morphological and pathological structure， and reduced PM deposition. Infiltration of CD68 positive cells in lung was not significantly decreased. The levels of inflammatory factors IL-1α， IL -6， IL-18， and MCP-1 in lung were lowered （P<0.01）. ConclusionShenlian prescription could protect the rats' lung injury caused by PM exposure， improve lung morphology， and reduce PM deposition and inflammatory factor expression.

Objective:To investigate the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens causing blood stream infection in patients with pancreatic neoplasms.Methods:Clinical data of patients with pancreatic neoplasms complicated with bloodstream infection with confirmed pathological evidence admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from January 2016 to June 2019 were collected. Bacteria were isolated from blood culture, and microbial sensitivity tests were analyzed by minimum inhibitory concentration and Kirby-Bauer methods. The distribution and drug resistance of pathogens causing blood stream infection in patients with pancreatic neoplasms were analyzed.Results:There were 116 cases (8.5%) with bloodstream infection in 1 372 patients with pancreatic neoplasms. A total of 156 bacterial strains were isolated from blood culture, of which 127 strains (81.4%) were gram negative aerobic bacteria, mainly including Escherichia coli (42 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae (34 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 strains), and 25 strains (16.0%) were gram positive aerobic bacteria, mainly including Enterococcus faecium (11 strains), Enterococcus faecalis (3 strains), Streptococcus angina (3 strains). 4 strains (2.6%) were anaerobic bacteria. The results of antibiotic susceptibility showed that the resistance rate of Escherichia coli to ampicillin was 90.5%, and to cefoperazone-sulbactam was 2.4%. The resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae to piperacillin was 20.6%, and to cefoperazone-sulbactam was 5.9%. The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to imipenem was 41.7%, and no resistant strain was found to cefoperazone-sulbactam. The resistance rate of Enterococcus and Streptococcus pharyngitis to erythromycin were 85.7% and 33.3%, and no strains were resistant to vancomycin.Conclusions:The rate of blood stream infection in patients with pancreatic neoplasms was relatively high. In clinical practice, the distribution of pathogenic bacteria should be understood, the drug resistance should be monitored and antibiotics should be reasonably used, in order to maximally prevent and interfere with the occurrence of blood stream infection.