ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal ratio of goat horn replacing antelope horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills and the blood pressure-lowering mechanism of this medicine. MethodsThe blood pressure-lowering efficacy of Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with varying proportions of goat horn replacing antelope horn was evaluated on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR）. In this experiment， 50 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model （n=8）， captopril （0.01 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.342 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， and high-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）. Additionally， 8 WKY rats were used as the normal group. Drugs were administered by gavage for 4 weeks while an equal volume of distilled water was administered for the normal and model groups. Blood pressure was measured before administration， 3 h post administration， and biweekly thereafter. In the experiment for Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with goat horn replacing antelope horn in different proportions， 48 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model， blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1）， antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1）， 2× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.824 g·kg^-1）， 4× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.969 g·kg^-1）， and 6× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （1.112 g·kg^-1）. The normal group included 8 WKY rats， and the normal group and model group received an equal volume of distilled water. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks， and blood pressure was recorded at various time points （pre-administration， 3 h post administration， and on days 4， 7， 10， and 14 of administration）. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）， renin， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein levels of ACE2， angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R）， and angiotensinogen （AGT） in the kidney tissue were determined by Western blot， while the expression of nuclear factor （NF）-κB p65 and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in the thoracic aorta tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the model group， all treatment groups showed lowered blood pressure （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 6× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group showed consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated serum levels of ACE， Ang Ⅱ， renin， and IL-6， while the elevations were declined in the Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were alleviated in all the treatment groups， with the 6× goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups exhibited the best effect. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that all the treatment groups exhibited down-regulated protein levels of AT1R， AGT， NF-κB p65， and TLR4 and up-regulated protein levels of ACE2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） compared with model group， with the 6×goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups showcasing the best effect. ConclusionReplacing antelope horn with 6×goat horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills can achieve consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the original prescription. The prescription may exert the effect by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system （RAAS） and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the serum levels of soluble programmed cell death protein 1 (sPD-1) and soluble programmed cell death-ligand 1 (sPD-L1) in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and their clinical value in the prognostic analysis.Methods:This prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the department of critical care medicine at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between January 2022 and October 2024 with a first episode of ICH presenting within 24 hours of onset. Patients with hemorrhage caused by other causes (e.g., tumor, medication and trauma) or incomplete data were excluded. Based on 28-day all-cause mortality, patients were divided into survival group and non-survival group. According to the 60-day neurological outcome, patients were divided into good neurological outcome group and poor neurological outcome group. Clinical and imaging data were collected, along with venous blood samples obtained within 24 hours of admission to measure serum levels of sPD-1 and sPD-L1. Predictive indicators were identified using LASSO-Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive indicators, and a nomogram was constructed to visualize the prediction model. Model performances were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, decision curve analysis, calibration curves, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Results:A total of 155 patients were included: 101 in the survival group and 54 in the death group; 56 in the favorable neurological outcome group and 99 in the poor neurological outcome group. Serum sPD-1 concentrations were significantly lower in the death group and poor neurological outcome group compared to the survival group and favorable neurological outcome group, respectively. Conversely, serum sPD-L1 concentrations were significantly higher in the death group and poor neurological outcome group compared to the survival group and favorable neurological outcome group (all P < 0.05). Serum sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were identified as predictors of 28-day mortality risk. A nomogram incorporating seven indicators—brainstem hemorrhage, hemorrhage volume, obstructive hydrocephalus, surgical intervention, admission NIHSS score, and admission serum sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels—demonstrated superior predictive performance [AUC=0.984 (95% CI: 0.968-1.000)] compared to sPD-1 alone (AUC=0.712) or sPD-L1 alone (AUC=0.753). Serum sPD-1 was a predictor of poor 60-day neurological outcome. A nomogram incorporating obstructive hydrocephalus, admission NIHSS score, and admission serum sPD-1 level [AUC=0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.882)] outperformed sPD-1 alone (AUC=0.637) or sPD-L1 alone (AUC=0.602). Conclusions:Serum levels of sPD-1 were significantly lower in the non-survivors and the patients with poor neurological outcomes compared to the survivors and the patients with good neurological outcomes. However, serum levels of sPD-L1 were significantly higher in the non-survivors and the patients with poor neurological outcome. Serum sPD-1 was an independent predictor of 28-day mortality risk and 60-day poor neurological outcome; serum sPD-L1 was an independent predictor of 28-day mortality risk. A nomogram prediction model incorporating sPD-1 and sPD-L1 demonstrated good predictive performance for mortality risk and poor neurological outcome.

BACKGROUND:Due to the young age of children,the occipital condyle and foramen magnum are not fully developed,and they are prone to various diseases and injuries in the occipitocervical junction,which requires surgical treatment in severe cases.However,anatomical parameters for the development of the occipital condyle and foramen magnum in children are lacking. OBJECTIVE:To measure the morphological structure of the occipital condyle and foramen magnum by three-dimensional reconstruction technique,and to provide important anatomical parameters for occipitocervical junction lesions,related surgical procedures and forensic identification. METHODS:Imaging data of 389 cases of primitive children and adolescents involved in skull base undergoing spiral CT scanning(247 males and 142 females)aged 1-18 years were collected and divided into 1-3-year-old group,4-6-year-old group,7-9-year-old group,10-12-year-old group,13-15-year-old group,and 16-18-year-old group according to their age.Mimics 16.0 software was used to reconstruct the skull base and measure the length and width of the foramen magnum.A formula was used to calculate the area and index of the foramen magnum.We measured the length,width and height of the occipital condyle,the angle between the long axis and the sagittal axis of the occipital condyle(O-S angle),the included angle between the midpoint of the front and back edges of the foramen magnum and the connection between the back edge of occipital condyle and the intersection point of the foramen magnum(F-O angle),and the included angle between the midpoint of the front and back edges of the foramen magnum and the midpoint of the back wall of the sublingual neural tube(F-H angle).Gender,side and age differences were analyzed among the indicators. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In foramen magnum measurement,there was no significant difference between sexes in the index of the foramen magnum(P>0.05),but there were significant differences in length,width and area of the foramen magnum(P<0.05).(2)The O-S angle,F-O angle and F-H angle of the occipitral condyle were not significantly different between genders(P>0.05),but length,width and height of the occipital condyle were significantly different between genders(P<0.05).(3)There were no significant differences in the length of the occipital condyle among different groups(P>0.05),but there were significant differences in the width and height of the occipital condyle,O-S angle,F-O angle and F-H angle among different groups(P<0.05).(4)Length,width and area of the foramen magnum,length,width and height of the occipital condyle showed a wavy increasing trend with the increase of age,while O-S,F-O and F-H angles showed a wavy decreasing trend with the increase of age,while the index of the foramen magnum showed no significant change.(5)In conclusion,there are gender and lateral differences in the morphological indexes of the foramen magnum and the occipital condyle in children.These differences can provide an important reference for clinical surgical approach selection and forensic examination.

OBJECTIVE To establish an HPLC method for investigating the stability of mandelonitrile in commonly used solvents and quantitation determination of mandelonitrile in Jian’er Qingjie mixture. METHODS The assay was performed on an Agilent TC-C18(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid(23∶27) pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min–1. The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was set at 207 nm. The stability of the mandelonitrile solution prepared with solvents such as methanol, 95% ethanol, acetonitrile, water, phosphoric acid solution with pH 2.0−6.0, and acetonitrile solution containing 1.0% glacial acetic acid was investigated using the peak reduction rate as the indicator. RESULTS Mandelonitrile was labile in methanol, 95% ethanol or water and relatively stable in acetonitrile. The standard solutions of mandelonitrile prepared with phosphoric acid solutions at pH 2.0−3.5 or acetonitrile containing 1.0% glacial acetic acid were stable in 12 h. The linear range of mandelonitrile was 1.033−294.987 µg·mL–1(r=0.999 9) and the average recovery was 97.4% with RSD of 0.6%(n=9). The content range of mandelonitrile in 16 batches of Jian’er Qingjie mixture produced by 5 manufactures was 3.854−154.578 µg·mL–1. CONCLUSION The established method is simple and accurate. It can be used for the quality control of Jian’er Qingjie mixture. For almond aromatic water and its preparations, the influence of solvent on stability of mandelonitrile should be noticed.

The growth of puberty height is affected by many factors, among which the role of sex hormones is particularly important. The height increase in puberty accounts for about 20% of the final height in adulthood. It was previously believed that the final height of patients with disorders of sexual development was impaired due to the disorder of sex hormones. However, there are more classifications and subtypes of disorders of sexual development, and the growth patterns of patients with different subtypes of disorders of sexual development are also different. This article briefly reviews puberty bone growth, the effect of sex hormones on puberty bones, the sex hormone spectrum and growth pattern of patients with common disorders of sexual development, and the effect of growth hormone therapy.

With the rapid development of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS),Sonazoid,a new generation of ultrasound microbubbles contrast agent came into being.The unique Kupffer phase of Sonazoid could greatly prolong the intrahepatic developing time,hence providing more valuable information for diagnosis,treatment and follow-up of liver diseases.The progresses of Sonazoid applicated in liver diseases were reviewed in this article.

The growth of puberty height is affected by many factors, among which the role of sex hormones is particularly important. The height increase in puberty accounts for about 20% of the final height in adulthood. It was previously believed that the final height of patients with disorders of sexual development was impaired due to the disorder of sex hormones. However, there are more classifications and subtypes of disorders of sexual development, and the growth patterns of patients with different subtypes of disorders of sexual development are also different. This article briefly reviews puberty bone growth, the effect of sex hormones on puberty bones, the sex hormone spectrum and growth pattern of patients with common disorders of sexual development, and the effect of growth hormone therapy.

Objective To understand the testing performance of drug manufacturers and testing institute in Yunnan province by organizing proficiency testing of microbiological examination of non-sterile drugs,and to improve the testing performance and quality management level of participants by interpretation of unsatisfactory results.Methods According to the requirements of relevant China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS),preparation values of positive or negative was determined as assigned values for qualitative items,and the median value was as assigned value for enumeration items.Using robust statistical methods and Z-score for assessment,if all the 4 items were satisfactory,it would be assessed as overall satisfactory performance,and contrariwise,it would be assessed as unsatisfactory performance.If partial item were satisfactory,it would be assessed as partially satisfactory performance.Results 152 laboratories participated in this proficiency testing program,116 laboratories obtained satisfactory performance and the satisfactory rate was 76.31％;33 laboratories obtained partially satisfactory performance,and the partially satisfactory rate was 21.71％;3 laboratories obtained unsatisfactory performance and the unsatisfactory rate was 1.97％.To classify the participants with type,the satisfactory rate for drug control institute was 88.23％ and the satisfactory rate of drug manufacturers was 74.81％.Conclusion The testing performance of participating laboratories in microbiological examination of non-sterile drugs is generally good,which can ensure the smooth implementation of the program and the accuracy and effectiveness of the results.The testing capacity and quality management level of a few laboratories need to be improved.

Objective To observe the correlations of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)features with expression level of Ki-67 of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).Methods A total of 77 patients with pathologically confirmed ICC were retrospectively enrolled.According to the expression level of Ki-67 of target lesions,the patients were divided into high expression group(Ki-67≥20%,n=53)and low expression group(Ki-67＜20%,n=24).The features showed on conventional ultrasound and CEUS were compared between groups,and the variables being significantly different were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression to select ultrasonic features being correlated with Ki-67 expression level of ICC.Results The mean maximum diameter of ICC in high expression group was larger than that in low expression group([6.2±2.0]cm vs.[5.2±1.9]cm,P=0.041),and the percentage of ICC with maximum diameter>5 cm in high expression group was higher than that in low expression group(66.04%vs.33.33%,P=0.007).No significant difference of the lesions shape,border nor the internal echogenicity showed on conventional ultrasound was found between groups(all P＞0.05).The percentage of ICC with peripheral rim enhancement and enlargement after enhancement in high expression group were both higher than those in low expression group(both P＜0.05),but no significant difference of the enhancement pattern,the presence or absence of non-enhance area within the lesion nor the peak intensity of lesions was found between groups(all P＞0.05).The maximum diameter larger than 5 cm(OR=5.612,P=0.004)and peripheral rim enhancement(OR=3.880,P=0.025)were both independent factors for predicting high Ki-67 expression level of ICC.Conclusion ICC with the maximum diameter larger than 5 cm and peripheral rim enhancement on CEUS might indicate high expression level of Ki-67,which was helpful for clinical treatment decisions.

ObjectiveTo obtain the status of latent tuberculosis infection （LTBI） among tuberculosis （TB）-related health-care workers （HCWs） in Shanghai， and to explore the risk factors related to TB infection. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting medical workers from multiple designated TB hospitals， centers for disease control and prevention， and community health service centers in Shanghai. Each subject was required to complete a questionnaire and to provide a blood sample for TB infection test. Univariate and multivariate analysis ware made in order to find risk factors relating to TB infection. ResultsA total of 165 medical workers were recruited， and the proportion of TB infection was 16.36% （95%CI： 11.49%‒22.76%）. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that clinical doctors and nurses （adjusted OR=9.756， 95%CI： 1.790‒53.188）， laboratory staffs （adjusted OR=78.975， 95%CI： 8.749‒712.918）， and nursing and cleaning workers （adjusted OR=89.920， 95%CI： 3.111‒2 598.930） had higher risk of TB infection. ConclusionThe overall LTBI prevalence among TB-related HCWs is low. However， working as doctors， nurses， laboratory staffs， nursing workers and cleaning workers are risk factors of TB infection. TB-related HCWs who work at hospitals are at risk of TB infection comparing to medical staffs who work outside hospitals.