The sensitive scalp is a complex syndrome characterised by abnormal nerve sensations, such as stinging, itching, burning, and tightness, and diminished tolerance to physical or chemical stimuli that would not typically cause such unpleasant responses, with its pathology involving physical barrier destruction at the stratum corneum level, neural hyperreactivity and sensory nerve sensitization, and local immunological dysregulation and chronic low‑grade inflammation. The homeostasis of the scalp microenvironment plays a crucial regulatory role in maintaining the hair follicle growth cycle, yet this “soil” factor has long been underappreciated in hair loss research, which has traditionally centered on intrinsic follicular defects, such as genetic predisposition or androgen-driven mechanisms. In this review, we summarized the potential mechanisms underlying the imbalance in the “barrier-neural-immune” network in sensitive scalps. Sensitive scalp is further manifested as impaired skin barrier, including increased transepidermal water loss and abnormal lipid secretion. These alterations are accompanied by increased surface pH, excessive secretion of sebum rich in free fatty acids, reduced microbial diversity, and dysbiosis characterized by a reduction in Cutibacterium and an increase in Staphylococcus colonization. Mechanistically, we also analyzed how neurogenic inflammation, mediated by substances such as substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), along with persistent low-grade inflammation, disrupts the microenvironment of the hair follicle stem cell niche through mechanisms involving mechanosensitive ion channels (e.g., Piezo1), oxidative stress, and cytokine cascades. When the barrier is compromised, the weakened stratum corneum may facilitate the penetration of external stimuli, sensitizing cutaneous nerve endings. Those hyperresponsive nerves then fire off neuropeptides like substance P and CGRP. These peptides activate mast cells and other immune cells via the MrgprB2 receptor, prompting degranulation and a wave of pro-inflammatory mediators that kick off neurogenic inflammation. At the same time, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines drive a persistent low-grade inflammation that directly damages the hair follicle stem cell niche. Physical compression from shrinking hair shafts activates Piezo1 channels, setting off calcium influx and Caspase‑3‑dependent apoptotic signaling. We primarily considered the interactions between inflammatory signaling and the sensitization of the androgen receptor (AR) pathway, as well as the inhibition of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway, which may subsequently contribute to hair follicle miniaturization and disruption of the growth cycle. The inflammatory microenvironment appears to boost AR expression in dermal papilla cells, making them more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This heightened sensitivity may promote the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β2, and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), which suppress the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway—essential for follicle growth and regeneration—potentially accelerating follicular miniaturization and stalling the growth cycle. Coupled with direct inflammatory apoptosis, oxidative stress, and circadian disruption, these routes may collectively speed up hair follicle stem cell depletion and diffuse hair thinning. These findings point to the need for more mechanistic and translational research to test the proposed pathways and explore therapies that target the microenvironment in sensitive scalp-related hair loss. Ultimately, we hope to provide theoretical support for the intervention of hair loss by restoring the steady state of the scalp microenvironment and combining with new precision delivery technologies such as microneedles.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Gegen Formula Granules.METHODS Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS)was adopted in the predicting of retention time with puerarin and daidzein as internal standards.UPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.The contents of 3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin(internal standard),3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin 6"-O-xyloside,puerarin apioside and daidzin were determined by quantitative determination analysis multi-components by a single marker(QAMS),after which their transfer rates were calculated.RESULTS Compared with relative retention time method,LCTRS demonstrated higher positional accuracy for characteristic peaks and wider application range for columns.There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 14 batches of formula granules and 15 batches of standard decoctions with the similarities of more than 0.95.The contents and transfer rates of various constituents in formula granules and standard decoctions were basically consistent.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents in formula granules and their standard decoctions of Puerariae lobatae Radix display good consistency,reliable preparation process is observable in the former.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that Huosui Formula has a synergistic effect on the immune and hematopoietic regulation of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome,but the specific mechanism is not yet clear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of Huosui Formula on bone marrow hematopoiesis in rats with myelodysplastic syndrome.METHODS:A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group(n=10),a model group(n=15),a western medicine group(n=15),a low-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15),and a high-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15).Except for the normal control group,the other four groups were injected with dimethyl benzanthracene via the tail vein to induce the establishment of rat myelodysplastic syndrome models.After modeling,the normal control group and the model group were given normal saline;the western medicine group was given thalidomide capsules 10 mg/kg and retinoic acid tablets 4 mg/kg,and the low-dose Huosui Formula group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group were given 1.5 and 6 g/kg Huosui Formula,respectively,by intragastric administration once a day for 28 consecutive days.Peripheral blood and femoral bone marrow tissue were collected to detect peripheral blood routine and bone marrow biopsy hematopoietic proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect T lymphocyte subsets and the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 on T lymphocytes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal control group,peripheral blood leukocyte,neutrophil,hemoglobin,platelet,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+levels were decreased in the model group significantly(P＜0.05),while CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+expressions were significantly upregulated(P＜0.05).(2)In all dosage groups,myelopoietic proliferation was increased compared with the model group,with no significant difference between the groups(P＞0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,leukocytes,hemoglobin,platelets,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+were significantly elevated in the high-dose Huosui Formula group(P＜0.05),the expression of CD8+was significantly lower(P＜0.05),and the levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+were down-regulated but not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(4)The western medicine group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group showed similar efficacy.The improvement of each index in the high-dose Huosui Formula group was superior to that in the low-dose Huosui Formula group.These findings indicate that Huosui Formula can improve the bone marrow hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome model rats,increase the levels of CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+while down-regulate the expression levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+.These observations suggest a link to the negative immunoregulation mechanism.

Myocardial infarction is a cardiovascular disease with high rates of fatality.New targets are needed for the development of novel therapeutics that can protect heart function and prevent heart failure.Triggering receptor expressed myeloid cell(TREM)is an activating transmembrane receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily.TREM-1 and TREM-2 are the most important TREM family members,and are predominantly expressed on the surface of myeloid cells.TREM-1 and TREM-2 have similar transmembrane glycostructures,but they play different roles in regulating inflammatory responses.TREM play an important role in the inflammatory response,myocardial remodeling,and myocardial cell regeneration after myocardial infarction.This review summarizes the functions,expression patterns,and ligand combinations of TREM-1 and TREM-2,and discusses the roles of their signaling pathways in myocardial infarction.New targets for the treatment of myocardial infarction are proposed.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that Huosui Formula has a synergistic effect on the immune and hematopoietic regulation of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome,but the specific mechanism is not yet clear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of Huosui Formula on bone marrow hematopoiesis in rats with myelodysplastic syndrome.METHODS:A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group(n=10),a model group(n=15),a western medicine group(n=15),a low-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15),and a high-dose Huosui Formula group(n=15).Except for the normal control group,the other four groups were injected with dimethyl benzanthracene via the tail vein to induce the establishment of rat myelodysplastic syndrome models.After modeling,the normal control group and the model group were given normal saline;the western medicine group was given thalidomide capsules 10 mg/kg and retinoic acid tablets 4 mg/kg,and the low-dose Huosui Formula group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group were given 1.5 and 6 g/kg Huosui Formula,respectively,by intragastric administration once a day for 28 consecutive days.Peripheral blood and femoral bone marrow tissue were collected to detect peripheral blood routine and bone marrow biopsy hematopoietic proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect T lymphocyte subsets and the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 on T lymphocytes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal control group,peripheral blood leukocyte,neutrophil,hemoglobin,platelet,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+levels were decreased in the model group significantly(P＜0.05),while CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+expressions were significantly upregulated(P＜0.05).(2)In all dosage groups,myelopoietic proliferation was increased compared with the model group,with no significant difference between the groups(P＞0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,leukocytes,hemoglobin,platelets,and CD4+,CD4+/CD8+were significantly elevated in the high-dose Huosui Formula group(P＜0.05),the expression of CD8+was significantly lower(P＜0.05),and the levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+were down-regulated but not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(4)The western medicine group and the high-dose Huosui Formula group showed similar efficacy.The improvement of each index in the high-dose Huosui Formula group was superior to that in the low-dose Huosui Formula group.These findings indicate that Huosui Formula can improve the bone marrow hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome model rats,increase the levels of CD4+,and CD4+/CD8+while down-regulate the expression levels of CD4+PD-1+,CD8+PD-1+,CD4+CTLA-4+,and CD8+CTLA-4+.These observations suggest a link to the negative immunoregulation mechanism.

Objective:To report the nationwide surveillance results of pathogenic profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive bloodstream infections in China in 2023.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-posttive bacteria from blood cultures were collected in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）during January to December 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. Statistical analyses were conducted using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software.Results:A total of 4 385 Gram-positive bacterial isolates were obtained from 60 participating center. The top five pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 544，35.2%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=1 441，32.9%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=574，13.1%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=385，8.8%），and α-hemolytic Streptococci（ n=187，4.3%）. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）was 26.2%（405/1 544）and 69.8%（1 006/1 441），respectively. Notably，all Staphylococci remained susceptible to glycopeptide or daptomycin. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated excellent susceptibility（>97.0%）to cephalobiol，rifampicin，trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline，tigecycline，and eravacycline. No Enterococcus exhibiting resistance to linezolid were detected. Glycopeptide resistance was uncommon but more frequent in Enterococcus faecium（resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin：both 1.7%）compared to Enterococcus faecalis（both 0.3%）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS exhibited significant regional variations across the country（ χ2=17.674 and 148.650，respectively，both P<0.001）. No vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were detected in central China. Institutional comparison demonstrated higher prevalence of MRSA（ χ2=14.111， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.828， P=0.028）in provincial hospitals than that in municipal hospitals. Socioeconomic analysis identified elevated detection rates of both MRSA（ χ2=18.986， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.477， P=0.034）in less developed regions（per capita GDP

Objective:To report the results of bacterial resistant investigation collaborative system（BRICS）on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2023，and provide reference for clinical tretment of bloodstream infections and prevention and control of bacterial resistance.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of BRICS were collected during January 2023 to December 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，11 492 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 60 hospitals，of which 10 098（87.9%）were Enterobacterales and 1 394（12.1%）were non-fermentative bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（50.0%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（26.1%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（5.1%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（5.0%）and Enterobacter cloacae complex（4.1%）. The ESBL-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirablilis were 46.8%（2 685/5 741），18.3%（549/2 999）and 44.0%（77/175），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（76/5 741）and 15.0%（450/2 999）；32.9%（25/76）and 78.0%（351/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. 94.7%（72/76）and 90.2%（406/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to aztreonam/avibactam combination. Furthermore，57.9%（44/76）and 79.1%（356/450）were sensitive to imipenem/relebactam combination. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 64.6%（370/573），while more than 80.0% of CRAB complex was sensitive to tigecycline，eravacycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 17.0%（99/581）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of important Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions in China，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA and CRAB complex（ χ2=10.6，28.6，10.8 and 19.3， P<0.05）. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli， CREC，CRAB complex and CRKP were higher in provincial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=12.5，9.8，12.7 and 57.8，all P<0.01）. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing bloodstream infections in China，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of Klebsiella pneumoniae increases continuously with time. CRKP infection shows a slow upward trend，CREC infecton maintains a low prevalence level，and CRAB complex infection continues to exhibit a high prevalence rate. The composition and resistance patterns of pathogens causing bloodstream infections vary to some extent across different regions and levels of hospitals in China.

Objective:To investigate the association between anti-rituximab antibodies (ARA) and relapse after rituximab (RTX) therapy in children with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS or SDNS).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from 48 FRNS or SDNS children treated with RTX in the Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, between April 2024 and October 2024. Data included RTX dosing frequency, relapse events, peripheral CD20? B-cell counts, and ARA levels. With a 6-month observation period after the last RTX therapy, the children were divided into an ARA-positive group and an ARA-negative group based on ARA test results. Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare relapse rates and laboratory indicators between the two groups. The predictive value of ARA levels for relapse was evaluated using univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results:Among the 48 children (36 males, 12 females), the age of disease onset was 3.5 (2.0, 6.0) years, the ages at the first and last RTX treatments were 7.0 (5.0, 12.0) years and 9.5 (7.0, 13.0) years, respectively. The overall ARA positive rate was 29% (14/48). The relapse rate in the ARA-positive group was significantly higher than that in the negative group ( P<0.05). The ARA level was 0.01 (0.01, 5.88) μg/L, and all 12 children with ARA levels >5.88 μg/L relapsed. ROC curve analysis showed that ARA levels predicted relapse after RTX treatment in FRNS or SDNS children with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73, sensitivity of 0.50, specificity of 1.00, and an optimal cut-off value of 5.02 μg/L. All children received single-dose RTX therapy, with no significant difference in treatment frequency between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months after the last rituximab therapy, CD20? B cell counts were significantly higher in the ARA-positive group ( P<0.05). During follow-up, 15% (7/48) of the children experienced infusion-related adverse reactions, with no significant difference in incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:ARA is significantly associated with relapse in FRNS or SDNS children after RTX therapy.

The clinical data of a case of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract(CAKUT) complicated with ichthyosis diagnosed at Department of Pediatrics, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University in November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The patient, male, 12 years old, exhibited left renal agenesis, right renal dysplasia, renal insufficiency, proteinuria, and ichthyosis.Whole-exome sequencing identified a microdeletion of approximately 1.80 Mb at p22.31 of the X-chromosome, encompassing the ANOS1 and STS genes.Additionally, a heterozygous missense mutation in the EHMT1 gene (c.3664C>A, exon26) on chromosome 9 was detected.The father is clinically normal and did not carry either variant.The mother has proteinuria and was found to carry the same X-chromosome microdeletion as the proband.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Gegen Formula Granules.METHODS Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS)was adopted in the predicting of retention time with puerarin and daidzein as internal standards.UPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.The contents of 3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin(internal standard),3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin 6"-O-xyloside,puerarin apioside and daidzin were determined by quantitative determination analysis multi-components by a single marker(QAMS),after which their transfer rates were calculated.RESULTS Compared with relative retention time method,LCTRS demonstrated higher positional accuracy for characteristic peaks and wider application range for columns.There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 14 batches of formula granules and 15 batches of standard decoctions with the similarities of more than 0.95.The contents and transfer rates of various constituents in formula granules and standard decoctions were basically consistent.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents in formula granules and their standard decoctions of Puerariae lobatae Radix display good consistency,reliable preparation process is observable in the former.