ObjectiveTo establish a quality evaluation method for Zhuye Shigao granules（Zhuye Shigaotang） based on fingerprint and determination of index components， and to investigate the therapeutic effect of Zhuye Shigao granules on mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome. MethodsThe fingerprint of Zhuye Shigao granules was established by high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）， and the methods for determination of total calcium， orientin， isoorientin， ginsenosides Rg₁， Re and Rb₁ and other 2 index components were established. Fifty ICR mice were randomly divided into the blank group， model group， Zhuye Shigao granules low， medium and high dose groups（9.3， 18.6， 37.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. In addition to the blank group， the model mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome was prepared by nasal drip of lipopolysaccharide combined with cold-dampness environment. Each administration group was given the corresponding liquid by gavage according to the dose， while the blank group and model group were given the same volume of normal saline by gavage. Then， the body temperature and organ index of mice in each group were measured， hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was used to investigate the lung tissue injury of mice in each group， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the changes of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， interleukin（IL）-lβ， IL-6， IL-10 levels in serum and lung tissue， as well as immunoglobulin（Ig）A and IgM levels in serum. ResultsThe fingerprint similarity of 10 batches of Zhuye Shigao granules was>0.950， and 20 common peaks were calibrated. Seven of them were identified， including peak 11（isoorientin）， peak 12（orientin）， peak 14（apioside liquiritin）， peak 15（liquiritin）， peak 17（apioside isoliquiritin）， peak 19（isoliquiritin） and peak 20（liquiritigenin）. The results of quantitative analysis showed that the content range of each index component in 10 batches of Zhuye Shigao granules was as follows：Total calcium of 9.978-11.294 mg·g^-1， isoorientin of 0.033-0.041 mg·g^-1， orientin of 0.046-0.055 mg·g^-1， ginsenoside Rg₁+ginsenoside Re of 0.748-0.762 mg·g^-1， ginsenoside Rb₁ of 0.151-0.197 mg·g^-1， liquiritin of 1.106-1.366 mg·g^-1， glycyrrhizic acid of 0.904-1.182 mg·g^-1_. Compared with the blank group， the body temperature of mice in the model group was significantly increased， the organ indexes of liver， lung and spleen were significantly decreased， the organ index of thymus was significantly increased， HE staining of lung tissue showed infiltration of inflammatory cells， a small amount of serous exudation was observed in the alveoli， and lung tissue was damaged. After the intervention of Zhuye Shigao granules， the pathological changes were improved compared with the model group. The expression levels of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased， the expression level of IL-10 was significantly decreased in serum and lung tissue. The levels of IgA and IgM in serum were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the body temperature， the organ indexes and immune factor levels in serum and lung tissue of mice in the Zhuye Shigao granules medium and high dose groups were significantly reduced（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIn this study， the quality evaluation of Zhuye Shigao granules was carried out based on fingerprint combined with determination of index components， and the fingerprint of four herbs（Lophatheri Herba， Ophiopogonis Radix， Pinelliae Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma） in this formula and the determination of 8 index components were established. The therapeutic effect of Zhuye Shigao granules on mice with cold-dampness pestilence attacking lung syndrome may be related to inhibiting inflammatory response and mediating immune regulation.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis(AST) is a rare thyroid disease, mostly caused by infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, and it is difficult to distinguish from subacute thyroiditis(SAT) at the beginning of the disease. Here we report the clinical data of a young male patient who was initially misdiagnosed as SAT, but was clinically diagnosed as AST with DNSIs accompanied by LS. The clinical features and treatment, combined with related literature, aim to enhance clinicians' understanding of this disease.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ozone preconditioning on splenic natural killer (NK) cells in septic mice.Methods:Twenty-four SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) according to the random number table method: control group (group C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)group, ozone+ LPS group (O 3+ LPS) and air+ LPS group (Air+ LPS). The sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 10 mg/kg. Ozone preconditioning was started at 5 days before developing the model: ozone 1 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days, the equal volume of air was injected in Air+ LPS group. The survival was observed within 72 h after LPS injection, and sepsis score and ear temperature (once every 2 h, an average was calculated) were recorded. The posterior orbital venous blood samples were taken at 6 and 24 h after LPS injection for determination of serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The spleen was then taken, and a single cell suspension of the spleen was prepared for measurement of the percentage of NK cells in the spleen by flow cytometry. Results:Compared with C group, the ear temperature, sepsis score and 72-h survival rate were significantly decreased, serum IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations were increased at each time point after LPS injection, and the percentage of splenic NK cells was increased at 6 h after LPS injection and decreased at 24 h after LPS injection in LPS, Air+ LPS and O 3+ LPS groups ( P<0.05). Compared with LPS group, the ear temperature, sepsis score and 72-h survival rate were significantly increased, serum IFN-γ concentrations were decreased at each time point after LPS injection, serum IL-10 concentrations were increased at each time point after LPS injection, and the percentage of splenic NK cells was decreased at 6 h after LPS injection and increased at 24 h after LPS injection in O 3+ LPS group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in Air+ LPS group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ozone preconditioning reduces sepsis may be related to reduction of inflammatory responses and regulation of splenic NK cell levels in septic mice.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between the histological classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially macrotrabecular-massive (MTM), tumor invasiveness, and prognosis.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of 246 consecutive HCC cases who met the inclusion criteria from 2015 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into trabecular/pseudoglandular, trabecular/patchy, and MTM types according to the histological classification. The relationship between each type and related clinicopathological features was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot tumor-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) curves. Log rank tests, COX univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to analyze the relationship between clinical features, including histological classification, DFS, and OS.Results:Trabecular/pseudoglandular, trabecular/nodular, and MTM type proportions were 44.7% (110 cases), 32.9% (81 cases), and 22.4% (55 cases), respectively. The results of the clinicopathological features showed that MTM-type HCC was significantly more invasive than the other two types, with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/ml, tumor diameter≥8 cm, no tumor capsule, poor differentiation, and MVI positivity proportions, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).The proportion of MTM-type HCC patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM Stage III to IV and Chinese Liver Cancer Staging (CNLC) II to II was significantly higher than that of the first two types, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the proportion of MTM subtypes undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was also raised (P < 0.05). The DFS and OS were significantly lower for MTM-type HCC compared to trabecular/pseudoductal-type HCC at 1-, 3-, and 5-years, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that strongly invasive clinical pathological features such as alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/ml, tumor diameter ≥ 8 cm, no tumor capsule, poor differentiation, positive microvascular invasion, tumor stage, and MTM staging were all risk factors affecting DFS and OS (P < 0.05). Multivariate COX analysis showed that MTM histological staging, AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml, tumor non-encapsulation, satellite nodules, CNLC stages II~III, and TNM stages III~IV were independent risk factors for DFS (P < 0.05), while AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml, tumor non-encapsulation, and CNLC stage II~III were independent risk factors for OS ( P < 0.05).Conclusion:Histological classification is highly correlated with tumor invasiveness and HCC prognosis. Trabecular/pseudoglandular types have lower malignancy and a better prognosis, while MTM types exhibit strong invasive features and a poor prognosis.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effect of melatonin on postoperative sleep quality.Methods:Databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched from inception to January 30, 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of melatonin versus placebo on postoperative sleep quality.The outcomes analyzed were visual analog scale (VAS) score, sleep quality scale score, subjective sleep scale score, St.Mary′s Hospital sleep questionnaires score, sleep latency, total sleep time, number and duration of awakenings, and incidence of postoperative sleep disturbance.Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4 software and Stata 16 software, and the trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted using the TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta software. Results:Eleven RCTs involving 822 patients were finally enrolled, with 431 patients in melatonin group and 391 patients in placebo group.The results of meta-analysis showed that melatonin significantly decreased postoperative VAS and sleep quality scale scores, and increased the postoperative subjective sleep scale and St.Mary′s Hospital sleep questionnaires scores, a daily dose of melatonin 6 mg produced a better efficacy, and it also prolonged the postoperative total sleep time and decreased the incidence of postoperative sleep disorders ( P<0.05), However, it had no effect on postoperative sleep latency and the number and duration of awakenings ( P>0.05). The results of TSA showed that although the actual sample size did not reach the expected sample size, the accumulated Z value crossed the traditional boundary value and the TSA boundary value, which indicated that the results of this meta-analysis had stability and further confirmed the efficacy of melatonin in improving postoperative sleep quality. Conclusions:Melatonin can improve postoperative sleep quality and a daily dose of melatonin 6 mg exerts a better efficacy.

The American Transplant Congress (ATC) is an annual international academic conference in the field of transplantation, which includes the latest achievements of scholars around the world in transplantation, and also leads the frontier direction of transplantation research. In this paper, the international forefront hotspots in basic and translational medicine research associated with renal transplantation in 2020 ATC were summarized, including the new discoveries of memory cell function and immune memory mechanism, the latest discovery in the mechanism of rejection and immune tolerance, the current research status of xenotransplantation, the potential solutions of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), and the application of nanomedicine and single-cell RNA sequencing in renal transplantation, etc.

Allografts ; COVID-19 ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects* ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on pyroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells of rats with acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by endotoxin.Methods:Twenty-four healthy clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats of either gender, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 160-182 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), group AKI, EA plus AKI group (group EA), sham EA at non-acupoint plus AKI group (group SEA). The model of endotoxemia was established by intraperitoneally injecting 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide.Bilateral 30 min EA stimulation of Zusanli and Shenyu (according to atlas of animal acupoint) was performed starting from 5 days before establishing the model (once a day) and at 30 min before lipopolysaccharide administration on the day of establishing the model, with disperse-dense waves, frequency of 15 Hz, and the needle was kept until 6 h after injection of LPS in group EA.EA was performed at the points 0.5 cm lateral to the acupoints of Zusanli and Shenyu in group SEA.At 6 h after LPS injection, blood was taken from the heart, and the concentrations of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer, and the serum concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The rats were then sacrificed, and the left renal cortex was obtained for determination of pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells (by TUNEL). The right renal cortex was obtained to detect the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β by Western blot, and the expression of caspase-1 mRNA and IL-1β mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the concentrations of BUN, Cr, NGAL, KIM-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly increased, the pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells was increased, the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the renal cortex was up-regulated in group AKI ( P<0.05). Compared with group AKI, the concentrations of BUN, Cr, NGAL, KIM-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, the pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells was decreased, the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the renal cortex was down-regulated in group SEA ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which EA reduces AKI may be related to inhibiting pyroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells of rats.

Objective:To investigate whether idebenone can improve behavioral disorders in mice with Parkinson disease (PD) by increasing PHB2 mediated mitophagy.Methods:In the first small experiment, thirty mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and treatment group according to the random number table method, with 10 animals in each group.The aim of this study was to observe the effect of idebenone on the behavior of Parkinson disease model mice. In the second experiment, 20 mice were randomly divided into blank control group, MPTP group, shRNA-PHB2 group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group, with 5 mice in each group. The changes of tyrosine dehydrogenase (TH) in brain tissue were detected by immunofluorescence assay. In the third experiment, 30 mice were randomly divided into blank control group, shRNA-PHB2 group, MPTP+ idebenone group, shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group, shRNA-PHB2+ idebenone group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group, with 5 animals in each group. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of idebenone on mitochondrial autophagy in mouse brain.C57BL-6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with MPTP to establish the animal model of chronic PD. Then 200 mg / kg idebenone was given by gavage for 21 days. And the expression of PHB2 in brain was inhibited by microinjection of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) shRNA inhibin 2(PHB2) into lateral ventricle. The behavioral changes of the PD mice were detected by Morris water maze, and the changes of tyrosine dehydrogenase (TH) induced by inhibiting PHB2 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of LC3 and PHB2 in substantia nigra of midbrain was detected by Western blot.The data were analyzed by GraphPad 7.0 and SPSS 22.0.Results:(1) In the water maze test data of the first small experiment, the repeated measurement ANOVA showed that the group-time interaction effects of latency of mice from 1 to 7 days were significant ( Ftime×group=20.51, P<0.05). Simple effect analysis showed that on the 5th, 6th and 7th day, the incubation period of the treatment group was significantly shortened (all P<0.05). Univariate analysis of variance showed that on the 7th day of the test, the differences between the control group and the model group, the model group and the treatment group, the control group and the treatment group were all statistically significant( t=-49.95, -21.81, 28.14; all P<0.01). In the third small experiment, repeated measurement analysis of variance showed that the interaction between time and group was significant ( Ftime×group=42.11, P<0.01). Simple effect analysis showed that compared with MPTP+ idebenone group, the latency of shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group was significantly prolonged (all P<0.05). There were no significant difference between shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group except the 4th day ( P<0.05). On the 7th day, compared with MPTP+ idebenone group, the residence time of shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group was significantly increased ( t=-34.36, P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group ( t=2.94, P>0.05). (2)The results of immunofluorescence experiment showed that the relative expression of TH in the control group, model group, shRNA-PHB2 group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group were (41.03±3.01), (24.20±4.18), (38.39±3.31) and (13.12±2.65), respectively. Compared with the control group, the expression of TH in the midbrain of the MPTP group was significantly down-regulated, the difference was statistically significant( t=7.98, P<0.01). Compared with the MPTP group, the expression of TH in shRNA-PHB2 group was down regulated ( t=-6.73, P<0.05). (3) Western blot results showed that the relative expression of LC3 in midbrain tissue of control group, shRNA-PHB2 group, MPTP+ idebenone group, shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP group, shRNA-PHB2+ idebenone group and shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group were (0.86±0.07), (0.77±0.08), (0.42±0.05), (0.21±0.05), (0.66±0.09) and (0.27±0.07). The relative expression of PHB2 were (1.13±0.14), (0.56±0.11), (1.08±0.14), (0.27±0.07), (0.68±0.14) and (0.24±0.10). Compared with MPTP+ idebenone group, the relative expression of LC3 and PHB2 in shRNA-PHB2+ MPTP+ idebenone group was significantly decreased ( F=1.96, P<0.01). Conclusion:Idebenone can increase the level of mitophagy in PD mice through PHB2, thus improving the behavioral disorder.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of sufentanil on activation of Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury in mice.Methods:Eighty healthy pathogen-free male Balb/c mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: peripheral nerve injury group (group PNI), high dose sufentanil group (group H), medium dose sufentanil group (group M) and low dose sufentanil group (group L). The model of unilateral sciatic nerve transaction was established in ketamine-anesthetized mice.Immediately after establishment of the model, sufentanil 10, 5 and 2.5 μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 3 consecutive days in H, M and L groups, respectively, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group PNI.Sciatic function index (SFI) was calculated at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after establishment of the model.At 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, 5 mice in each group were sacrificed, and segments of the injuried ipsilateral sciatic nerve were removed for examination of the ultrastructure of the sciatic nerve (with a transmission electron microscope) and for detection of the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) of sciatic nerve (by immunohistochemistry). Results:Compared with group PNI, SFI was significantly increased, and the expression of GFAP was up-regluated at each time point after establishment of the model in H and M groups ( P<0.05) and no significant change was found in SFI and GFAP expression after establishment of the model in group L ( P>0.05). Compared with group L, SFI was significantly increased, and GFAP expression was up-regluated in H and M groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SFI and GFAP expression between group H and group M ( P>0.05). The thickness of myelin lamellae was dense, and the proliferation of Schwann cells was not marked in H and M groups.The thickness of myelin lamellae was thin, and the proliferation of Schwann cells was marked in L and MO groups. Conclusion:The mechanism by which sufentanil improves repair after peripheral nerve injury may be related to promoting activation of Schwann cells in mice.