ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Shenfuhuang Formula （参附黄配方） in prevention and treatment of epsis-associated encephalopathy from the perspective of brain genomics. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham surgery group， sepsis group， and Shenfuhuang group， with 20 mice in each group. The sepsis group and Shenfuhuang group were induced to develop sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture （CLP） procedure. At 4 hours after modelling， Shenfuhuang group were gavaged with 2.5 g/（kg·d） of Shenfuhuang Formula， 0.5 ml each time， at 12 hours intervals， for a total of 4 times after modelling. Sepsis group and sham surgery group were given 0.5 ml of purified water orally. At 48 hours after modeling， the transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the differential gene expression in the effects of Shenfuhuang Formula on the brain regions of septic mice， and real-time PCR and ELISA were later used to further validate the differential gene and proteins expression. ResultsA total of 4605 genes were differentially expressed in Shenfuhuang group compared with sepsis group， of which 2353 genes were up-regulated and 2252 genes were down-regulated. According to the results of previous publications， six key genes were screened， including serine/threonine-protein kinase （Nek1）， myelin-associated glycoprotein （Mag）， endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor （Tek）， a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 20 （Adamts20）， lymphocyte antigen 86 （Ly86）， and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase （Traip）. Further genetic and protein validation revealed that， compared to the sham surgery group， the mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip in the brain tissue of septic mice significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. In comparison to the sepsis group， Shenfuhuang group showed significantly increased mRNA levels and corresponding protein levels of Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe potential therapeutic targets of Shenfuhuang Formula for treating sepsis-associated encephalopathy may be related to the Nek1， Mag， Tek， Adamts20， Ly86， and Traip genes and their encoded proteins.

Objective We aimed to investigate(i)the preventive and therapeutic effects of Huogu Muli Prescription(HGMLP),a Chinese medical compound consisting of epimedii folium,drynariae rhizoma,and ostreae concha,on postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP)rats and(ii)whether it exerts its effects by regulating the osteoclast-osteogenesis balance.Methods Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following six groups:(i)the sham-operated group,(ii)the model group,(iii)the Qianggu Capsule group,(iv)the calcium carbonate group,and(v,vi)the HGMLP low-dose and high-dose groups(n = 8 rats per group).After adaptive feeding,rats in all groups except the sham-operated group were treated with bilateral ovarian castration to establish the PMOP model.Each day,rats in the Qianggu Capsule group received 0.054 g/kg Qianggu Capsule suspension intragastrically,rats in the calcium carbonate group received 1.670 g/kg calcium carbonate suspension intragastrically,and rats in the HGMLP low-dose and high-dose groups received 0.188 g/kg and 0.375 g/kg HGMLP intragastrically.Rats in the sham-operated group and the model group received an equal volume of normal saline intragastrically.After 90 consecutive days,serum estradiol(E2),estrogen receptor α(ERα),procollagen typeⅠN propeptide(PINP),and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP-5b)were detected by ELISA.Total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were measured by colorimetry.Bone mineral density(BMD),trabecular number(Tb.N),trabecular separation/spacing(Tb.Sp),trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),and structure model index(SMI)were measured by Micro-CT,and the microstructure of cancellous bone was observed.The expressions of osteoprotegerin(OPG),receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK),RANK ligand(RANKL),phosphorylation of forkhead box O3(FoxO3α),Wnt2,β-catenin,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ)in rat femur tissue were detected by Western blotting.Results(i)The serum levels of E2 and ERα increased in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups,compared with the model group(all P<0.05).(ii)Compared with the model group,the serum levels of PINP,TRACP-5b decreased and PINP/TRACP-5b increased in both the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP high-dose group(all P<0.05).(iii)The activities of T-AOC,AOD,and CAT in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups were higher than those in the model group,while the content of MDA lower(all P<0.05).(iv)Compared with the model group,the femoral BMD,Tb.Th,and Tb.N increased in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups,while the femoral Tb.Sp and SMI decreased(all P<0.05);the femoral BMD increased and the Tb.Sp decreased in the calcium carbonate group(all P<0.05).(v)The protein expressions of RANKL,RANK,FoxO3α,and PPARγ in the Qianggu Capsule group and HGMLP groups were lower than those in the model group,while the protein expressions of OPG,Wnt2,and β-catenin were higher(all P<0.05).Conclusion HGMLP can significantly increase estrogen levels,inhibit osteoclast differentiation,and inhibit bone resorption in the PMOP rats.It also alleviates oxidative stress,promotes osteogenic differentiation,inhibits lipogenic differentiation,improves bone formation,and recovers the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts,thus achieving prevention and treatment of PMOP.The potential mechanism of HGMLP may be related to regulation via the OPG/RANKL/RANK or FoxO3α/Wnt2/β-catenin/PPARγ pathways.

Objective: To explore and validate the potential targets of Paeoniae Radix Alba (P. Radix, Bai Shao) in protecting against chemical liver injury through network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and in vitro cell experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to identify the common potential targets of P. Radix and chemical liver injury. Molecular docking was used to fit the components, which were subsequently verified in vitro. A cell model of hepatic fibrosis was established by activating hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-LX2 cells with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β1. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), the active substance of P. Radix, and then evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot. Results: Analysis through network pharmacology revealed 13 key compounds of P. Radix, and the potential targets for preventing chemical liver injury were IL-6, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, jun proto-oncogene, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), PTGS2, and CASP3. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated the involvement of response to drugs, membrane rafts, and peptide binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the main pathways involved lipid and atherosclerosis and chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation. Paeoniflorin and albiflorin exhibited strong affinity for HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, and CASP3. Different concentrations of TGP can inhibit the expression of COL-Ⅰ, COL-Ⅲ, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, HSP-90α, and PTGS2 while increasing the expression of PPAR-γ and CASP3 in activated HSC-LX2 cells. Conclusion P. Radix primarily can regulate targets such as HSP90AA1, PTGS2, PPARG, CASP3. TGP, the main active compound of P. Radix, protects against chemical liver injury by reducing the inflammatory response, activating apoptotic proteins, and promoting the apoptosis of activated HSCs.

Objective To investigate the difference of electrocardiographic(ECG)features between total left main artery(LM)occlusion and subtotal occlusion,and analyze risk factors of in-hospital mortality.Methods A total of 94 patients with left main complete occlusion and 99 patients with subtotal occlusion were included.ECG characteristics,coronary angiography and other clinical data were compared,and factors of hospital death were analyzed.The receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of ECG characteristics in hospital death risk in patients with LM occlusion.The relationship between ECG characteristics,shock and collateral circulation were analyzed in patients with LM occlusion.Results Compared with the subtotal occlusion group,patients with LM occlusion presented with more ST-segment elevation(STE)in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,more STE in avR and avL,more left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block,prolonged QRS duration,less STE in avR and less STE in avR+V1.The in-hospital mortality was 46.8%(44/94)in LM occlusion and 14.1%(14/99)in LM subtotal occlusion.STE in avR+avL predicted total LM occlusion with a specificity of 0.97,and left anterior branch+right bundle branch block predicted total LM occlusion with a specificity of 1.00.In patients with total LM occlusion,STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,prolongation of QRS duration,shock,no collateral circulation,STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block,and STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with shock predicted in-hospital mortality,with the area under the curve of 0.716,0.619,0.766,0.688,0.572,0.785,respectively.The diagnostic specificity of STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with shock was 0.82,and the sensitivity was 0.75.STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5 combined with left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block predicted in-hospital death in LM occlusion with a specificity of 0.94.The proportion of shock was higher in patients with STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5,left anterior fascicular block+right bundle branch block and collateral flow absence(P＜0.05).In patients with total occlusion,no collateral flow was observed in patients with STE in Ⅰ,avL,V2-V5.In patients with STE in avR(including avR+V1),82.4%of patients presented with right coronary collateral circulation supplying the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex artery territory.In patients with STE in avR+avL,69.2%of patients presented with right coronary collateral circulation supplying left anterior descending coronary artery territory.Conclusion Total LM occlusion presents with different ECG features compared with subtotal occlusion.In LM total occlusion,the ECG features predict in-hospital mortality and are associated with different collateral circulation.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is commonly found in deep soft tissues, but cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions are relatively rare. The lack of specific symptoms and characteristic manifestations under the microscope makes the diagnosis and treatment of UPS difficult. In April 2022, a patient who was initially diagnosed with cyst infection of the scalp through superficial ultrasound and symptoms was admitted to the Medical Cosmetic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. After the lesion was resected through surgery, the pathological result showed that the lesion combined UPS. Subsequently, the patient underwent a tumor extended resection, followed by chemotherapy. After 8 months of follow-up, the patient’s prognosis was favorable. This case report aims to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous UPS by thoroughly reviewing the diagnostic and therapeutic process of this patient and systematically reviewing related literature.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is commonly found in deep soft tissues, but cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions are relatively rare. The lack of specific symptoms and characteristic manifestations under the microscope makes the diagnosis and treatment of UPS difficult. In April 2022, a patient who was initially diagnosed with cyst infection of the scalp through superficial ultrasound and symptoms was admitted to the Medical Cosmetic Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. After the lesion was resected through surgery, the pathological result showed that the lesion combined UPS. Subsequently, the patient underwent a tumor extended resection, followed by chemotherapy. After 8 months of follow-up, the patient’s prognosis was favorable. This case report aims to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous UPS by thoroughly reviewing the diagnostic and therapeutic process of this patient and systematically reviewing related literature.

Objective:In this study, the collected mosquito samples were subjected to viral isolation to identify the species and branch characteristics of arboviruses in five regions of Shanxi Province.Methods:Eight arboviruses in mosquito samples collected from July to September 2020 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and virus isolation was carried out through cell culture. Virus isolates were identified and analyzed by molecular biology and bioinformatics method.Results:We detected 1 batch of positive samples of Japanese encephalitis virus, 2 batches of positive samples of Culex flavivirus and 8 batches of positive samples of Nam Dinh virus among 121 batches of mosquito samples. Seven virus isolates were isolated, numbered: SX-YJ-Cxp-4、SX-YJ-Ars-2、SX-YJ-Cxp-1、SX-LY-Cxp-10、SX-GP-Ars-5、SX-GP-Cxp-2、SX-GP-Cxp-4, all of which were identified as Nam Dinh virus, and the whole genome sequencing was performed on one of them, and the result showed that Shanxi Nam Dinh virus isolate and Yunnan Nam Dinh virus isolate belonged to the same evolutionary branch.Conclusions:Nam Dinh virus was isolated and identified on the specimen from Shanxi province for the first time.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the 28-day survival status and influencing factors of adult patients with sepsis, providing reference for early diagnosis of sepsis prognosis and reducing sepsis mortality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 160 adult patients with sepsis in the department of intensive care unit of the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled. The general information, laboratory examination results within 24 hours after admission, clinical treatment measures, and prognosis of patients were collected. Univariate analysis and binary multivariate Logistic regression were performed to screen the risk factors that might affect the short-term prognosis of patients with sepsis. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to analyze the predictive value of various risk factors on the short-term death risk of sepsis patients. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients with sepsis were enrolled, of whom 91 survived in 28 days, and 69 died with a mortality of 43.12%. Compared with the survival group, the patients in the death group were older, more severe, had higher blood lactic acid (Lac) level, and had more complications such as hypertension and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). A total of 22 related factors were statistically significant: age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, length of hospital stay, Lac, interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen (FIB), international normalized ratio (INR), ratio of prothrombin time (PT) to healthy people, prothrombin activity (PTA), PT, thrombin time (TT), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ratio of AST to alanine amninotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), site of infection, history of hypertension, concurrent MODS, implementation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and treatment with vasoactive drugs. Combined with the results of the univariate analysis, variables that might affect the short-term prognosis of septic patients were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The results showed that APACHE II score ≥ 20 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.106, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.003-1.219], Lac ≥ 5 mmol/L (OR = 1.430, 95%CI was 1.041-1.964), combined with hypertension (OR = 13.879, 95%CI was 1.082-178.016), concurrent MODS (OR = 98.139, 95%CI was 18.252-527.672) was an independent risk factor for 28-day death in adult septic patients (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the combination of the four indicators including APACHE II score, Lac, combined with hypertension, concurrent MODS, had predictive value for short-term outcomes in patients with sepsis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was higher than that of the 4 indicators alone [AUC (95%CI): 0.952 (0.918-0.986) vs. 0.745 (0.670-0.820), 0.816 (0.748-0.883), 0.608 (0.518-0.699), 0.868 (0.810-0.927)], the sensitivity was 94.2%, and the specificity was 90.1%. CONCLUSIONS APACHE II score within 24 hours, Lac, combined with hypertension, and concurrent MODS are independent risk factors for short-term mortality in adult septic patients in ICU. The combination of these indicators can make meaningful early clinical judgments on the short-term prognosis of septic patients, thereby reducing the mortality.
Adult ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sepsis/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Intensive Care Units ; Risk Factors ; Hypertension

【Objective】 To explore the factors affecting Babinski sign in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 【Methods】 We enrolled 262 patients diagnosed with ALS with adequate data in Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from 2015 to 2020. The relationship between the clinical characteristics of patients with positive and negative Babinski sign was analyzed for both sides, respectively. Furthermore, for patients with left or right lower limb weakness complaint, the relationship between Babinski sign and the lower limb involvement characteristics was analyzed. 【Results】 Positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with higher diagnostic category (left correlation coefficient 0.297, P<0.001; right correlation coefficient 0.292, P<0.001). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score was lower in patients with positive Babinski sign (left P=0.001, right P=0.001); the proportion of complaints of ipsilateral lower limb weakness was higher (left P=0.008, right P=0.038); the positive rate of ipsilateral upper limb Hoffmann sign was higher (left P=0.004, right P=0.002). In patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, positive Babinski sign was positively correlated with better foot dorsiflexor muscle strength (left correlation coefficient 0.207, P=0.021; right correlation coefficient 0.264, P=0.003), and the proportion of ipsilateral tibialis anterior atrophy was lower in positive Babinski sign group (left P<0.001, right P=0.008); the ratio of ipsilateral common peroneal nerve compound muscle action potential (CMAP)/tibial nerve CMAP was different in positive Babinski sign and negative groups (left P=0.008, right P=0.015), which were positively correlated (left correlation coefficient 0.246, P=0.007; right correlation coefficient 0.223, P=0.015). 【Conclusion】 Patients with positive Babinski sign usually have a higher diagnostic category and more extensive clinical involvement. In ALS patients with complaints of lower limb weakness, Babinski sign is more likely to be elicited when the degree of weakness and atrophy of the anterior calf muscles is relatively low.

【Objective】 To investigate cortical thickness changes in the face-head region of the primary motor cortex (PMC) and its effect on survival in amyotrophy lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. 【Methods】 A retrospective analysis was performed on 105 ALS patients who underwent head MRI scan at the same time. The A4hf (face-head) region of PMC was used as the region of interest (ROI). According to clinical symptoms, patients were divided into two groups: bulbar involvement and non-bulbar involvement. The differences of clinical features and cortical thickness in ROI were analyzed. According to the symptoms of bulbar palsy, physical examination of nervous system and EMG of tongue muscle, the patients with bulbar palsy were divided into lower motor neuron (LMN), upper motor neuron (UMN) and LMN+UMN groups. The differences of bulbar subgroup score and ROI of cortical thickness were analyzed. Age at onset, body mass index, delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score, and ROI cortical thickness were included in survival analysis. 【Results】 ① The ROI cortical thickness was significantly lower in bulbar involvement group than non-bulbar involvement group (-0.198±0.87 vs. 0.235±0.95, P=0.017). ② There were no significant differences in the bulbar subgroup scores or cortical thickness of ROI between LMN, UMN and LMN+UMN groups (P>0.05). ③ Survival analysis showed age of onset (HR=3.296, 95% CI:1.63-6.664, P=0.001), delayed time of diagnosis (HR=0.361, 95% CI:0.184-0.705, P=0.003), bulbar subgroup score (HR 0.389, 95% CI:0.174-0.868, P=0.021), and ZRE_ROI cortical thickness (HR=2.309, 95% CI:1.046-5.096, P=0.038) were independent influencing factors of ALS survival. 【Conclusion】 Cortical thickness in A4hf (face-head) region can more objectively reflect UMN signs of region bulbar. In addition to age of onset and delayed time of diagnosis, bulbar subgroup score and cortical thickness of face-head region are also independent influencing factors, and cortical thinning in face-head region is a protective factor for survival of ALS patients.