OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS: Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Claudin-5/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

Objective To analyze the clinical risk factors for chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes and their correlation with bone mineral density and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Methods A total of 163 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected as research subjects and were divided into complication group and non-complication group according to the presence or absence of chronic complications. The independent related factors for chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were analyzed. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between bone mineral density, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and chronic complications. Results Among the 326 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 202 developed chronic complications (61.96%), including 71 cases of cardiovascular disease, 59 cases of neuropathy, 33 cases of renal lesion, and 28 cases of retinopathy. There were statistically significant differences in the duration of diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum creatinine, bone mineral density, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 between the complication group and the non-complication group (P<0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, ow density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum creatinine, bone mineral density, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were all independent related factors for the occurrence of chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that bone mineral density and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were negatively correlated with chronic complications (P<0.05). Conclusion Bone mineral density and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are closely related to chronic complications.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of serum levels of procalcitonin(PCT)and cytokines on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 at admission.Methods From November 2022 to February 2023,patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to Beijing Chest Hospital were enrolled.Chemiluminescence was used to detect serum PCT levels,and flow microsphere array was used to detect serum cytokines IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17A,IL-17F,IL-22,TNF-α,TNF-β,IFN-γ level.ICU admission,mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death were defined as poor prognosis.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.Results A total of 176 patients with complete data were included,including 134 in the PCT-normal group and 42 in the PCT-elevated group,with a median age of 71.50 years and 71.59%males.Patients in the PCT elevated-group had significantly higher rates of ICU admission(38.41%vs.13.11%,P<0.05),mechanical ventilation(76.92%vs.24.59%,P<0.001)and in-hospital mortality(38.46%vs.6.56%,P<0.001)were significantly higher than those in the PCT-normal group.Serum levels of cytokines IL-6(7.40 pg/mL vs.4.78 pg/mL,P = 0.033 4)and IL-8(10.97 pg/mL vs.5.92 pg/mL,P<0.001)were significantly higher in patients with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis.The area under the curve for PCT,IL-6,and IL-8 to predict poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients was 0.687,0.660,and 0.746,respectively;sensitivity was 52.78%,55.17%,and 72.41%,respectively;and specificity was 81.58%,74.19%,and 74.19%,respectively,as calculated from the ROC curve.When PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 jointly predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients,the area under the curve is 0.764,the sensitivity is 70.00%,and the specificity is 80.00%.Conclusion Serum PCT and cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 could be used as predictive markers for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

Objective To investigate the expressions of 12 cytokines(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17,IFN-α,IFN-γ,TNF-α)and procalcitonin in patients with infective endocarditis(IE).Methods Ten IE patients admitted to our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were included into the IE group,10 patients with non-infectious and non-rheumatic valvular diseases who were admitted to our hospital at the same period were randomly selected as the control group,and blood sampling of all patients were conducted at admission.The expressions of 12 cytokines and blood routine indexes were detected by flow cytometry,and the level of procalcitonin was detected by ELISA.The correlations among the expression levels of cytokines in IE patients were analyzed by Pearson method and the correlations of IL-8 level and white blood cell count with procalcitonin in IE patients were analyzed by Spearman method.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of cytokines of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,IFN-α,IFN-γ and IL-12p70 in the IE group were significantly increased(P<0.05),the white blood cell count,neutrophil percentage and procalcitonin were significantly increased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the percentage of monocytes between the two groups(P>0.05).IFN-α of IE patients was positively correlated with IL-2,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-12p70,IL-2 was positively correlated with TNF-α and IL-1β,IL-12p70 was positively correlated with IFN-γ,and procalcitonin was significantly positively correlated with IL-8 and white blood cell count,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,IFN-α,IFN-γ,IL-12p70 and procalcitonin in IE patients are significantly higher than those in the normal population,and the detections of these indicators are of guiding significance for the early diagnosis of IE and the evaluation of the severity of the disease.

Child ; Humans ; Mpox (monkeypox)/prevention & control* ; Disease Outbreaks

Objective To establish an early prediction model for the diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis based on the improved machine learning models,and to analyze its clinical value.Methods A case-control study was conducted on 352 patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to the Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Surgery Departments of the Army Medical Center of PLA and Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Department of No.945 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2014 to August 2023.According to the severity of the disease,the patients were divided into the severe group(n=88)and the non-severe group(n=264).The RUSBoost model and improved Archimead optimization algorithm was used to analyze 39 routine laboratory biochemical indicators within 48 h after admission to construct an early diagnosis and prediction model for severe acute pancreatitis.The task of feature screening and hyperparameter optimization was completed simultaneously.The ReliefF algorithm feature importance rank and multivariate logistic analysis were used to analyze the value of the selected features.Results In the training set,the area under curve(AUC)of the improved machine learning model was 0.922.In the testing set,the AUC of the improved machine learning model reached 0.888.The 4 key features of predicting severe acute pancreatitis based on the improved Archimedes optimization algorithm were C-reactive protein,blood chlorine,blood magnesium and fibrinogen level,which were consistent with the results of ReliefF algorithm feature importance ranking and multivariate logistic analysis.Conclusion The application of improved machine learning model analyzing the laboratory examination results can help to early predict the occurrence of severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of Tongxie yaofang reducing colon hypermotility in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea （IBS-D） rats by regulating gut microbiota-enteric nervous system （ENS）-muscularis macrophages （MM） crosstalk. METHODS Forty newborn male SD rats were randomly divided into control group， model group， TCM group [Tongxie yaofang 2.68 g/（kg·d）， calculated by raw material]， and positive control group [Live combined bifidobacterium and lactobacillus tablets 0.27 g/（kg·d）]， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group， the IBS-D model of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome was induced in the other 3 groups with the method of mother-child separation+chronic restraint+Folium Sennae- induced diarrhea. After modeling， the administration groups were given relevant drug liquid intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 2 weeks. At the end of modeling and after administration， the fecal properties （the incidence and the rate of loose stools）， colonic motility （colon emptying time）， and visceral sensitivity [abdominal withdrawal reflex （AWR） scores under different pressures] of rats were observed in each group. The concentration of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） in serum was detected after medication， and the expressions and distribution of bone morphogenetic protein 2 （BMP2）， colony stimulating factor 1 （CSF1） and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in colon tissue were detected； the diversity， species composition and differences of gut microbiota were also determined. RESULTS At the end of modeling， compared with the control group， all rats of the other three groups suffered from loose stools （100%）， the rate of loose stools and AWR scores at different pressures increased significantly， and colon emptying time was shortened significantly （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. The incidences of loose stools were 20% in TCM group and 80% in the positive control group； the rate of loose stools and AWR scores at different pressures， serum concentration of LPS and protein expressions of CSF1 and TLR4 in muscle layer of colon tissue in TCM group significantly decreased， compared with the model group； colon emptying time， the average optical density of BMP2 protein in muscle layer of colon tissue， and the indexes of Chao 1， Shannon and Faith’s PD and Simpson E-mail：772699670@qq.com index of rats in TCM group were all prolonged or increased significantly， compared with the model group （P＜0.01 or P＜ E-mail：aiwangzi312@163.com 0.05）. The relative abundance ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes， from low to high， was in the order of TCM group， control group， positive control group and model group； the species composition of gut microbiota in TCM group was closer to control group， with dominant bacterial genera including Prevotella and Blautia. CONCLUSIONS Tongxie yaofang can regulate the expressions of BMP2 and CSF1， the key proteins of gut microbiota-ENS-MM crosstalk， by changing the gut microbiota， thus alleviating the abnormal hyperfunction of colon motility in IBS-D rats.

Zhuye Shigaotang is one of the 100 classic prescriptions published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This study used the traceability method and bibliometrics method to analyze the main applicable syndromes， efficacy and meanings， modern disease spectrum， and other aspects of Zhuye Shigaotang， so as to further promote the research and development of this prescription. The results showed that Zhuye Shigaotang originated from the Treatise on Febrile Diseases， and its ingredients included Lophatheri Herba， Gypsum Fibrosum， Pinelliae Rhizoma， Ophiopogonis Radix， Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， and Oryza sativa. The main applicable syndromes of Zhuye Shigaotang recorded in ancient books included heatstroke， cough and asthma， sores， sweat syndrome， hiccup， insomnia， malaria， headache， blood syndrome， nasosinusitis， laryngitis， etc.， involving diseases of internal medicine， surgery， gynecology， and pediatrics. Its pathogenesis was "incomplete residual heat， both Qi and Yin injuries， and stomach-Qi disharmony". The research found that Zhuye Shigaotang could also be used to treat acne， measles， and cholera， and it was especially suitable for the treatment at the later stage of epidemic diseases. Lophatheri Herba and Gypsum Fibrosum in the prescription could clear away heat and relieve vexation. Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma，Ophiopogonis Radix， Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， and Oryza sativa could promote body fluid production and invigorate Qi. Pinelliae Rhizoma could harmonize the stomach and stop vomiting. The prescription had stable compatibility and had the effects of clearing away heat， relieving vexation， invigorating Qi， promoting body fluid production， and harmonizing the stomach. Zhuye Shigaotang was widely applied in modern clinical practices， with high application frequency in the digestive system， pediatric-related diseases， respiratory system， infectious diseases， circulatory system， and neuropsychiatric system. The specific symptoms included recurrent aphtha， hiccup， infantile pneumonia， infantile summer fever， unexplained fever， upper respiratory tract infection， epidemic hemorrhagic fever， and late measles.

Nanozymes, a groundbreaking discovery by Chinese scientists, represent a novel and remarkable property of nanomaterials. They not only exhibit catalytic activity comparable to natural enzymes, but also boast exceptional stability, tunable reactivity, and the ability to catalyze reactions under mild conditions. The identification of nanozymes has unveiled the biocatalytic potential of inorganic nanomaterials. In parallel, inorganic minerals have long been regarded as pivotal catalysts in the origin of life, driving the synthesis of early biomolecules. These minerals not only facilitate redox reactions that convert simple inorganic compounds into organic molecules but also enable chiral selection, the synthesis of biomacromolecules, and radioprotective functions via their surface structures. Recent advances suggest that inorganic nanomaterials can delicately catalyze the formation of biomolecules, aid in macromolecular assembly, and provide radiation shielding. Furthermore, nanominerals are found in abundance across Earth and extraterrestrial environments. This paper seeks to explore the potential of nanozymes as catalytic agents in the processes that gave rise to life, integrating the catalytic roles of inorganic minerals with the unique attributes of nanozymes, which will provide a new perspective for research of origin of life.

ObjectiveIn kinesin-3, the neck coil correlates with the following segments to form an extended neck that contains a characteristic hinge diverse from a proline in KIF13B to a long flexible linker in KIF1A. The function of this neck hinge for controlling processive movement, however, remains unclear. MethodsWe made a series of modifications to the neck hinges of KIF13B and KIF1A and tested their movement using a single-molecule motility assay. ResultsIn KIF13B, the insertion of flexible residues before or after the proline differentially impacts the processivity or velocity, while the removal of this proline increases the both. In KIF1A, the deletion of entire flexible neck hinge merely enhances the processivity. The engineering of these hinge-truncated necks of kinesin-3 into kinesin-1 similarly boosts the processive movement of kinesin-1. ConclusionThe neck hinge in kinesin-3 controls its processive movement and proper modifications tune the motor motility, which provides a novel strategy to reshape the processive movement of kinesin motors.