ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and possible mechanisms of Xianglian Huazhuo Granules （香连化浊颗粒， XHG） in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. MethodsA total of 140 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group， with 70 cases in each group. The treatment group received 12.5 g of XHG orally， twice daily. The control group received 12.5 g of placebo orally， twice daily. Both groups were treated for 6 months. The traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores， pathological types， serum tumor markers of the digestive system， and serum bile acids （TBA）， interleukin-23 （IL-23）， and Dickkopf-related protein 1 （DKK-1） levels were observed before and after treatment. Safety indicators and adverse events were recorded. After treatment， TCM syndrome efficacy and pathological types were evaluated， and patients were followed up for 18 months with gastric endoscopy and pathological results， which were compared with the results after treatment finished. ResultsTwo patients dropped out in the control group， and a total of 168 cases were included in the final analysis， 70 in the treatment group and 68 in the control group. The treatment group showed a significant reduction in TCM symptom scores， serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 levels， and a significant increase in alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， carbohydrate antigen 125 （CA125）， carbohydrate antigen 199 （CA199） levels； in the control group， carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）， CA125， CA199 levels significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； and carbohydrate antigen 242 （CA242） level in both the treatment group and the control group decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The treatment group had lower TCM symptom scores and lower levels of serum TBA， IL-23， and DKK-1 compared to the control group （P＜0.05）. The effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy in the treatment group was 80.00% （56/70）， significantly higher than the 20.59% （14/68） in the control group （P < 0.05）. The effective rate for pathological classification in the treatment group was 72.73% （8/11） for mixed intestinal metaplasia， significantly better than 46.15% （6/13） in the control group （P＜0.05）. No adverse events were reported in either group. Among 40 patients who had a follow-up endoscopy after one year， 21 were from the treatment group， of whom 11 showed reduced intestinal metaplasia， 9 showed no significant changes， and 1 had worsened； while 19 patients in the control group had 4 with reduced intestinal metaplasia， 13 with no significant changes， and 2 with worsened conditions. No cancer was detected in either group. The treatment group showed significantly better improvement in intestinal metaplasia on follow-up gastric endoscopy pathology than the control group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionXHG can significantly improve the clinical symptoms in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia and reduce the degree of mixed intestinal metaplasia. The mechanism may involve lowering serum TBA， DKK-1， and IL-23 levles， thus delaying the progression from inflammation to cancer.

Objective: To create a prediction model of multidrug resistant bacterial infections for inpatients with pneumonia, so as to provide the reference for the early identification and intervention of multidrug resistant bacterial infections. Methods: The inpatients with pneumonia in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from October 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the research subjects. Basic information and clinical data of the patients were collected. Respiratory secretions were collected for etiological culture and drug sensitivity tests to analyze the infection situation of multidrug resistant bacteria. LASSO regression and a multivariable logistic regression model were used to screen predictive factors and establish a predictive model of multidrug resistant bacterial infections for inpatients with pneumonia. The predictive effect of the model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve. Results: A total of 368 inpatients with pneumonia were recruited, including 215 males (58.42%) and 153 females (41.58%). The median age was 71.00 (interquartile range, 20.00) years. There were 168 cases of multidrug resistant bacterial infections detected, with a detection rate of 45.65%. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that long-term bedridden patients (OR=2.699, 95%CI: 1.120-6.504), use of antibiotics within 30 days (OR=8.623, 95%CI: 2.949-25.216), respiratory failure (OR=2.407, 95%CI: 1.058-5.478), intensive care unit treatment (OR=3.995, 95%CI: 1.313-12.161), and hypoproteinemia (OR=2.129, 95%CI: 1.012-4.480) were predict factors of multidrug resistant bacterial infections for inpatients with pneumonia. The area under the ROC curve of the established multidrug resistant bacterial infection prediction model was 0.909 (95%CI: 0.879-0.939). The calibration curve after repeated sampling calibration approached the standard curve, and the predicted values were highly consistent with the measured values. The decision curve showed that when the probability threshold is 0.27-0.99, the clinical net benefit for predicting the risk of multidrug resistant bacterial infection is relatively high. Conclusion The prediction model of multidrug resistant bacteria infection constructed has a good predictive value for multidrug resistant bacterial infection among inpatients with pneumonia

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of omacycline with meropenem plus linezolid in the treatment of patients with pulmonary infection.Methods:The clinical data of 58 patients with pulmonary infection admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital and Jiande First People’s Hospital from December 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the omacycline group ( n=29) and the meropenem combined with linezolid group (combined group, n=29). The omacycline group was given intravenous omacycline 200 mg or 100 mg, q. d, and the combined group was given intravenous meropenem (1 000 mg, t.i.d) and linezolid (600 mg, b. i.d). The clinical efficacy and drug-related adverse events of two groups were observed. SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. Results:In the omacycline group, 8 cases (27.6%, 8/29) were cured, 19 cases (65.5%, 19/29) were improved, and 2 cases (6.9%, 2/29) were worsened. In the combined group, 1 case (3.4%, 1/29) was cured, 26 cases (89.7%, 26/29) were improved, and 2 cases (6.9%, 2/29) died. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=6.533, P=0.038). The respiratory failure occurred in 3 cases (10.3%, 3/29) of the omacycline group and 5 cases (17.2%, 5/29) of the combined group ( χ2=0.580, P=0.446). In those patients who were cured or improved, the median time from treatment initiation to disease remission was 3.0 (2.0, 5.5) d in the omacycline group and 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) d in the combined group ( Z=-2.122, P=0.034). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups [6.9% (2/29) vs. 13.8% (4/29), χ2=0.744, P=0.389]. Conclusion:Omacycline exhibits a good efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with pulmonary infection, which may be prioritized for the treatment of pulmonary infections.

21-hydroxylase deficiency(21-OHD) is mainly characterized by cortisol deficiency with or without aldosterone deficiency and hyperandrogenemia.The disease requires lifelong exogenous glucocorticoid/salt supplementation.Excessive doses of exogenous glucocorticoids are often needed to control hyperandrogenemia, but the effect is not satisfactory.Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) type 1 receptor antagonist can directly block the production of adrenocorticotropin, inhibit the generation of adrenogenic androgen, reduce the dose of glucocorticoid therapy, and thus lower the incidence of adverse reactions.In this article, the current research progress on 21-OHD therapy and CRF1 receptor antagonist was reviewed.

Objective:To analyze the whole genome of Omicron variants causing the first local Omicron outbreak in Henan Province and to investigate the mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome for source tracing.Methods:Respiratory tract samples from COVID-19 cases in the Omicron outbreak in Henan Province from January 7 to 29, 2022 were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and sequence alignment analysis. Whole-genome identity, variations and evolution of the Omicron variants were analyzed.Results:Through high-throughput sequencing, the whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were obtained from 120 cases, which accounted for 25.64% (120/468) of all COVID-19 cases in Anyang during the same period. Compared with the genome of Wuhan reference strain (NC_045512.2), there were 57-59 nucleotide mutation sites in the 120 whole genome sequences, and one or two nucleotide mutation sites were added to the shared 57 nucleotide sites. All of the 120 strains were VOC/Omicron (BA.1.1) variants and shared high homology. The whole-genome sequence obtained from the first case A contained 57 nucleotide mutation sites, while apart from the 57 identical nucleotide mutation sites, one specific mutation site (C1594T) was found in the whole-genome sequence obtained from the first case B, suggesting that the two cases were in the same transmission chain. After comparing with the database of domestic and imported cases by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that the current outbreak was linked with the same transmission chain as the existing local epidemics in other provinces. Moreover, epidemiological investigation showed that on January 2, case A had come into contact with her cousin and his family who returned from an affected area outside the province.Conclusions:Based on the gene sequencing results and epidemiological investigation, the COVID-19 outbreak in Anyang city, Henan Province was a local epidemic and the source of it was a college student who returned to Anyang city from other province on December 28, 2021. These infections were linked to the same transmission chain as the existing local infection in other provinces.

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone, has been shown to facilitate breathing. However, the central sites and circuit mechanisms underlying the respiratory effects of leptin remain incompletely understood. The present study aimed to address whether neurons expressing leptin receptor b (LepRb) in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) contribute to respiratory control. Both chemogenetic and optogenetic stimulation of LepRb-expressing NTS (NTS^LepRb) neurons notably activated breathing. Moreover, stimulation of NTS^LepRb neurons projecting to the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) not only remarkably increased basal ventilation to a level similar to that of the stimulation of all NTS^LepRb neurons, but also activated LPBN neurons projecting to the preBötzinger complex (preBötC). By contrast, ablation of NTS^LepRb neurons projecting to the LPBN notably eliminated the enhanced respiratory effect induced by NTS^LepRb neuron stimulation. In brainstem slices, bath application of leptin rapidly depolarized the membrane potential, increased the spontaneous firing rate, and accelerated the Ca²⁺ transients in most NTS^LepRb neurons. Therefore, leptin potentiates breathing in the NTS most likely via an NTS-LPBN-preBötC circuit.
Leptin/pharmacology* ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Solitary Nucleus/metabolism*

Objective:To analyze the genome characteristics and variations in nucleotides and amino acids of SARS-CoV-2 causing an outbreak in Henan Province in November 2021 and perform the traceability analysis.Methods:In this study, throat swab specimens from cases in the acute phase were collected and tested for the nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time fluorescent RT-PCR. SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid-positive samples were subjected to high-throughput genome sequencing and whole-genome alignment analysis.Results:The median Ct values of ORF1ab gene and N gene in 70 positive specimens was 26.41 (15.58 to 39.27) and 24.43 (12.04 to 39.74), respectively. Compared with the sequence of Wuhan-Hu(NC_045512) reference strain, 47 to 49 nucleotide mutations sharing 47 nucleotide mutation and 41 amino acid mutations were found in 63 strains of successfully sequenced SARS-CoV-2. Nine nucleotide mutations and 12 amino acid mutations were found in the spike protein. The index case shared 47 mutations with the Russian imported cases in Henan Province on October 14 and the local cases in Jiangxi Province in October. Moreover, their genomes were highly homologous and they all belonged to the Delta variant (AY.122 evolutionary branch).Conclusions:Continuous monitoring of imported COVID-19 cases and prolonging the period of quarantine were needed to reduce the risk of local outbreak and epidemic caused by imported COVID-19 cases. Analysis of the genomic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and the variations in nucleotides and amino acids was conducive to trace the origin of COVID-19 outbreak quickly and provide reference for precise control.

Objective:To explore the early warning of blood growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) as a new stress indicator.Methods:A total of 53 armed police soldiers selected to participate in high-intensity training, measuring the soldiers' serum GDF15, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (S-CRP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) before and after the high-intensity training , Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Procalcitonin (PCT) levels, compare the coefficient of variation of each index; use SPSS 24 software for statistical analysis, measurement data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean±SD), The comparison of measurement data adopts group t test. Results:The GDF15 level of fighters after high-intensity training was (176.28±97.45) pg/mL, which was higher than (120.35±69.87) pg/mL before high-intensity training. The difference was very significant ( P <0.001). After high-intensity training, IL-6 and CRP levels were lower than before high-intensity training, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in S-CRP and PCT before and after high-intensity training ( P>0.05). The coefficient of variation of GDF15 index is smaller than S-CRP, CRP, IL-6, PCT. Conclusion:Blood growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is of great significance in warning the stress state after high-intensity training. It has higher sensitivity than other conventional stress indicators like S-CRP, CRP, IL-6 and PCT.

Objective:To explore the early warning and prediction value of GDF15 for sudden death patients.Methods:From January to December 2018, 49 patients with sudden death who were treated in the Emergency Department of the First Clinical Center of PLA General Hospital were included in the case group, and 46 healthy physical examiners in the Physical Examination Center of the Hospital were randomly selected as the control group. The general situation, comparison of myocardial markers and analysis of the basic data of the case group were carried out, so as to evaluate the early warning value of each myocardial marker in sudden death.Results:Patients aged 40-49 years old accounted the highest proportion among sudden death cases, reaching 26.54%. Sudden death under 60 years old accounted for 59.19%, and the ratio of male to female was 3.83:1. There were significant differences between the case group and the control group in CK-MB [(41.35±98.38) vs. (3.13±2.17), P=0.009], CK [(2652.82±6845.66) vs. (102.73±47.93), P=0.012], and GDF15 [(549.80±809.79) vs. (115.70±167.42), P=0.001]. At the same time, the AUC value of GDF15 was 0.816, which has the highest diagnostic value for sudden death. And CK-MB, CK and GDF15 had no correlation with age. Conclusions:GDF15, as a biological marker, has a good early warning function in sudden death.

Objective:To explore the value of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in the early diagnosis of acute chest pain.Methods:A total of 96 patients with acute chest pain admitted to the Emergency Department of Hainan Hospital of PLA General Hospital from January to November 2020 were retrospectively collected. The sex, age, troponin T, creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme, GDF15 and B-type natriuretic peptide of patients within 30 min after admission were recorded, and the differences of each index in different groups were compared. ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of GDF15 and TNT/BNP in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The Gensini score, left ventricular ejection fraction, length of stay in hospital and the number of stents were calculated, and the correlation between these indexes and GDF15 concentration was evaluated.Results:The general trend of acute chest pain was more male than female (72.92% vs. 27.08%) , the oldest group was the UA group (64.67 ± 13.87) years old , the youngest group was cardiac arrest group (47.29 ± 9.99) years old . There were higher rates of hypertension in the STEMI group, NSTEMI group and UA group, and none of the groups showed significant advantage in diabetes. The GDF15 concentration was higher in ACS related chest pain group [(2.360 ± 1.710) ng/mL vs. (1.380 ± 1.040) ng/mL, P<0.01]. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) of GDF15 combined with TNT was up to 0.863. GDF15 concentration was negatively correlated with ejection fraction, positively correlated with Gensini score, positively correlated with the number of stents implanted, and positively correlated with the length of hospital stay. Conclusions:GDF15 is valuable in the diagnosis and prognosis of acute chest pain. The combination of GDF15 and TNT can improve the diagnostic rate of ACS.