Objective:To discuss the changes in the levels of chemokine ligand 19(CCL19)and soluble CD163(sCD163)in serum of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)during pregnancy,and to clarify their effects on the maternal and infant outcomes.Methods:A total of 180 pregnant SLE patients were selected as SLE group and then divided into successful pregnancy group(n=132)and pregnancy failure group(n=48)based on the maternal and infant outcomes.A total of 180 healthy pregnant women underwent prenatal checks during the same period were randomly selected as control group.The general data of the patients in two groups were collected,and the serum levels of CCL19 and sCD163,along with related serum factors,were detected by kits.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to detect the risk factors for pregnancy failure in the SLE patients,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the effectiveness of serum CCL19 and sCD163 levels in predicting the pregnancy outcomes of the patients in SLE group.Results:Compared with control group,the levels of complements C3 and C4 in the serum of the patients in SLE group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),creatinine(CR),anti-cardiolipin antibody(ACA)-IgG,anti-β2 glycoprotein Ⅰ(anti-β2GPⅠ),CCL19,and sCD163 of the patients were significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with successful pregnancy group,the levels of complement C3 and C4 pregnancy of the patients in failure group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the levels of ESR,CR,ACA-IgG,anti-β2GPⅠ,CCL19,and sCD163 were significantly increased(P<0.01).The serum levels of CCL19,sCD163,ESR,CR,ACA-IgG,and anti-β2GPⅠ were the risk factors for pregnancy failure of the SLE patients(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the levels of complement C3 and C4 were the protective factors(P<0.01).The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of the serum CCL19 level for predicting the pregnancy failure of the SLE patients was 0.726,and the AUC of serum SCD163 level for predicting the pregnancy failure of the SLE patients was 0.789;the AUC of combination of both markers for predicting the pregnancy failure of the SLE patients was 0.835.The predictive performance of CCL19 and sCD163 for pregnancy outcomes of the SLE patients was superior to either marker alone(Zcombined-CCL19=3.066,P=0.002;Zcombined-sCD163=2.087,P=0.037).Conclusion:The serum levels of CCL19 and sCD163 in the SLE patients during pregnancy are significantly increased,which may cause the poor outcomes in the patients.

Objective To clone the HnGUA gene from Hirudo nipponia and conduct bioinformatics analysis,protein prokaryotic expression analysis and gene differential expression analysis.Methods Based on the transcriptome data of H.nipponia in the previous study,the full-length cDNA of HnGUA was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends(RACE),and bioinformatics analysis was performed.The prokaryotic expression vector was constructed,transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)competent cells and the expression of recombinant protein was induced by IPTG.The qPCR was used to further analyze the tissue-specific expression of HnGUA.Results The size of HnGUA gene was 504 bp,containing an open reading frame(ORF)of 231 bp and encoding 76 amino acids.Its protein molecular weight and isoelectric point are 8.17 kDa and 4.44,respectively.Multiple sequence alignment analysis showed that HnGUA was highly homologous to genes in other leech species that encode inhibitory proteins.The results of the prokaryotic expression analysis showed that the constructed pET32a-HnGUA vector could be successfully expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3),and the SDS-PAGE results showed that the induced recombinantly expressed HnGUA protein was around 6 kDa,which was basically consistent with the predicted protein size.The results of the Real-time PCR revealed spatial and temporal differences in the expression profiles of HnGUA,with high levels of expression detected in the skin and crop tissues.Conclusion This study represents the first successful cloning of the HnGUA gene from H.nipponia and the expression of the corresponding recombinant protein in E.coli.It provides a foundation for future exploration of the biosynthetic pathways and molecular regulatory mechanisms of active small anticoagulant molecules in leeches.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.
Mice ; Animals ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Apoptosis ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*

Six new (1-6) and seven known depsidones (7-13) were isolated from the culture of an ant (Monomorium chinensis)-derived fungus Spiromastix sp. MY-1. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including high resolution MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The new bromide depsidones were obtained through supplementing potassium bromide in the fermentation medium of Spiromastix sp. MY-1. All isolated compounds showed various bioactivities against the tested phytopathogenic bacteria. Particularly, new bromide compound 4, named spiromastixone S, exhibited the strongest activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae with a MIC value of 5.2 μmol·^-1.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ants ; Bromides ; Depsides ; Fungi ; Lactones ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized fibro-inflammatory condition of autoimmune etiology in recent twenty years, mainly manifesting as mass-forming lesions in single or multiple organs. In the past, it was often missed or misdiagnosed as inflammation or tumor. Patients may die from multiple organ failure due to end-stage fibrosis if they are not treated promptly. However, the number of clinically confirmed cases has gradually increased with the improvement of diagnostic level in recent years, and these patients have benefited greatly after receiving early treatment. Although patients generally respond well to traditional immunosuppressors including glucocorticoids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, refractory and recurrent cases, even patients with glucocorticoid contraindication are common. Important mechanistic insights have been derived from studies of B-cell depletion therapy, but greater awareness of the pathophysiology of IgG4-RD is still badly needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this article, we reviewed the pathogenesis progress and promising therapy of IgG4-RD to seek better clinical management of IgG4-RD.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors for severe COVID-19 to improve treatment guidelines. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on 313 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients were classified into two groups based on disease severity (nonsevere and severe) according to initial clinical presentation. Laboratory test results and epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to detect potential risk factors associated with severe COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 289 patients (197 nonsevere and 92 severe cases) with a median age of 45.0 (33.0, 61.0) years were included in this study, and 53.3% (154/289) were male. Fever (192/286, 67.1%) and cough (170/289, 58.8%) were commonly observed, followed by sore throat (49/289, 17.0%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that patients who were aged ≥ 65 years (OR: 2.725, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.317-5.636; P = 0.007), were male (OR: 1.878, 95% CI: 1.002-3.520, P = 0.049), had comorbid diabetes (OR: 3.314, 95% CI: 1.126-9.758, P = 0.030), cough (OR: 3.427, 95% CI: 1.752-6.706, P < 0.001), and/or diarrhea (OR: 2.629, 95% CI: 1.109-6.231, P = 0.028) on admission had a higher risk of severe disease. Moreover, stratification analysis indicated that male patients with diabetes were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (71.4% vs. 28.6%, χ2 = 8.183, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS The clinical characteristics of those with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 were significantly different. The elderly, male patients with COVID-19, diabetes, and presenting with cough and/or diarrhea on admission may require close monitoring to prevent deterioration.
Adult ; COVID-19/pathology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Cough ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the application value of a modified retroauricular hairline incision and a sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle in the resection of benign parotid gland tumors. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with benign parotid gland tumors were retrospectively analyzed: 19 cases were included in the experimental group with an improved retroauricular hairline incision and a sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle, and 29 cases were assigned in the control group with a modified facelift incision. Operation time, postoperative drainage, postoperative esthetic degree, and incidence of facial nerve paralysis, salivary fistula, and Frey's syndrome were compared. RESULTS: After the esthetic procedure, the average score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, and the esthetic effect of the former was better than that of the latter ( CONCLUSIONS The modified retroauricular hairline incision and sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle can be applied to resect benign parotid gland tumors safely. It shows a better cosmetic effect and does not cause obvious postoperative complications. Therefore, it should be promoted for tumor treatments.
Esthetics, Dental ; Humans ; Parotid Gland/surgery* ; Parotid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sweating, Gustatory

Plants have a memory function for the environmental stress they have suffered. When they are subjected to repeated environmental stress, they can quickly and better activate the response and adaptation mechanism to environmental stress, thus realizing long-term stable reproduction. However, most of the relevant studies are applied to crops and Arabidopsis thaliana rather than medicinal plants about the improvement of plant growth status and the effect on phytoalexin biosynthesis. In this study, yeast extract(YE) was used as an elicitor to simulate biotic stress, and the changes in biomass and the content of some secondary metabolites were measured by giving repeated stresses to Sorbus aucuparia suspension cell(SASC). The results showed that the accumulation levels of biomass and some secondary metabolites in SASC subjected to repeated stress are significantly increased at some time points compared with single stress. A phenomenon that SASC can memorize biotic stress is confirmed in this study and influences phytoalexin accumulation in SASC. Furthermore, the work laid the groundwork for research into the transgenerational stress memory mechanism of medicinal plant.
Cells, Cultured ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sorbus ; Stress, Physiological

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） Toujie Quwen granules in the treatment of coronavirs disease-2019（COVID-19） in the early stage, and its effect on relevant inflammatory index expression of COVID-19. Method:A total of 65 COVID-19 cases were diagnosed and divided into 2 groups: the treatment group （n=32） and the control group （n=33）. Before and after treatment，TCM syndrome score，WBC，LYM，LYM%，NEU%，PCT，CRP and D-dimer were compared. Result:After 10 days of treatment，the TCM syndrome score of the treatment group was significantly reduced（P<0.05），while the absolute value of lymphocyte was up-regulated，with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）， according to the inter-group comparison, there were statistically significant differences in the absolute value of LYM and NEU%（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in WBC count and LYM%. The levels of CRP，PCT and D-dimer in the two groups were reduced after treatment，with statistically significant differences between two groups （P<0.05）. After treatment，the differences of CRP and PCT was statistically significant between both groups（P<0.05），but the difference in D-dimer was not statistically significant. There was no difference in the effect of chest CT examination between the both groups. Conclusion:The clinical syndrome and inflammatory particles of COVID-19 can be alleviated by early and timely use of Toujie Quwen granules.