Polygonatum sibiricum， as a traditional Chinese medicine with both medicinal and edible properties， has attracted considerable attention due to its functions of nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs， tonifying the spleen and benefiting Qi， and nourishing the kidneys and filling essence. Recent studies have demonstrated that Polygonatum sibiricum plays a significant role in regulating the immune system， effectively enhancing and improving the morphology and function of immune organs， stimulating the proliferation and activation of immune cells， and regulating the secretion and release of immune factors， thereby enhancing the immune function of the body and improving various immune-related diseases. Although a large number of studies have explored the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of P. sibiricum， there has been no systematic review and summary of its immune regulatory activity and mechanisms. Therefore， this article comprehensively reviews the research achievements of P. sibiricum polysaccharides and saponins in the field of immune regulation in recent years， and further sorts out the immune regulatory mechanisms of P. sibiricum in multiple aspects： including increasing the organ index of the spleen and thymus， increasing the number and activity of tumor-suppressive bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells， improving intestinal flora imbalance， regulating the quantity and proportion of T lymphocyte subsets， increasing the level of immunoglobulin， promoting the proliferation of macrophages， enhancing the activity of natural killer cells， increasing the number of white blood cells， and promoting the maturation of dendritic cells， providing a solid theoretical basis and scientific evidence for the research and application of P. sibiricum， and promoting its development and application in traditional Chinese medicine immune enhancers and various functional products.

Objective:To understand and compare the clinical characteristics of children and adults infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant BA.5 and BA.2 subtypes in Shanghai City.Methods:The clinical data of 524 children hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) at the Children′s Hospital of Fudan University during the period of BA.5 predominance from December 1, 2022 to January 20, 2023 were collected, which included age, gender, clinical symptoms and laboratory examination results. And the clinical data of household close contacts were also collected. The clinical data of children and their household contacts infected with Omicron BA.2 subtypes during the period of BA.2 predominance from April 4 to April 30, 2022 were collected and compared.The clinical characteristic of critical and non-critical cases, child and adult cases during the period of BA.5 predominance were compared.Statistical analyses were conducted using independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Results:The age of 524 hospitalized children was five days to 16 years old. Among them, 301(57.4%) were male and 223(42.6%) were female. Additionally, there were 29 critical cases (5.5%) and 495 non-critical cases (94.5%). Critical cases had significantly higher fever peak, more shortness of breath occurrence, more pneumonia and underlying diseases compared to non-critical cases, with statistically significant differences ( t=12.06, χ2=34.90, 10.04 and 31.10, respectively, all P<0.05). Regarding laboratory examinations, critical cases exhibited significantly higher frequencies of decreased lymphocyte count, elevated levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and interleukin-6, abnormal liver function and kidney function, and abnormal creatine kinase isoenzyme compared to non-critical cases, with statistically significant differences ( χ2=8.18, Z=-4.61, Z=-4.28, Z=-5.13, χ2 =195.90, Fisher′s exact test and χ2=136.13, respectively, all P<0.05). Non-critical children cases infected with Omicron variant BA.5 subtype exhibited a higher proportion of symptomatic infections compared to adults. Among children, the occurrence rates of fever and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) were higher, whereas among adults, the occurrence rate of cough was higher. The differences were statistically significant ( χ2=11.16, 11.83, 8.50 and 28.14, respectively, all P<0.05).From December 1, 2022 to January 20, 2023, a total of 588 children cases and 791 adult cases were collected, while from April 4 to April 30, 2022, a total of 355 children cases and 755 adult cases were collected.In the children group, the occurrence rates of cough, convulsions and critical cases were higher in BA.5 subtype-infected children compared to those infected with the BA.2 subtype, with statistically significant differences ( χ2=37.95, 40.78 and 15.54, respectively, all P<0.001).In the adult group, BA.5 subtype-infected individuals had higher fever peak, longer duration of fever, and higher occurrence of fever, cough and gastrointestinal symptoms, compared to those infected with the BA.2 subtype.The differences were statistically significant ( t=-4.40, Z=-9.64, χ2=47.29, 124.09 and 29.90, respectively, all P<0.001). Conclusions:During the peak periods of BA.5 subtype of the Omicron variant in Shanghai City, critical cases have severe systemic symptoms and a higher prevalence of underlying diseases compared to non-critical cases. Among non-critical cases infected with BA.5 subtype, the proportion of symptomatic infections in children is higher than adults, with fever and gastrointestinal symptoms more common than adults, while cough symptoms are more common seen in adults.The occurrence rate of convulsions and critical cases is higher in children infected with variant BA.5 subtype compared to those infected with BA.2 subtype.The systemic symptoms are more severe in adults infected with BA.5 subtype compared to those infected with BA.2 subtype.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of neonatal varicella during the era of the single-dose varicella vaccine (VarV) strategy in China, and to provide relevant evidence for the prevention of neonatal varicella.Methods:The clinical data of neonatal varicella cases from 2010 to 2020 at the Children′s Hospital of Fudan University were retrospectively collected. The clinical data included epidemiological exposure, vaccination history of family members, complications, treatment, outcomes, hospital stay and hospital cost. Independent sample t test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used for linear correlation analysis. Results:A total of 125 neonatal varicella cases were treated. Among them, 90.4%(113/125) had a clear history of exposure to a family member with varicella or herpes zoster before onset, with 94 cases involving the mother. Of the 94 mothers, 35(37.2%) had received one dose of VarV during childhood, four siblings had also received one dose of VarV, and four grandparents and one nanny had not been vaccinated with either VarV or shingles vaccine. All neonatal varicella cases were treated with intravenous acyclovir upon admission. Neonatal varicella cases with complications had a longer hospital stay ((4.9±2.0) days) and incurred higher hospital cost ((5 739.9±3 868.2) yuan) compared to those without complications ((4.1±1.2) days and (4 047.0±1 556.0) yuan, respectively). These differences were both statistically significant ( t=2.18, 2.34, respectively; both P<0.05). All neonatal varicella cases survived. There was a positive correlation between the hospital cost and the days from disease onset to hospitalization ( r=0.183, P=0.041). The hospital cost in the group whose mothers had received one dose of VarV was lower compared to that in the group whose mother had not been vaccinated ((3 857.9±899.0) yuan vs (4 673.8±2 228.6) yuan), with the difference statistically significant ( t=2.46, P=0.016). Conclusions:To prevent neonatal varicella, it is recommended that children of appropriate age complete two doses of VarV schedule, susceptible parents of reproductive age receive two doses of VarV, and individuals aged 50 years and older receive shingles vaccine.

Animals ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Macaca mulatta ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Antibodies, Viral ; Vaccines

Heme/metabolism* ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism*

Objective:To quantify any correlation between serum levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFAs) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).Methods:The clinical data of 77 patients hospitalized after a first stroke were analyzed. The Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to divide them into impaired (PSCI) and unimpaired (non-PSCI) cohorts. The serum levels of ω3-PUFAs, α-linolenic acid (ALA), eieosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and dueosahexenoie acid (DHA) were compared between the two groups and correlated with the individuals′ MMSE scores.Results:The average ALA, EPA, DHA and total ω3-PUFAs levels of PSCI group were in most cases significantly lower than those of the non-PSCI group. Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum DHA level was a weak positive predictor of the MMSE scores (R=0.32, P≤0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that low serum DHA level was an independent risk factor for PSCI ( P≤0.01). Conclusions:Cognitively impaired stroke survivors tend to have lower serum ω3-PUFAs levels than those without cognitive impairment. There is a weak positive correlation between serum DHA levels and MMSE scores. Low serum DHA level is an independent risk factor for PSCI. The serum level of ω3-PUFAs is of high value in the auxiliary diagnosis and evaluation of PSCI.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of family clustering pediatric and adult cases with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant infection in Shanghai City.Methods:A field investigation among the pediatric cases with Omicron variant infection and their household contacts from April 4 to April 30, 2022 in Children′s Hospital of Fudan University was conducted. The informations on case finding, clinical manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status were collected. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compared between pediatric cases and adult cases. The independent sample t test or chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, and the relative risk ( RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used to evaluate the protective effect of vaccination on the infection of Omicron variant. Results:There were 1 274 family members in 297 families including 370 children and 904 adults of whom 1 110(87.13%) were infected with Omicron variant, with 989(89.10%) symptomatic and 121(10.90%) asymptomatic. There were 355 children infected with Omicron variant, of whom 337(94.93%) were symptomatic, and the main manifestations were fever (96.74%(326/337)) and cough (40.36%(136/337)). Only one pediatric case with Rett syndrome developed critically severe pneumonia. A total of 194 pediatric cases had imaging examination, 64(32.99%) showed pulmonary inflammatory lesions. There were 755 adult cases infected with Omicron variant, of whom 652(86.26%) reported symptoms, and the main manifestations were fever (73.16%(477/652)) and cough (49.85%(325/652)). Among symptomatic cases, fever was more common in pediatric cases than in adult cases, while cough was more common in adult cases than in pediatric cases, and the differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=80.87 and 8.04, respectively, both P<0.01). The fever spike was higher in pediatric cases than in adult cases ((39.3±0.7) ℃ vs (38.6±0.6) ℃), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=9.85, P<0.001). The interval from the onset of symptoms to cycle threshold (Ct) value of the nucleic acid of Omicron variant≥35 was longer in pediatric cases than in adult cases ((13.0±3.1) d vs (10.9±3.6) d), and the difference had statistically significance ( t=2.97, P=0.004). Among 160 children aged 3 to 18 years, 54 (33.75%) received two-dose vaccination. Among the 904 adults, 388 (42.92%) received two-dose vaccination and 293 (32.41%) received a booster dose. In the adult cases, the risk of symptomatic infection was reduced by only 8% ( RR=0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98, P=0.014) following two-dose vaccination, and the risks of fever and cough following booster vaccination were reduced by 42%( RR=0.58, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.67, P=0.001) and 50% ( RR=0.50, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.78, P=0.001), respectively. Conclusions:Secondary attack rate and symptomatic rate of household infection are high in the context of the Omicron variant outbreak in Shanghai. Symptomatic infection is common in children and adults in household setting. Fever is the most common symptom and fever duration is short. Booster vaccination may provide certain protection against common symptoms caused by Omicron variant infection.

Objective : To investigate the efficacy of standardized allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in children with asthma sensitized to single dust mite allergens versus multiple allergens and to assess the safety of SCIT. Methods : 62 children with confirmed allergic asthma who received standardized allergen SCIT were retro⁃ spectively analyzed and divided into the monosensitized group (dust mite results≥ + + + ) and the polysensitized group (dust mite results ≥ + + + combined with other positive allergens) according to the results of skin pricktest , we observed the changes of pulmonary function , medication score and visual analog scale (VAS) scores , children asthma control test (C - ACT) scores , asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) scores before and after treatment in both groupsand compared the efficacy of the two groups. The incidence of local and systemic adverse effects was recorded during treatment in all children to assess the safety of SCIT. Results : Standardized allergen SCIT treatmentimproved lung function parameters , medication scores and VAS scores , C ⁃ACT scores , ACQ scores in both the monosensitized and polysensitized groups , with statistically significant differences before and after treatment (P < 0. 05) . In comparison between the two groups , lung function parameters [forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity(FEF50% ) , maximum midexpiratory flow(MMEF)] , medication scores , C ⁃ACT scores and ACQ scores improved significantly in the monosensitized group compared with the polysensitized group after treatment ( P <0. 001) . 62 patients received a total of 2 606 injections during the treatment of SCIT , 6 children had a total of 10 local adverse reactions and 3 children had 3 mild to moderate systemic adverse reactions , with an incidence of 0. 38% for local adverse reactions and 0. 12% for systemic adverse reactions. Conclusion The children with asthma in both the monosensitized group and polysensitized group achieved significant and safe clinical outcomes under standardized allergen SCIT. The children in the monosensitized group had more obvious clinical effects than the polysensitized group under standardized allergen SCIT.

Objective:To investigate the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance condition and its predictive factors after treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues to pegylated interferon-α add-on therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis B who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2018~2019 were prospectively enrolled. HBsAg≤ 1500 IU/mL, hepatitis B e antigen-negative, HBV DNA undetectable, received antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues for at least one year, and pegylated interferon-α add-on therapy for 48 weeks were included. The primary endpoint of study was to determine the proportion of HBsAg clearance at 72 weeks. Concurrently, the predictive factors for HBsAg clearance were analyzed. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using a t-test or non-parametric test and a Fisher's exact test.Results:A total of 38 cases were included in this study, of which 13 cases obtained HBsAg clearance at 48 weeks of therapy and another six cases obtained HBsAg clearance throughout the extended treatment period of 72 weeks, accounting for 50.00% of all enrolled patients. There was a significant difference in HBsAg dynamics between the HBsAg clearance group and the non-clearance group (P < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients' age, baseline, 12-and 24-week HBsAg levels, and early HBsAg reduction were predictive factors for HBsAg clearance at 72 weeks of treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.311; P = 0.016; 95% confidence interval: 1.051~1.635) and HBsAg levels at 24 weeks of treatment (OR = 4.481; P = 0.004; 95% confidence interval: 1.634~12.290) were independent predictors for HBsAg clearance.Conclusion:Hepatitis B e antigen-negative, nucleos(t)ide analogue treated, HBsAg ≤ 1500 IU/mL, and HBV DNA undetectable, peg-IFNα add-on treatment for 48 weeks could promote HBsAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Six of the sixteen cases (37.50%) who did not obtain HBsAg clearance at week 48 did so with the course of therapy extended to week 72. Hence, the optimal individualized treatment strategy should be customized according to the predictors rather than the fixed 48-week course. Age (≤ 38), baseline HBsAg level (≤2.86 log 10IU/ml), HBsAg level at 24 weeks (≤ 0.92 log 10IU/ml), and 12-week HBsAg decrease from baseline (≥ 0.67 log 10IU/ml) indicate that patients are highly likely to obtain HBsAg clearance at the 72 weeks of combination therapy, in which the combined indicator based on HBsAg level ≤0.92 log 10IU/ml at 24 weeks will identify 85.0% to 100.0% of patients with HBsAg clearance.

Objective:To explore the airway pathogen characteristics and examine the correlation between donor-derived pathogens and post-transplant outcomes in patients after lung transplantation (LT).Methods:Between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019, retrospective review was conducted for clinical and microbiological data of 88 LT recipients.Airway pathogen percentage of different microorganisms and evolution of drug-resistance were examined.Drug-resistant pathogen positive group (n=71) and negative group (n=17) were assigned according to whether or not drug-resistant pathogens were detected.Survival analysis was conducted by Log-rank with 3-year follow-ups.Between April 11, 2020 and September 5, 2020, prospective study was conducted in 14LT recipients.The potential pathogenic bacteria from donor lungs were detected by metagenomic next generation sequencing and the impact of those bacteria was examined on 1-year post-transplantation outcome in 2020.Microbial diversity and richness were shown with Shannon index.The outcome variables included heart rate, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, immunoglobulin level and pulmonary spirometry.ANOVA and Pearson's correlation analysis were performed for elucidating the relationship between airway microbiota and post-LT outcomes.Results:From 2015 to 2019, 88 recipients were recruited and 992 strains of airway pathogens were isolated, including bacteria 796 strains and fungi 196 strains.Gram-negative bacteria (704 strains) accounted for 88.4% of all bacteria.The detection rates of Gram-positive bacteria, Klebsiella pneumonia (Kp), Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Candida increased in 2019 than that in 2015 (8.2% vs. 5.3%, 13.6% vs. 13.2%, 33.2% vs. 17.5%, 6.5% vs. 5.3%, 26.6% vs. 20.2%). Drug resistance rate of Kp to imipenem was 68.18% in 2019 and drug resistance rate of Ab to imipenem 98.44%.The 3-year survival rate was 46.3% and 35.3% in drug-resistance positive and negative groups and the difference was insignificant ( P=0.410). Fourteen recipients were enrolled in 2020.Potential pathogenic bacteria could be detected in all donor samples.Five recipients carried the same bacteria and two died during 1-year follow-up.Nine recipients did not carry the donor-derived pathogens and two died during 1-year follow-up.The diversity of donor/recipient-derived airway microbiota (Shannon index) showed no correlation with the outcomes of 1-year follow-up by Pearson's correlation test. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria predominated in airway pathogens of recipients post-LT.The drug resistance rate to imipenem remained high.The donor/recipient-derived pathogen isolates showed no correlation with immediate outcomes post-LT.