Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the chronological changes in postoperative complications in surgical ulcerative colitis patients over the past decade in China and to investigate the potential parameters that contributed to the changes. Methods: Ulcerative colitis patients who underwent surgery during 2008–2017 were retrospectively enrolled from 13 hospitals in China. Postoperative complications were compared among different operation years. Risk factors for complications were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 446 surgical ulcerative colitis patients were analyzed. Fewer short-term complications (24.8% vs. 41.0%, P=0.001) and more laparoscopic surgeries (66.4% vs. 25.0%, P<0.001) were found among patients who received surgery during 2014–2017 than 2008–2013. Logistic regression suggested that independent protective factors against short-term complications were a higher preoperative body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 0.870; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.785–0.964; P=0.008), laparoscopic surgery (OR, 0.391; 95% CI, 0.217–0.705; P=0.002) and elective surgery (OR, 0.213; 95% CI, 0.067–0.675; P=0.009). The chronological decrease in short-term complications was associated with an increase in laparoscopic surgery. Conclusions Our data revealed a downward trend of short-term postoperative complications among surgical ulcerative colitis patients in China during the past decade, which may be due to the promotion of minimally invasive techniques among Chinese surgeons.

Aim To investigate the mechanism by which ginsenoside Rgl regulates autophagy anrl delays brain aging in mice through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods C57BL/6J male mice were ran¬domly divided into four groups, namely brain aging model group ,control group, Rgl anti-aging group,auto¬phagy activator Rapamycin anti-aging group.After the modeling was completed, the test of each experimental index would be carried out on the next day.Morris wa¬ter maze experiment was used to detect the learning and memory ability of mice.Paraffin sections of the hippocampus were prepared, HE , Nissl and immunohis- tochemical staining were used to observe the morpholo¬gy of hippocampal neurons, the number of neurons and Nissl bodies was counted, and autophagy-related proteins p62 , ATG5 , ULK1 were detected.Brain tissue homogenates were prepared to detect the aetivity of brain tissue acetylcholinesterase ( AChE ).Western blot was userl to detect brain tissue autophagy-related proteins LC3II, P62, beclinl, P-AMPK/AMPK, P- mTOR/mTOR and apoptosis protein P53.Results Water maze test showed that Rgl and Hap significantly improved the learning and memory abilities of brain-ag¬ing mice.HE and Nissl staining showed that Rgl and Rap decreased necrotic cells and increased the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of brain-aging mice.Immunohistochemistry staining showed that Rgl and Rap decreased the expression of neuronal autoph- agv protein P62 in hippocampus and increased the ex-pression of ATG5 and ULK1.Rgl and Rap decreased the activity of AhcE in brain-aging mice.Western blot showed that Rgl and Rap increased autophagy-related proteins LC3II, Beclinl , P-AMPK/AMPK, but de¬creased the expression of P-mTOR/mTOR, P62, P53.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rgl can effectively antago¬nize the aging effect of D-gal on mouse brain.The pos¬sible mechanism is related to the regulation of autoph- agv by Rgl through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) in patients with multiple myeloma(MM). METHODS: 54 newly diagnosed MM patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from February 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the observation group, and 60 healthy people in our hospital in the same period were selected as the control group. The expression levels of sIL-2R in the serum of the two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The differences of sIL-2R expression level among different clinical parameter groups in MM patients were compared. The clinical parameters include:gender, age, ISS stage, hemoglobin, albumin, serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase and β₂-microglobulin, blood calcium, bone marrow plasma cell ratio and treatment response. The relationship between sIL-2R expression level and progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS) in MM patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The expression of serum SIL-2R in MM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.05). The expression of sIL-2R in MM patients who did not achieve complete remission(CR) was significantly higher than those of CR patients (P=0.037). There was no significant difference in the expression of serum sIL-2R between the groups of different sex, age, ISS stage, hemoglobin concentration, albumin content, serum creatinine level, lactate dehydrogenase level, the content of β₂-microglobulin, the concentration of blood calcium, and the proportion of bone marrow plasma cells(P>0.05). The PFS of sIL-2R high expression group(15 months) was shorter than that of sIL-2R low expression group (22 months), which was significant difference (P=0.041). But there was no significant difference in OS between sIL-2R high expression group and sIL-2R low expression group (P=0.124). Univariate analysis results showed that the high expression of serum sIL-2R was associated with poor PFS in MM patients. Multivariate analysis results showed that the high expression of serum sIL-2R was still an independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS in MM patients, However, the expression of serum sIL-2R was not statistically significant in evaluating OS in MM patients by univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The expression of serum sIL-2R in MM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy people. Serum sIL-2R is an independent prognostic factor of PFS in MM patients.
Humans ; Calcium ; Clinical Relevance ; Creatinine ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; Multiple Myeloma ; Receptors, Interleukin-2

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

ObjectiveTo investigate effect of conducting training of autism spectrum disorder （ASD） early screening skill on improving the ability to early identify ASD of medical staffs in primary care hospitals. MethodsIn September 2021， the training of ASD early screening skills was carried out for medical staffs from 20 primary care hospitals in Chengdu. After training， the training effect was evaluated. The numbers of referrals from primary care hospitals to superior hospitals， confirmed ASD as well as their average diagnostic age of children with ASD before and after training were used as evaluation indicators. ResultsAfter training， the number of children with suspected ASD referred by primary care hospitals was more than that before training ［（16.65±11.60） vs. （3.40±2.23）， t=5.431， P<0.01］， the number of children diagnosed with ASD was more than that before training［（6.85±4.93） vs. （2.45±1.67）， t=4.171， P<0.01］， and the differences were statistically significant. As for the diagnosed age of ASD children， after training， the average age was lower than that before training ［（34.95±11.67） vs. （42.2±14.64）， t=-2.553， P=0.019］. ConclusionTraining of ASD early screening skills for medical staffs in primary care hospitals may help to improve their ability to early screening ASD children.

Coptis chinensis is one of bulk traditional herbal medicines in China. In recent years, the occurrence of various diseases has caused great yield loss and quality reduction of C. chinensis, which has become an important threat of herbal medicine industry. Here we reviewed the symptoms, pathogens, epidemiology and control methods of 6 common diseases of C. chinensis including root rot, southern blight, violet root rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and anthracnose. This review aims at providing guidance for the disease diagnostic, pathogen identification, and control strategies of the diseases on C. chinensis, and facilitate the growth of traditional medicine industry.
Basidiomycota ; China/epidemiology* ; Coptis ; Plants, Medicinal

The research on endophytes of medicinal plants mainly relies on the traditional culture and isolation methods. Because of their functions such as promoting host growth, improving stress resistance, promoting the accumulation of medicinal active ingredients or directly producing medicinal active ingredients, the endophytes of medicinal plants have gradually attracted wide attention. However, it was found that the strains isolated by traditional methods were not the true dominant endophytes of medicinal plants by comparing the results of traditional culture isolation with high-throughput sequencing. The blind and random nature of traditional methods leads to the lack of standards in terms of medium selection, culture time and interaction between species. On the contrary, high-throughput sequencing technology is an emerging molecular biology technology developed in recent decades. Due to its high resolution level and indepen-dent culture, it can be used for thorough analysis of the community structure and diversity of environmental microorganisms. Therefore, we proposed the strategy of using high-throughput sequencing technology to guide the traditional culture and isolation of endophytes from medicinal plants. Firstly, the endophytic structure and diversity of medicinal plants were completely clear by high-throughput sequencing technology, and the dominant endophytes of the host were unequivocal. Then according to the characteristics of each dominant endophytes design or query suitable medium for its growth to culture and isolation. Finally, the function of the isolates was studied. This method can prevent researchers from missing out on the important functional strains of the host, expand the research scope of endophytes of medicinal plants, and facilitate the in-depth excavation and utilization of endophytes of medicinal plants.
Endophytes/genetics* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Plants, Medicinal ; Research Design

Intercropping farming system is one of the essence of traditional agriculture in China and one of the most common and basic patterns of modern ecological planting. Intercropping system uses the principle of species diversity to create reasonable interspecific interaction conditions with obvious productivity advantages. In this paper, the interspecies interaction is divided into aboveground and underground parts from the space view, and its influence and mechanism on the yield and secondary metabolites of medicinal plants are elaborated.The interspecific interaction in the aboveground part mainly introduces the distribution and utilization of space resources among plants. The interspecific interaction in the underground part mainly introduces the soil rhizosphere effect and related mediating factors, root exudates, soil microorganisms, root space structure and soil environmental factors. On the basis of understanding the mechanism of interspecific interaction, this paper further discusses the application of intercropping in traditional Chinese medicine ecological agriculture, taking the effective control of diseases and insect pests, the increase of medicinal material yield and the improvement of medicinal material quality as the benefit index, so as to seek better advantages of intercropping and provide ideas for the utilization of intercropping production mode in traditional Chinese medicine ecological agriculture.
Agriculture ; China ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rhizosphere ; Soil

Numerous studies showed that the growth of medicinal plants in their native areas was simultaneously affected by abiotic stress combinations. Compared with single stress, plants have unique responses to a combination of different abiotic stresses and cannot be inferred directly from plants' responses to each individual stress. The effect of combined stresses on plants usually has three types of synergistic antagonism or independence. The secondary metabolism in the process of medicinal plant stress combination response also played a vital role, and environmental stresses can spur the accumulation of secondary metabolites, but under the stress combination, plants induce specific gene expression of key enzymes on secondary metabolic pathways, in turn, the accumulation of secondary metabolites against stress is formed. When plants are subjected to stress combination, the interaction of multiple signaling pathways makes it highly complex for plants to respond to stress combination. This paper summarized the effects of stress combination on physiological and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants, and discussed the related physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms. It provides theoretical basis for improving the adaptability of medicinal plants to adversity, improving the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, and further optimizing the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Plants, Medicinal ; Secondary Metabolism ; Stress, Physiological

To clarify the difference of soil moisture characteristics between mixed broad leaf-conifer forest soil and artificial cultivation of Notopterygium incisum, the HYPROP system and the dew point potential meter were used to determine soil water retention curves(SWRC) for samples of two horizons(i.e. 2-7 cm, 10-15 cm). The basic physical and chemical properties of soil and its water characteristic parameters were also determined. The result showed as fllows:①The bulk density of mixed coniferous-broad leaf forest soil was between 0.33 and 0.52 g·cm~(-3), significantly lower than the corresponding value of field soil(1.01-1.18 g·cm~(-3))(P<0.05), While the organic matter content was significantly higher than the corresponding value of field soil(P<0.05). ②The saturated water content(θ_s), field water holding capacity(θ_(FC)) and Water that can be effectively utilized by plants(θ_(PAC)) of mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil were significantly higher than the corresponding value of field soil(P<0.05), while the retained water content(θ_r) value that cannot be effectively utilized by plants was significantly lower than that of field soil(P<0.05). ③The values of structural porosity(0.13-0.24 cm~3·cm~(-3)) and Matrix porosity(0.34-0.44 cm~3·cm~(-3)) of mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil were higher than the corresponding values of field soil. Therefore, with low bulk density and high content of organic matter, mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil can store more water in soil in the form of effective water to meet the needs of plants for water, thus possibly forming high quality medicinal materials of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix. In conclusion, the results of this study can provide theoretical basis guidance for soil structure improvement and water management to form high quality medicinal materials in the artificial cultivation of N. incisum.
Apiaceae ; China ; Forests ; Soil ; Tracheophyta ; Water ; analysis