OBJECTIVES: To observe the therapeutic effect of spermine in neonatal mouse models of severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection and explore its therapeutic mechanism in light of regulation of macrophage GBP5/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. METHODS: Neonatal BALB/c mice (3-5 days old) were divided into control group, EV71 infection group and Spermine treatment group. The mice in the latter two groups received an intraperitoneal injection of 50 μL EV71 suspension (1×10⁶ TCID50 of EV71), followed 3 days later by intraperitoneal injection of 50 μL PBS or 100 μmol/L spermine. GBP5, NLRP3, CXCL10, and TNFSF10 expressions in heart, liver, lung and kidney tissues of the mice were detected using Western blotting and qPCR, and tissue pathologies and macrophage infiltration were assessed with HE staining and immunohistochemistry. In cultured THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells, the effects of EV71 infection, GBP5 siRNA transfection and treatment with spermine or eflornithine on GBP5, NLRP3, CXCL10, and TNFSF10 mRNA expressions were investigated using qPCR. RESULTS: In the neonatal mice, EV71 infection resulted in multiple organ damage, macrophage infiltration and activation of the GBP5/NLRP3 pathway, and spermine treatment significantly improved tissue injuries, reduced macrophage infiltration, and down-regulated the expressions of GBP5, NLRP3 and the inflammatory factors in the infected mice. In THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells, EV71 infection caused significant upregulation of GBP5, NLRP3, CXCL10, and TNFSF10 expressions, which were obviously lowered by spermine treatment. In THP-1 cells, treatment with eflornithine significantly suppressed the reduction of GBP5, NLRP3, CXCL10, and TNFSF10 expressions induced by GBP5 siRNA transfection. CONCLUSIONS Spermine suppressed EV71 infection-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting GBP5-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting a new strategy for treatment of severe HFMD.
Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Mice ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Spermine/therapeutic use* ; Animals, Newborn ; Humans ; Enterovirus Infections ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/drug therapy* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Chemokine CXCL10/metabolism*

Objective To understand the timeliness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Yichang from 2016 to 2022 and its influencing factors, and to provide a scientific basis for improving the timeliness of ART in Yichang City. Methods HIV/AIDS cases data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022 were collected, and chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing the timeliness of ART. Results A total of 1 126 HIV/AIDS cases were collected, with local reported cases accounting for 83.13%. The male to female ratio was 5.15:1. The median age was 42 years old (28-53 years old). 41.03% of the cases were unmarried. 38.99% of cases had a first-time CD4+T lymphocytes (CD4 cells) count < 200 cells/µL. Cases with timely first CD4 cell test accounted for 67.85%. The overall timely rate of ART from 2016 to 2022 was 57.19%, with a median time from diagnosis to initiation of ART of 20 days. There was no statistically significant difference in the trend of ART timely rate from 2016 to 2022 (P=0.251). Cases with timely first CD4 cell test were more likely to initiate ART in time (OR=3.831, 95% CI:2.454-5.981), while cases reported from other areas (OR=0.497, 95% CI:0.345-0.716) and cases with higher first CD4 cell count levels (OR_≥500=0.473, 95% CI:0.312-0.718) were less likely to initiate ART in time. Conclusion The timely rate of antiviral treatment in Yichang City needs to be further improved. High attention should be paid to cases reported from other places, cases with delayed CD4 cell testing, and cases with high CD4 cell count levels. Treatment mobilization and referral should be done well, and early detection services should be provided in time.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between Twist2 and the prognosis and vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer patients,and to explore the role and mechanism of Twist2 in vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer.Methods:KM plotter was used to explore the correaltion between Twist2 mRNA expression and overall survival(OS),progression free survival(PFS)and post progression survival(PPS)in ovarian cancer.To analyze the cor-relation between Twist2 and vascular infiltration in ovarian cancer using the cancer genomics database cBioPor-tal.In vitro experiment:Transwell method was employed to determine the role of Twist2 in the invasion and migra-tion abilities of ovarian cancer cell CAOV3[blank group,negative control group(siNC group),siTwist2 group].Uti-lizing Realtime-PCR and Western blot to clarify the changes in Twist2 and VEGFC expression in CAOV3 cells af-ter downregulating Twist2 expression at the RNA and protein levels,respectively.Results:①Online data analysis of KM plotter showed that the ovarian cancer patients with high expression of Twist2 were associated with poor prognosis,with OS(HR 1.24,95％Cl 1.01-1.52),PFS(HR 1.39,95％CI 1.14-1.70)and PPS(HR 1.37,95％CI 1.08-1.74)all showing statistical significance(P＜0.05).CBioportal analysis showed that Twist2 mRNA expression was positively correlated with vascular infiltration(r=0.93,P=0.001)and lymphatic infiltration(r=0.89,P=0.009)in ovarian cancer.②Compared with the blank group and siNC group,in vitro experiment Tran-swell assay showed that the invasion and migration ability of ovarian cancer cells in siTwist2 group was significant-ly reduced(P＜0.05).In mRNA and protein level,Realtime-PCR and Western blot showed that compared with the blank group and siNC group,the expression of Twist2,as well as VEGFC,were significantly reduced in the siTwist2 group(P＜0.05).Conclusions:The expression of Twist2 in ovarian cancer is closely related to tumor prognosis and vascular infiltration.After downregulating Twist2,the number of cells that migrate and invade is sig-nificantly reduced,and the expression of VEGFC is reduced.Twist2 can induce migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through VEGFC,which may be one of the indicators for prognosis evaluate and targeted therapy of ovarian cancer in future.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between Twist2 and the prognosis and vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer patients,and to explore the role and mechanism of Twist2 in vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer.Methods:KM plotter was used to explore the correaltion between Twist2 mRNA expression and overall survival(OS),progression free survival(PFS)and post progression survival(PPS)in ovarian cancer.To analyze the cor-relation between Twist2 and vascular infiltration in ovarian cancer using the cancer genomics database cBioPor-tal.In vitro experiment:Transwell method was employed to determine the role of Twist2 in the invasion and migra-tion abilities of ovarian cancer cell CAOV3[blank group,negative control group(siNC group),siTwist2 group].Uti-lizing Realtime-PCR and Western blot to clarify the changes in Twist2 and VEGFC expression in CAOV3 cells af-ter downregulating Twist2 expression at the RNA and protein levels,respectively.Results:①Online data analysis of KM plotter showed that the ovarian cancer patients with high expression of Twist2 were associated with poor prognosis,with OS(HR 1.24,95％Cl 1.01-1.52),PFS(HR 1.39,95％CI 1.14-1.70)and PPS(HR 1.37,95％CI 1.08-1.74)all showing statistical significance(P＜0.05).CBioportal analysis showed that Twist2 mRNA expression was positively correlated with vascular infiltration(r=0.93,P=0.001)and lymphatic infiltration(r=0.89,P=0.009)in ovarian cancer.②Compared with the blank group and siNC group,in vitro experiment Tran-swell assay showed that the invasion and migration ability of ovarian cancer cells in siTwist2 group was significant-ly reduced(P＜0.05).In mRNA and protein level,Realtime-PCR and Western blot showed that compared with the blank group and siNC group,the expression of Twist2,as well as VEGFC,were significantly reduced in the siTwist2 group(P＜0.05).Conclusions:The expression of Twist2 in ovarian cancer is closely related to tumor prognosis and vascular infiltration.After downregulating Twist2,the number of cells that migrate and invade is sig-nificantly reduced,and the expression of VEGFC is reduced.Twist2 can induce migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through VEGFC,which may be one of the indicators for prognosis evaluate and targeted therapy of ovarian cancer in future.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between Twist2 and the prognosis and vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer patients,and to explore the role and mechanism of Twist2 in vascular infiltration of ovarian cancer.Methods:KM plotter was used to explore the correaltion between Twist2 mRNA expression and overall survival(OS),progression free survival(PFS)and post progression survival(PPS)in ovarian cancer.To analyze the cor-relation between Twist2 and vascular infiltration in ovarian cancer using the cancer genomics database cBioPor-tal.In vitro experiment:Transwell method was employed to determine the role of Twist2 in the invasion and migra-tion abilities of ovarian cancer cell CAOV3[blank group,negative control group(siNC group),siTwist2 group].Uti-lizing Realtime-PCR and Western blot to clarify the changes in Twist2 and VEGFC expression in CAOV3 cells af-ter downregulating Twist2 expression at the RNA and protein levels,respectively.Results:①Online data analysis of KM plotter showed that the ovarian cancer patients with high expression of Twist2 were associated with poor prognosis,with OS(HR 1.24,95％Cl 1.01-1.52),PFS(HR 1.39,95％CI 1.14-1.70)and PPS(HR 1.37,95％CI 1.08-1.74)all showing statistical significance(P＜0.05).CBioportal analysis showed that Twist2 mRNA expression was positively correlated with vascular infiltration(r=0.93,P=0.001)and lymphatic infiltration(r=0.89,P=0.009)in ovarian cancer.②Compared with the blank group and siNC group,in vitro experiment Tran-swell assay showed that the invasion and migration ability of ovarian cancer cells in siTwist2 group was significant-ly reduced(P＜0.05).In mRNA and protein level,Realtime-PCR and Western blot showed that compared with the blank group and siNC group,the expression of Twist2,as well as VEGFC,were significantly reduced in the siTwist2 group(P＜0.05).Conclusions:The expression of Twist2 in ovarian cancer is closely related to tumor prognosis and vascular infiltration.After downregulating Twist2,the number of cells that migrate and invade is sig-nificantly reduced,and the expression of VEGFC is reduced.Twist2 can induce migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through VEGFC,which may be one of the indicators for prognosis evaluate and targeted therapy of ovarian cancer in future.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.