Objective: To summarize the clinical, radiological characteristics, and prognosis of infectious sacroiliitis in children. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, including 12 cases of infectious sacroiliitis diagnosed in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of the Children's Hospital affiliated with the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from June 2018 to June 2023. These cases comprised the case group. Concurrently, 28 cases of pediatric idiopathic arthritis involving the sacroiliac joint in the same department served as the control group. Basic patient information, clinical features, laboratory parameters, and clinical treatment outcomes for both groups were collected and analyzed. Independent sample t-tests and chi-squared tests were used for inter-group comparisons. Results: Among the 12 cases in the case group, there were 5 males and 7 females, with a disease duration of 0.8 (0.5, 1.2) months. Nine patients presented with fever, and 1 patient had limping gait. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 positivity was observed in 1 case, and there was no family history of ankylosing spondylitis. In the control group of 28 cases, there were 19 males and 9 females, with a disease duration of 7.0 (3.0, 17.0) months. One patient (4%) had fever, and 14 cases (50%) exhibited limping gait. HLA-B27 positivity was found in 18 cases (64%), and 18 cases (64%) had a family history of ankylosing spondylitis. The case group had higher white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil ratio, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, as well as a higher proportion of unilateral involvement on magnetic resonance imaging and bone destruction on CT compared to the control group ((11.1±6.2)×10⁹ vs. (7.3±2.3)×10⁹/L, 0.64±0.10 vs. 0.55±0.12, 72 (34, 86) vs. 18 (5, 41) mm/1 h, 24.6 (10.1, 67.3) mg/L vs. 3.6 (0.8, 15.0) mg/L, 11/12 vs. 36% (10/28), 9/12 vs. 11% (3/28), t=2.90, 3.07, Z=-2.94, -3.28, χ²=10.55, 16.53, all P<0.05). Conclusions: Pediatric infectious sacroiliitis often presents as unilateral involvement with a short disease history. Elevated WBC, CRP, and ESR, as well as a high rate of bone destruction, are also common characteristics.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Sacroiliitis/diagnostic imaging* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnosis* ; Case-Control Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint/diagnostic imaging* ; Radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Fever

Objective: To explore the clinical features and prognosis of children with histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). Methods: The clinical data of 118 children with HNL diagnosed and treated in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical symptoms, laboratory examination, imaging examination, pathological findings, treatment and follow-up were analyzed. Results: Among the 118 patients, 69 were males and 49 were females. The age of onset was 10.0 (8.0, 12.0) years, ranging from 1.5 to 16.0 years. All the children had fever lymph node enlargement, blood system involvement in 74 cases (62.7%), skin injury in 39 cases (33.1%). The main manifestations of laboratory examination were increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 90 cases (76.3%), decreased hemoglobin in 58 cases (49.2%), decreased white blood cells in 54 cases (45.8%) and positive antinuclear antibody in 35 cases (29.7%). Ninety-seven cases (82.2%) underwent B-mode ultrasound of lymph nodes, showing nodular lesions with low echo in the neck; 22 cases (18.6%) underwent cervical X-ray and (or) CT; 7 cases (5.9%) underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging. Lymph node biopsy was performed in all 118 cases, and the pathological results did not support malignant diseases such as lymphoma or Epstein-Barr virus infection, suggesting HNL. Fifty-seven cases (48.3%) recovered without treatment, 61 cases (51.7%) received oral steroid therapy, and 4 cases (3.4%) received indomethacin as anal stopper. The 118 cases were followed up for 4 (2, 6) years, ranging from 1 to 7 years, 87 cases (73.7%) had one onset and did not develop into other rheumatological diseases, and 24 cases (20.3%) had different degrees of recurrence, 7 cases (5.9%) had multiple system injuries, and all of the tested autoantibodies were positive for medium and high titers. All of them developed into other rheumatic immune diseases, among which 5 cases developed into systemic lupus erythematosus and 2 cases developed into Sjogren's syndrome; 7 cases were given oral steroid therapy, including 6 cases plus immunosuppressant and 2 cases receiving methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg shock therapy. Conclusions: The first-onset HNL portion is self-healing, hormone-sensitive and has a good prognosis. For HNL with repeated disease and multiple system injury, antinuclear antibody titer should be monitored during follow-up, and attention should be paid to the possibility of developing into other rheumatological diseases, with poor prognosis.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis/drug therapy* ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Prognosis ; Steroids

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of mulberry twig alkaloids (Sangzhi alkaloids, SZ-A) for treatment of type 2 diabetes in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 200 patients were randomized to receive SZ-A (n=100) or placebo (n=100) for 16 weeks. The data analysis system for electronic data capture clinical trial central randomization system was used for randomization and dispensing of drugs. The primary outcome was the change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level. The secondary outcome included the proportions of cases with HbA1c <7.0% and HbA1c <6.5%, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), area under curve for the PBG (AUC_0-2h), body weight, and body mass index (BMI). Adverse events (AEs), severe adverse events (SAEs), treatment-related adverse events (TAEs), gastrointestinal disorders (GDs), blood pressure, routine blood tests, and liver and kidney function were monitored. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the change of HbA1c at week 16 was -0.80% (95% CI: -0.98% to -0.62%) and -0.09% (95% CI: -0.27% to 0.09%) in SZ-A group and placebo group, respectively. The proportion of patients with HbA1c <7% and <6.5% was higher in the SZ-A group than in the placebo group (46.8% vs. 21.6% and 29.9% vs. 10.8%). The observed values and changes in FBG, 1 h-PBG, 2 h-PBG, and AUC_0-2h differed significantly between groups (P<0.001), but differences were not significant in body weight and BMI (P>0.05). The incidence rates of AEs, TAEs, and GDs differed significantly between groups (P=0.010, P=0.005, and P=0.006, respectively), whereas the incidence rates of SAEs showed no significant differences between groups (P=1.000). CONCLUSION SZ-A are effective and safe for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The protocol was registered in http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=60117 (ChiCTR2000038550).
Alkaloids ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Double-Blind Method ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Morus ; Tablets/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of adalimumab (ADA) in the treatment of refractory oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods: This was a retrospective study. Clinical data on age, gender, and symptoms of joint swelling and pain were collected from 11 children with refractory oligoarticular JIA involving only knee joints admitted to Department of Rheumatism and Immunology of Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from November 2019 to October 2020. The physician and parent-child evaluation of disease activity, the number of active joints, and the level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at different treatment time points were analyzed at every 4-week observation point after drug administration, and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences in clinical evaluation indicators and changes in laboratory tests at different treatment times. The follow-up period was 6 months. Results: Among the 11 children, 5 were boys and 6 were girls. The age was 3.0 (2.8) years. All 11 children had symptoms of joint swelling and pain as well as limitation of movement. After 3 intra-articular injections of ADA, the joint symptoms of 11 children were better than before treatment; the joint symptoms of 7 children disappeared completely, and no recurrence occurred during the 6-month follow-up period. At different treatment times, physician and parent-child evaluation of disease activity, a gradual decrease in the number of active joints in the children, ESR, and juvenile arthritis disease activity score with 27 joints were all statistically significant (χ²=53.99, 59.37, 32.87, 40.07, 54.00, all P<0.001).No significant adverse drug reactions were observed in any of the 11 children during treatment and follow-up. Conclusion: Intra-articular injection of ADA in the treatment of refractory oligoarticular JIA has a significant effect in controlling joint symptoms and is relatively safe.
Adalimumab/therapeutic use* ; Arthritis, Juvenile/drug therapy* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is closely related to the physiological and pathological states of breast tissue. The current study was aimed to investigate the effect of silk fibroin/collagen composite hydrogels with adjustable matrix stiffness on the growth and phenotype of normal breast epithelial cells. In this study, the enzymatic reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used to change the degree of cross-linking of the silk fibroin solution. The rotational rheometer was used to characterize the composite hydrogel's biomechanical properties. Human normal mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A were inoculated into composite hydrogels with various stiffness (19.10-4 932.36 Pa) to construct a three dimensional (3D) culture system of mammary epithelial cells. The CCK-8 assay was applied to detect the cell proliferation rate and active states in each group. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and whole-mount magenta staining were used for histological evaluation of cell morphology and distribution. The results showed that with the increase of matrix stiffness, MCF-10A cells exhibited inhibited proliferation rate, decreased formation of acinus structures and increased branching structures. Meanwhile, with the increase of matrix stiffness, the polarity of MCF-10A cells was impeded. And the increase of matrix stiffness up-regulated the expression levels of mmp-2, mmp-3, and mmp-9 in MCF-10A cells. Among the genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the expression level of the epithelial marker gene E-cadherin was significantly down-regulated, while the interstitial cell marker gene Vimentin was up-regulated, and the expression levels of Snail, Wnt5b and Integrin β1 in the Wnt pathway were up-regulated. These results suggest that the silk fibroin/collagen composite hydrogels with adjustable matrix stiffness regulates the proliferation and the phenotype of MCF-10A cells. The effects of increased matrix stiffness may be closely related to the changes of the polar structures and function of MCF-10A cells, as well as the occurrence of ECM-remodeling and EMT.
Collagen/metabolism* ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism* ; Fibroins/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Hydrogels/metabolism* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Phenotype

Objective To understand the infection status and risk factors of Entamoeba histolytica in inpatients in Tengchong City, Yunnan Province. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the inpatients in Tengchong People’s Hospital, Yunnan Province. After obtaining the informed consent from the subjects, the stool samples were collected from 2016-07-01 to 2017-03-31, and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect E. histolytica in the stool samples. Meanwhile, a structured questionnaire was used to record the demographic information and clinical symptoms for the patients. Results Totally 507 cases were recruited, and the detection rate of E. histolytica was 1.97% (10/507, 95% CI: 1.07%-3.59%) in all subjects. There were no significant differences between the inpatients with and without E. histolytica infection in the height (Z = -0.40, P = 0.69), weight (Z = -0.34, P = 0.73), body mass index (Z = -0.40, P = 0.69) and age (Z = -1.48, P = 0.14). Chronic diarrhea (OR = 21.43, 95% CI: 5.04-91.23) and daily drinking water (OR = 11.28, 95% CI: 2.79-45.56) were relevant to E. histolytica infection. No significant association was observed between E. histolytica infection and the clinical symptoms, such as abdominal distension (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.09-5.56), inappetence (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.06-4.02), itchy skin (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.10-6.38), perianal pruritus (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 0.21-14.07), and constipation (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.13-7.33). Conclusion E. histolytica infection is high in inpatients in Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, and chronic diarrhea and drinking unboiled water were highly correlated with E. histolytica infection.

The chemical constituents from lipophilic parts in the roots of Angelica dahurica cv. Yubaizhi were studied in this paper. The compounds were separated and purified by repeated column chromatographic methods on silica gel and HPLC, and the chemical structures of compounds were determined by spectral data analyses. Thirty-three compounds were obtained and identified as isoimperatorin (1), imperatorin (2), stigmasterol (3), isooxypeucedanin (4), pabulenol (5), psoralen (6), bergapten (7), isodemethylfuropinarine (8), phellopterin (9), osthenol (10), alloimperatorin (11), xanthotoxin (12), xanthotoxol (13), isopimpinellin (14), alloisoimperatorin (15), β-sitosterol (16), oxyalloimperatorin (17), pabularinone (18), 5-hydroxy-8-methoxypsoralen (19), columbianetin (20), heracol (21), isogosferol (22), 2″R-neobyakangelicol (23), byakangelicin ethoxide (24), byakangelicin (25), oxypeucedanin hydrate (26), uracil (27), umbelliferone (28), bergaptol (29), demethylfuropinarine (30), isobyakangelicol (31), oxypeucedanin ethanolate (32), heraclenol (33). Among them, compounds 8, 10, 17, 21, and 30 were obtained from the roots of title plant for the first time.

We established a multiplex direct PCR for rapid detection of E.coli,Salmonella,Staphylococcus aureus,Listeria and Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria.Multiplex direct PCR primers were designed according to gene sequences of phoA (E.coli),inv A (Salmonella),nuc (S.aureus),hl y (Listeria),and ail (Y.enterocolitica).After the multiplex direct PCR were established,the specificity and sensitivity of primers were detected.Then,multiplex direct PCR was applied to examine 60 swine product samples,the detection specificity,accuracy and positive predictive value were calculated compared with the gold standard culture method.Results showed that multiplex direct PCR primers could be used for specific detection of E.coli,Salmonella,S.aureus,Listeria and Y.enterocolitica,with the minimal detectable limit of 10,1,100,1 and 1 CFU,respectively.For the examination of 60 swine product samples using multiplex direct PCR,15 were positive for E.coli,6 positive for Salmonella,21 positive for S.aureus,20 positive for Listeria,and 35 positive for Y.enterocolitica,with all positive detection rates higher than that of culture.The total detection sensitivity was 100％,accuracy was 94％,and positive predictive value was 81.44％.Multiplex direct PCR could be used for specific and sensitive detection of common food-borne pathogens,and the testing time was shorten to be 3 hours because of saving time for template extraction.Multiplex direct PCR might serve the detection of food-borne pathogens in food safety risk monitoring much better.

The chemical constituents from lipophilic parts in the roots of Angelica dahurica var. formosana cv. Chuanbaizhi were studied in this paper. The compounds were separated and purified by repeated column chromatographic methods on silica gel and HPLC, and the chemical structures of compounds were determined by spectral data analyses. Twenty-nine compounds were obtained and identified as isoimperatorin (1), β-sitosterol (2), imperatorin (3), bergapten (4), osthenol (5), xanthotoxin (6), isoimpinellin (7), dehydrogeijerin (8), phellopterin (9), isodemethylfuropinarine (10), 7-demethylsuberosin (11), alloimperatorin (12), xanthotoxol (13), isooxypeucedanin (14), alloisoimperatorin (15), demethylfuropinarine (16), 5-hydroxy-8-methoxypsoralen (17), oxypeucedanin methanolate (18), pabulenol (19), byakangelicin (20), marmesin (21), (+) -decursinol (22), heraclenol (23), oxypeucedanin hydrate (24), marmesinin (25), ulopterol (26), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-ferulic acid ether (27), threo-guaiacylglycerol-β-ferulic acid ether (28), and uracil (29). Compounds 5, 8, 11, 18, 21-23, and 26-28 were obtained from the roots of title plant for the first time.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methoxsalen ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid ([characters: see text], HSR) on retarding the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).

METHODSA total of 52 ARAS patients with the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome of qi deficiency and blood stasis, phlegm and dampness retention were recruited and randomly assigned into the treatment group (36 cases) and the control group (16 cases). Both groups received a basic treatment (high-quality low-protein diet, blood pressure control, lipid-lowering, correcting the acidosis, etc.). In addition, the treatment group received 20 mL HSR and the control group received placebo, 3 times a day for 6 months. Renal function (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid) and blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein) were examined monthly. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CM syndrome score were compared between groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, compared with the control group, the serum creatinine level, uric acid level and CM syndrome score of the treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the eGFR in the treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHSR can effectively improve the renal function and clinical symptoms of ARAS patients.

Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Function Tests ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome