To compare the therapeutic effects of short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) and long-term spinal cord stimulation (ltSCS) on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness(pDoC).

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear mainly caused by bacteria, and current treatments rely heavily on antibiotics. However, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains seriously affects their efficacy. In our study, we found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human natural killer cells (NKs) inhibit the proliferation of both standard and levofloxacin (LVX)-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, compared to LVX, EVs were more effective at reducing effusion and rescuing hearing thresholds in animal models. For LVX-sensitive strains, EVs were significantly more effective in terms of curative time but not curative rate. For LVX-resistant strains, EVs were significantly more effective in terms of both curative rate and curative time when applied alone or applied jointly with LVX. In summary, we found that NK EVs are highly effective in treating otitis media, providing an alternative approach for treating this common disease.
Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Humans ; Otitis Media/therapy* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Levofloxacin/pharmacology*

Humans ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Consciousness Disorders ; Consciousness ; Electroencephalography ; Brain

Objective:To analyze the outcome of 15 cases with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with Belimumab, and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the therapy.Methods:A retrospective and real-world clinical research method was adopted.Fifteen children with confirmed refractory SLE and complete follow-up data were selected from the Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Children′s Hospital from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.By comparing the changes of clinical symptoms, auxiliary examination results, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2000) and Physician′s Global Assessment (PGA) scores as well as adverse events in different treatment periods (before treatment, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after treatment), the safety and effectiveness of Belimumab treatment were all recorded.The counting data was expressed in percentage, the measurement data meeting the normal distribution was expressed in Mean±SD, and the two samples of measurement data were compared by t-test, P<0.05 means significant differences. Results:The ratio of male to female was 3∶2, and the onset age was (7.93±4.99) years; The basic treatment time was 4 months to 5 years and 1 month.There were 8 cases with lupus nephritis (LN), 2 cases suffering from hypocomplementemia for more than 1 year, 2 cases with central nervous system involvements, 2 cases complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome and 1 case with early-onset SLE.Of 8 LN cases, 1 case was complicated with neuropsychiatric lupus (NPLE) and distal femoral head infarction of both knees, and 3 cases were complicated with lumbar compression fractures and hip infarction.All patients were treated with regular traditional therapy to induce remission.During the maintenance period, the disease activity maintained at light to moderate levels, and it was difficult to reduce glucocorticoid.At baseline, SLEDAI-2000 score was 4-13, and PGA score was 1-2.50.Basic treatment includes glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine, Mycophenolate Mofetil, Leflunomide tablets) and antimalarial drugs, and Cyclophosphamide and/or Tripterygium Wilfordii were used at the same time according to the damage of target organs.The drug safety after intravenous injection of Belizumab showed that one patient in this group had respiratory tract infection symptoms 4 weeks after treatment; Another patient had a slight increase of alanine aminotransferase 8 weeks after treatment, and recovered to normal symptomatic treatment.No drug-related adverse reactions were found in the other 13 patients.After 4 weeks of treatment, the score of SLEDAI-2000 and PGA compared with the baseline level, and the difference was statistically significant (SLEDAI-2000 P=0.002; PGA P=0.006). There was no clinical recurrence.One patient with familial chilblain like lupus erythematosus showed significant improvement in rash 2 weeks after treatment, and low fever accompanied by increased rash 8 weeks after treatment; After 16 weeks of treatment, the body temperature was normal and the rash basically subsided. Conclusions:Belimumab is clinically effective in the treatment of refractory childhood SLE, with no serious adverse events reported.However, its long-term efficacy and safety need to be further studied by multi-center and long-term research with a large sample size.

Areca catechu L. medicinal materials and their preparations are widely used in clinical practice. Betelnut polyphenol is one of the main chemical components with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. With continuous increase of high altitude activities, tissue oxidative damage caused by high altitude hypoxia seriously affects the ability to work, and the studies on anti-hypoxia drugs are particularly important. Recent studies have shown that betelnut polyphenols have protective effects on oxidative stress injury caused by hypoxia via improving blood gas index of hypoxic organism, increasing superoxide dismutase glutathione catalase activity, and scavenging excessive free radicals. The effects of betelnut polyphenols against hypoxia and oxidative damage protection suggest that betelnut polyphenols can be used as potential anti-hypoxia drugs and posses clinical prospects.
Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Areca/chemistry* ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Oxidative Stress ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

The vasoactive substance resistance (VSR) in the end-stage liver disease (ESLD) refers as the reduction of patients' responsiveness to endogenous and exogenous vasoactive substances, cardiac and vascular excitability, peripheral circulatory dysfunction, but induction of related adverse events. VSR is closely related to pathogenesis and treatment-related ESLD complications. However, to date, there are so many unsolved issues, like 1). The cause and underlying mechanism of VSR in ESLD patients; 2). VSR and ESLD multiple organ damages; 3). The preventive and mitigated measurement of VSR; and 4). VSR vasoactive drug use in ESLD patients. This review discussed and summarized the up to date progress in this field of research and clinical VSR in patients with ESLD, i.e., VRS in ESLD patients, disputes of vasoconstrictor drug therapy in ESLD patients, and future research direction of the field.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of pulmonary infection in the elderly, and to construct a risk prediction model. Methods Stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select 683 elderly patients in Zhangjiakou First Hospital as the investigation subjects. Sputum specimens were collected and sent for bacterial isolation, culture, identification, and drug sensitivity test. According to whether the patients had pulmonary infection, they were divided into pulmonary infection group (n=315) and non-pulmonary infection group (n=368). The clinical data of the two groups such as age, sex, COPD, and ICU admission were analyzed. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of pulmonary infection in elderly patients, and a risk prediction model was established. Results A total of 331 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected in 315 patients with pulmonary infection, and there were 207 strains (62.54%) of gram-negative bacteria detected, mainly including 95 strains (28.70%) of Acinetobacter baumannii and 71 strains (21.45%) of Klebsiella pneumoniae. There were 169 strains (26.28%) of gram-positive bacteria detected, mainly 68 strains (20.54%) of Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, there were 25 strains of fungi (7.55%). There were no significant differences in gender, smoking history, history of COPD, asthma, and stroke between the two groups (P>0.05). The proportion of patients aged≥70, mechanical ventilation, admission to ICU and recent respiratory tract infection in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, smoking history, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admission were independent risk factors for pulmonary infection in elderly patients (P<0.05). According to the above four independent influencing factors and corresponding regression coefficient of each factor, the prediction model of pulmonary infection in elderly patients was constructed, Z=-5.948+1.198× (age) +1.281×(smoking history) +2.029×(mechanical ventilation) +1.211×(ICU admission). Conclusion Lung infection in elderly patients in our hospital is dominated by gram-negative bacilli. Antibiotics should be rationally selected according to drug sensitivity results. Age≥70 years old and COPD can increase the risk of pulmonary infection in elderly patients, and the prediction model constructed can effectively predict the occurrence of pulmonary infection in elderly patients.

Objective To establish a method for the determination of total polyphenols and catechins in betel nut polyphenols extract, and provide reference for the quality control of betel nut polyphenols extract. Methods The content of total phenol in betel nut extract was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The content of catechins was determined by HPLC. Results The linear range of total polyphenols in betel nuts extract was 9.8~58.8 μg/ml. The three components of catechin, epicatechin and protocatechuic acid were completely separated by HPLC, and the linear relationship was good in their respective ranges, with the recoveries between 99.17% and 101.67%, the RSD between 1.2% and 2.5%. Conclusion The established method is simple, stable and reliable, which could be used for the quantitative analysis of betel polyphenol extract, and provide experimental basis for the quality control of betel polyphenol extract.

Puerarin (Pue), known as a phytoestrogen, has salient bioactivities and is promising against cardiovascular diseases. This article summarizes the underlying molecular mechanisms of Pue in treating cardiovascular diseases, especially regulating the intracellular signal transduction, influencing ion channels, modulating the expression of microRNA, and impacting on the autophagy, which are mainly involved in the inflammatory signaling pathways, fatty acid/lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the like. The protective effect of Pue against cardiovascular diseases mainly involves attenuating the myocardial injury and decreasing the myocardial fibrosis, improving the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, as well as inhibiting the myocardial hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. The molecular mechanisms of Pue's cardiovascular protective effects for the first time and comment on the state-of-the-art research methods and principles of Pue's regulation of small molecules were reviewed, so as to provide the rationale for its basic research and clinical applications.

  Objective  To study the demographic and clinical characteristics, correlation of genotype and phenotype and treatment of Blau syndrome to facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment of Blau syndrome.  Methods  Seventy-two patients with Blau syndrome from 11 centers from May 2006 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and their general information, clinical data, laboratory examination and treatment medication were collected.  Results  The distribution of patients with Blau syndrome was uniform in geographical north and south of China, and there was no obvious gender bias. The mean age of onset was (14.30±12.81) months, and the age of diagnosis was (55.18±36.22) months. 35% of patients with Blau syndrome happened before 1 year old, and all patients developed before 5 years old. 87.50% (63/72) had granulomatous arthritis, 65.28% (47/72) had rash, 36.11% (26/72) had ocular involvement, 27.78% (20/72) had fever, and 15.28% (11/72) had pulmonary involvement. Arthritic manifestations of Blau syndrome were most at risk, followed by rash, ocular involvement, and fever.The first 25 months of the disease, the risk of developing a rash was the greatest. The risk of developing arthritis was the greatest between 25 months and 84 months. The main mutations were p.R334Q and p.R334W, and patients with p.R334Q mutation had relatively high incidence of fever (35.71%[5/14] vs. 14.29%[1/7], P=0.43) and ocular involvement (42.86%[6/14]vs. 28.57%[2/7], P=0.51). There was a relatively high incidence of rash (85.71%[6/7] vs. 64.29%[9/14], P=0.59) in patients with the p.R334W mutation. Forty-five patients(62.50%)were treated with a combina-tion of glucocorticoid and methotrexate. Twenty-two patients were treated with tumor necrosis factor antagonist in addition to glucocorticoid and methotrexate.  Conclusions  The risk of different clinical manifestations of Blau syndrome from high to low was arthritis, followed by rash, ocular involvement and fever. The main treatment was glucocorticoid combined with methotrexate, to which biological agents could be added.