In this study, we constructed a GLP-2R-HEK293 cell line and established a method for the determination of the in vitro biological activity of teduglutide based on HTRF, after optimizing experimental conditions and methodological verification. We also carried out relative potency detection of teduglutide pharmaceutical products using this method. The result showed that there was a quantitative-efficient relationship between the teduglutide activity and cAMP contents in GLP-2R-HEK293 cells, which conformed to four-parameter model. Method verification results of five concentrations of teduglutide (64%, 80%, 100%, 125% and 156%) met the requirements of the General Rules of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2020 edition, Volume IV (9401). We then analyzed the relative potency of three batches of teduglutide drug substances and three batches of drug products. The linearity, regression and parallelism of the obtained curves all fit the system suitability requirements. The relative potency of six batches of teduglutide was from 83% to 105%. In summary, the biological activity detection method established in this study was accurate, precise, simple and time-saving, which can be used for quality control of teduglutide pharmaceutical products.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS: Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Claudin-5/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Lung/pathology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

This study constructed a LHCGR-CRE-luc-HEK293 transgenic cell line according to the activation of the cAMP signaling pathway after recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin binding to the receptor. The biological activity of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin was assayed using a luciferase assay system. The relative potency of the samples was calculated using four-parameter model. And the method conditions were optimized to validate the specificity, relative accuracy, precision and linearity of the method. The results showed that there was a quantitative potency relationship of human chorinonic gonadotropin (hCG) in the method and it was in accordance with the four-parameter curve. After optimization, the conditions were determined as hCG dilution concentration of 2.5 μg·mL^-1, dilution ratio of 1∶4, cell number of 10 000-15 000 cells/well, and induction time of 6 h. The method had good specificity, relative accuracy with relative bias ranging from -8.9% to 3.4%, linear regression equation correlation coefficient of 0.996, intermediate precision geometric coefficient of variation ranging from 3.3% to 15.0%, and linearity range of 50% to 200%. This study successfully established and validated a reporter gene method to detect hCG biological activity, which can be used for hCG biological activity assay and quality control.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95％ confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of national bloodstream infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，9 035 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 51 hospitals，of which 7 895（87.4%）were Enterobacteriaceae and 1 140（12.6%）were non-fermenting bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（ n=4 510，49.9%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（ n=2 340，25.9%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（ n=534，5.9%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（ n=405，4.5%）and Enterobacter cloacae（ n=327，3.6%）. The ESBLs-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus spp. were 47.1%（2 095/4 452），21.0%（427/2 033）and 41.1%（58/141），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（58/4 510）and 13.1%（307/2 340）；62.1%（36/58）and 9.8%（30/307）of CREC and CRKP were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 59.5%（241/405），while less than 5% of Acinetobacter baumannii complex was resistant to tigecycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 18.4%（98/534）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of main Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CRKP and CRPA（ χ2=20.489 and 20.252， P<0.001）. The prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA，CRAB，ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were higher in provinicial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=11.953，81.183，10.404，5.915，12.415 and 6.459， P<0.01 or <0.05），while the prevalence of CRPA was higher in economically developed regions（per capita GDP ≥ 92 059 Yuan）than that in economically less-developed regions（per capita GDP <92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=6.240， P=0.012）. Conclusions:The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections shows an increasing trend，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of CRKP decreases continuously with time. Decreasing trends are noted in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Low prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and high prevalence in CRAB complex have been observed. The composition ratio and antibacterial spectrum of bloodstream infections in different regions of China are slightly different，and the proportion of main drug resistant bacteria in provincial hospitals is higher than those in municipal hospitals.

Objective Viral encephalitis is an infectious disease severely affecting human health.It is caused by a wide variety of viral pathogens,including herpes viruses,flaviviruses,enteroviruses,and other viruses.The laboratory diagnosis of viral encephalitis is a worldwide challenge.Recently,high-throughput sequencing technology has provided new tools for diagnosing central nervous system infections.Thus,In this study,we established a multipathogen detection platform for viral encephalitis based on amplicon sequencing. Methods We designed nine pairs of specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR)primers for the 12 viruses by reviewing the relevant literature.The detection ability of the primers was verified by software simulation and the detection of known positive samples.Amplicon sequencing was used to validate the samples,and consistency was compared with Sanger sequencing. Results The results showed that the target sequences of various pathogens were obtained at a coverage depth level greater than 20×,and the sequence lengths were consistent with the sizes of the predicted amplicons.The sequences were verified using the National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST,and all results were consistent with the results of Sanger sequencing. Conclusion Amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing technology is feasible as a supplementary method for the pathogenic detection of viral encephalitis.It is also a useful tool for the high-volume screening of clinical samples.

Objective:To examine the burden and trends of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2019, and provide reference evidences for hepatitis prevention and control in the province.Methods:Data on acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, and E) in Guangdong from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) data were analyzed by age and gender, and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to describe the changing trends in disease burden.Results:From 1999 to 2019, the standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong were higher than the national averages. In 2019, 51.43% (2 245 087/4 365 221) of acute viral hepatitis cases in Guangdong Province were mainly attributed to hepatitis B, and 77.18% (106/138) of deaths were due to acute hepatitis B. In different age groups, except for acute hepatitis B, which was more common in adults, the incidence rates of other types of viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, and E showed an overall decreasing trend with age. The mortality rates of different types of acute viral hepatitis, except for the <5 age group, increased with age. The overall incidence and mortality rates of acute viral hepatitis were higher in men than in women.Conclusions:The overall burden of acute viral hepatitis in Guangdong declined in 2019, but remained higher than the national level. Further efforts are needed to strengthen hepatitis prevention and screening in different population in Guangdong Province, especially in children and the elderly.

ObjectiveBased on the ultrastructure of enteric nervous system （ENS）-platelet-derived growth factor receptor α positive （PDGFRα⁺） cell - smooth muscle cell （SMC） network， the effect and mechanism of Shuwei Decoction （舒胃汤） for rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） of liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome were explored. MethodsFifty SD rats were divided into blank group， model group， low-， medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups randomly， with 10 rats in each group. The blank group was not set up， and the other 4 groups were set up with the modified composite cause （chronic restraint stress + tail irritation + excessive fatigue + diet disorder） for 21 days， resulting in FD model rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome. After successful modelling， rats in the low-， medium- and high-dose groups were given 3.78， 7.56 and 15.12 g/（kg·d） of Shuwei Decoction by gavage， respectively， while rats in the blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline by gavage； all of them were given gavage once a day for 14 days. Body mass increase were collected before and after gavage， and compared after the experiment； the elevated cross maze experiment was conducted to observe the percentage of staying time and the percentage of times entering the open arm of rats； the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were measured by black semi-solid paste； HE staining was used to observe histopathology of the gastric antrum； the Western Blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression levels of PDGFRα， small conductance calcium activated potassium （SK3）， and purinergic G protein-coupled receptor P2Y1 （P2Y1 R）， and mRNA expression in gastric antrum； immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the co-localization of PDGFRα with receptor tyrosine kinase （C-kit）， protein gene product 9.5 （PGP9.5）， Sk3， and smooth muscle cells （SMCs） in gastric sinusoidal tissues； and transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of the ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network. ResultsHE staining results showed that the mucosal folds of gastric tissue were clear in all groups， no organic lesions such as bleeding， ulceration and swelling were observed， and the arrangement of gastric glands in the lamina propria of gastric sinusoidal tissues in model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group was disordered. The arrangement of gastric glands in lamina propria in medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups was more orderly， and the lesion degree was less than that in model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group. Compared with the blank group， the growth value of body mass， the percentage of open arm retention time， the percentage of times entering the open arm， the small intestine propulsion rate， and the gastric empty rate of rats in the model group significantly decreased after gavage； the expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3， P2Y1 protein and mRNA in gastric sinusoidal tissues decreased； the co-localization expression of PDGFRα with C-kit， Sk3， SMC and PGP9.5 significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the ultrastructure of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network was damaged without gap junction. Compared with model group and low-dose Shuwei Decoction group， the growth value of body mass， the percentage of open arm retention time， the percentage of times entering the open arm， the small intestine propulsion rate， and the gastric empting rate of rats in medium- and high-dose Shuwei Decoction groups increased after gavage； the expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3， P2Y1 protein and mRNA in gastric sinusoidal tissues increased； the co-localization expression of PDGFRα with C-kit， Sk3， SMC and PGP9.5 significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the ultrastructure of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network was intact. Compared with medium-dose Shuwei Decoction group， the protein expressions of PDGFRα， Sk3 and P2Y1， the mRNA expressions of PDGFRα and Sk3， and the co-localization expressions of PDGFRα and C-kit， Sk3， SMC， and PGP9.5 in high-dose Shuwei Decoction group increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionShuwei Decoction can improve the pathological lesion of the gastric antrum in the FD model rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome and increase the gastric emptying rate as well as the small intestinal propusion rate. The mechanism of Shuwei Decoction on FD rats with liver-depression and spleen-deficiency syndrome is related to the protection of the ultrastructural integrity of ENS-PDGFRα⁺ cell-SMC network.

The anti-inflammatory effect of simplified Zhiqin Decoction was observed by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model. The main chemical constituents and the main mechanism of action of simplified Zhiqin Decoction were predicted by network pharmacology. Animal experiments verified the anti-inflammatory mechanism of simplified Zhiqin Decoction (this experiment was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Southwest University, approval number: IACUC-20210825-02). Simplifying Zhiqin Decoction has a significant anti-inflammatory effect on inflammatory mice, can significantly improve the overall macro shape of mice, reduce body temperature, water intake, increase the number of autonomous activities; alleviate liver, lung, spleen, thymus inflammation and pathological damage; decrease tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) content in serum and urine. The contents of serum immune factors IgG, IgA and IgM were increased. Network pharmacology predicted 66 potential anti-inflammatory active components of simplified Zhiqin Decoction involving 132 inflammatory targets, and the key anti-inflammatory signaling pathway involved PI3K/AKT, TNF, JAK-STAT, etc. Animal experiments show that simplified Zhiqin Decoction can significantly reduce the expression of JAK2/STAT-PI3K/AKT-NF-κB-TNF signaling pathway related proteins in lung tissue of inflammatory mice. The results of this study showed that simplified Zhiqin Decoction had significant anti-inflammatory effects, and its main anti-inflammatory components were quercetin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, wogonin, stigmasterol, luteolin, neobaicalein, etc. The main mechanism of its anti-inflammatory action is that it significantly inhibits the expression of JAK2/STAT-PI3K/AKT-NF-κB-TNF signaling pathway protein.

Objective:To explore the value of the Nomogram model established by CT radiomics combined with clinical indicators for prediction of the severity of early acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:From January 2016 to March 2023, the AP patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected. According to the revised Atlanta classification and definition of acute pancreatitis in 2012, all patients were divided into the severe group and the non-severe group. All patients were first diagnosed, and abdominal CT plain scan and enhanced scan were completed within 1 week. Patients were randomly (random number) divided into training and validation groups at a ratio of 7:3. The pancreatic parenchyma was delineated as the region of interest on each phase CT images, and the radiomics features were extracted by python software. LASSO regression and 10-fold cross-validation were used to reduce the dimension and select the optimal features to establish the radiomics signature. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to select the independent predictors of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and a clinical model was established. A Nomogram model was established by combining CT radiomics signature and clinical independent predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each model.Results:Total of 205 AP patients were included (59 cases in severe group, 146 cases in non-severe group). 3, 5, 5 and 5 optimal radiomics features were selected from the plain CT scan, arterial phase, venous phase and delayed phase images of all patients, and the radiomics models were established. Among them, the arterial phase radiomics model had relatively better performance in predicting SAP, with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.937 in the training group and 0.913 in the validation group. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were independent predictors of SAP, and they were used to establish a clinical model. The AUC in the training and validation groups were 0.879 and 0.889, respectively. The Nomogram model based on arterial phase CT radiomics signature, CRP and LDH was established, and the AUC was 0.956 and 0.947 in the training group and validation group, respectively. DCA showed that the net benefit of Nomogram model was higher than that of clinical model or radiomics model alone.Conclusions:The Nomogram model established by CT radiomics combined with clinical indicators has high application value for early prediction of the severity of AP, which is conducive to the formulation of clinical treatment plans and prognosis evaluation.