Severe pneumonia is one of the most common and critical respiratory diseases in clinical practice. It is characterized by rapid progression， difficult treatment， high mortality， and many complications， posing a significant threat to the life and health of patients. The pathogenesis of severe pneumonia is highly complex， and studies have shown that its occurrence and development are closely related to multiple signaling pathways. Currently， the treatment of severe pneumonia mainly focuses on anti-infection， mechanical ventilation， and glucocorticoids， but clinical outcomes are often not ideal. Therefore， finding safe and effective alternative therapies is particularly important. In recent years， with the deepening of research into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， it has gained widespread attention in the treatment of severe pneumonia. This paper reviewed the relationship between severe pneumonia and relevant signaling pathways in recent years and how TCM regulated these pathways in the treatment of severe pneumonia. It was found that TCM could regulate the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2） signaling pathways， playing a role in reducing the inflammatory response， inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis， improving oxidative stress， and other effects in the treatment of severe pneumonia. Among these pathways， it was found that all of them regulated inflammation to treat severe pneumonia. Therefore， reducing inflammation is the core mechanism by which Chinese medicine treats severe pneumonia. This review provides direction for the clinical treatment of severe pneumonia and offers a scientific basis for the research and development of new drugs.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and the underlying mechanism. Methods Forty-five healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, model, and BMSCs groups. The model and BMSCs groups received a single irradiation dose of 20 Gy to the chest, while the control group did not receive X-ray irradiation. For the BMSCs group, an injection of 1 × 10⁶ BMSCs cells was administered via the tail vein within 6 h after irradiation. In the 5th week, the lung tissue was taken to observe pathological changes with HE staining; examine the expression of the inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) with immunohistochemical staining; observe the polarization of macrophages with immunofluorescence staining; and measure the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin proteins by Western blot. Results After radiation, the model group developed pulmonary vasodilation and congestion with septal thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration, and these changes were markedly reduced in the BMSCs group. The model group showed significantly down-regulated expression of IL-6 and TNF-α compared with significantly increased levels in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Treatment with BMSCs significantly increased the polarization of lung macrophages towards the M2 type, while significantly decreasing the abnormally increased N-cadherin and vimentin levels in RILI mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion BMSCs have therapeutic effects for RILI mice, which may be through promoting macrophage polarization from M1 to M2.

Objective To investigate the role of hydrogen therapy in reducing radiation-induced lung injury and the specific mechanism. Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, hydrogen therapy group I, and hydrogen therapy group II. A mouse model of radiation-induced lung injury was established. The pathological changes in the lung tissue of the mice were examined with HE staining. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of surface markers of M1 and M2 macrophages to observe macrophage polarization. The expression of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-10 in the lung tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB (P-NF-κB) p65 was measured by Western blot. Results HE staining showed that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited alveolar septal swelling and thickening, vascular dilatation and congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue; the hydrogen groups had significantly reduced pathological damage and inflammatory response than the model group, with more improvements in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Immunohistochemical results showed that compared with those in the control group, the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased in the model group; the hydrogen groups showed significantly decreased IL-6 and TNF-α levels and a significantly increased level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 than the model group, which were more marked in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of the surface marker of M1 macrophages in the model group was significantly upregulated; the hydrogen groups showed significantly downregulated M1 marker and significantly upregulated M2 marker, and hydrogen group II showed significantly increased M2 marker compared with hydrogen group I. Western blot results showed that compared with that in the control group, the ratio of P-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the model group was significantly increased; the P-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 ratio was significantly reduced in the hydrogen groups than in the model group, and was significantly lower in hydrogen group II than in hydrogen group I. Conclusion Hydrogen inhalation therapy may reduce the inflammatory response of radiation-induced lung injury by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway to promote the polarization of the macrophage M1 subtype to the M2 subtype.

Objective To explore the predictive value of gait and balance on the frailty in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older in Shanghai. Methods A total of 414 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older were recruited from Shanghai,from De-cember,2022 to April,2023.They were investigated with Fried's Frailty Phenotype Scale,Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),one leg standing test(OLST)and self-designed questionnaire.The factors related to frailty were ana-lyzed using multivariate Logistic regression. Results The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 62.8%and 10.9%,respectively.Living in rural residence,older age,low income,smoking,sedentary lifestyle and no regular exercise were the risk factors for frailty among com-munity-dwelling older adults.Time of TUGT increased,and time of closed eyes OLST descreased respectively in the frail older adults(P<0.05).The area under curve was 0.846(95%CI 0.808 to 0.884,P<0.001)as prediction for frailty using the combination of TUGT and closed eye OLST,with a sensitivity of 0.726 and a specificity of 0.817 at the optimal threshold. Conclusion Gait and balance may be a valuable predictor of frailty in community-dwelling older adults in Shanghai.

Objective To explore the efficacy of different incision surgeries combined with respiratory function exercise under the guidance of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in lung cancer patients.Methods From January 2020 to December 2022,a total of 200 patients in Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were collected and randomly divided into 4 groups,with 50 patients in each group.Patients in group A received single-hole thoracoscopic surgery,preoperative ERAS concept education and respiratory trainer combined with routine respiratory function exercise;patients in group B received subaxillary non-invasive small incision surgery,preoperative ERAS concept education and respiratory trainer combined with routine respiratory function exercise;patients in group C received subaxillary non-invasive small incision surgery,preoperative routine hospitalization education and respiratory function exercise;patients in group D received single-hole thoracoscopic surgery,preoperative routine hospitalization education and respiratory function exercise.The postoperative recovery indicators and postoperative pain score were compared among the four groups.Results Compared with the other three groups,patients in group A had reduced incidence of pulmonary complications,earlier mobilization,earlier removal of the chest tube and shorter length of hospital stay(P＜0.05);compared with group B and group C,patients in group A had reduced postoperative pain score(P＜0.05).Compared with group C,patients in group B had reduced incidence of pulmonary complications,earlier mobilization,earlier removal of the chest tube and shorter length of hospital stay(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in postoperative pain score between patients in group A and group D,and patients in group B and group C.Conclusions For lung cancer patients,single-hole thoracoscopic surgery combined with respiratory function exercise under the guidance of ERAS concept can effectively reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications and postoperative pain,and promote postoperative recovery.

Objective:To investigate respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock in pediatric care units (PICU) in China and its influence on clinical outcomes.Methods:The clinical data of children with septic shock in children′s PICU from January 2018 to December 2019 in 10 Chinese hospitals were retrospectively collected. They were divided into the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 groups according to the onset of disease, and the characteristics and composition of respiratory virus in the 2 groups were compared. Matching age, malignant underlying diseases, bacteria, fungi and other viruses, a new database was generated using 1∶1 propensity score matching method. The children were divided into the respiratory virus group and non-respiratory virus group according to the presence or absence of respiratory virus infection; their clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment were compared by t-test, rank sum test and Chi-square test. The correlation between respiratory virus infection and the clinical outcomes was analyzed by logistic regression. Results:A total of 1 247 children with septic shock were included in the study, of them 748 were male; the age was 37 (11, 105) months. In the pre-and post-COVID-19 groups, there were 530 and 717 cases of septic shock, respectively; the positive rate of respiratory virus was 14.9% (79 cases) and 9.8% (70 cases); the seasonal distribution of septic shock was 28.9% (153/530) and 25.9% (185/717) in autumn, and 30.3% (161/530) and 28.3% (203/717) in winter, respectively, and the corresponding positive rates of respiratory viruses were 19.6% (30/153) and 15.7% (29/185) in autumn, and 21.1% (34/161) and 15.3% (31/203) in winter, respectively. The positive rates of influenza virus and adenovirus in the post-COVID-19 group were lower than those in the pre-COVID-19 group (2.1% (15/717) vs. 7.5% (40/530), and 0.7% (5/717) vs. 3.2% (17/530), χ2=21.51 and 11.08, respectively; all P<0.05). Rhinovirus virus were higher than those in the pre-Covid-19 group (1.7% (12/717) vs. 0.2% (1/530), χ2=6.51, P=0.011). After propensity score matching, there were 147 cases in both the respiratory virus group and the non-respiratory virus group. Rate of respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress, rate of disseminated coagulation dysfunction, and immunoglobulin usage of the respiratory virus group were higher than those of non-respiratory virus group (77.6% (114/147) vs. 59.2% (87/147), 17.7% (26/147) vs. 4.1% (6/147), 15.6% (25/147) vs. 4.1% (7/147), and 35.4% (52/147) vs. 21.4% (32/147); χ2=11.07, 14.02, 11.06 and 6.67, all P<0.05); and PICU hospitalization of the former was longer than that of the later (7 (3, 16) vs. 3 (1, 7)d, Z=5.01, P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of respiratory viral infection was associated with respiratory failure, disseminated coagulation dysfunction, the use of mechanical ventilation, and the use of immunoglobulin and anti-respiratory viral drugs ( OR=2.42, 0.22, 0.25, 0.56 and 1.12, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The composition of respiratory virus infection in children with septic shock is different between pre and post-COVID-19. Respiratory viral infection is associated with organ dysfunction in children with septic shock. Decreasing respiratory viral infection through respiratory protection may improve the clinical outcome of these children.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, pathogen composition, and prognosis of septic shock in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in China.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with septic shock from 10 hospitals in China between January 2018 and December 2021. The clinical features, pathogen composition, and outcomes were collected. Patients were categorized into malignant tumor and non-malignant tumor groups, as well as survival and mortality groups. T test, Mann Whitney U test or Chi square test were used respectively for comparing clinical characteristics and prognosis between 2 groups. Multiple Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for mortality. Results:A total of 1 247 children with septic shock were included, with 748 males (59.9%) and the age of 3.1 (0.9, 8.8) years. The in-patient mortality rate was 23.2% (289 cases). The overall pathogen positive rate was 68.2% (851 cases), with 1 229 pathogens identified. Bacterial accounted for 61.4% (754 strains) and virus for 24.8% (305 strains). Among all bacterium, Gram negative bacteria constituted 64.2% (484 strains), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter being the most common; Gram positive bacteria comprised 35.8% (270 strains), primarily Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Influenza virus (86 strains (28.2%)), Epstein-Barr virus (53 strains (17.4%)), and respiratory syncytial virus (46 strains (17.1%)) were the top three viruses. Children with malignant tumors were older and had higher pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) Ⅲ score, paediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) score (7.9 (4.3, 11.8) vs. 2.3 (0.8, 7.5) years old, 22 (16, 26) vs. 16 (10, 24) points, 10 (5, 14) vs. 8 (4, 12) points, Z=11.32, 0.87, 4.00, all P<0.05), and higher pathogen positive rate, and in-hospital mortality (77.7% (240/309) vs. 65.1% (611/938), 29.7% (92/309) vs. 21.0% (197/938), χ2=16.84, 10.04, both P<0.05) compared to the non-tumor group. In the death group, the score of PRISM Ⅲ, pSOFA (16 (22, 29) vs. 14 (10, 20) points, 8 (12, 15) vs. 6 (3, 9) points, Z=4.92, 11.88, both P<0.05) were all higher, and presence of neoplastic disease, positive rate of pathogen and proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation in death group were also all higher than those in survival group (29.7% (87/289) vs. 23.2% (222/958), 77.8% (225/289) vs. 65.4% (626/958), 73.7% (213/289) vs. 50.6% (485/958), χ2=5.72, 16.03, 49.98, all P<0.05). Multiple Logistic regression showed that PRISM Ⅲ, pSOFA, and malignant tumor were the independent risk factors for mortality ( OR=1.04, 1.09, 0.67, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, 1.04-1.12, 0.47-0.94, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Bacterial infection are predominant in pediatric septic shock, but viral infection are also significant. Children with malignancies are more severe and resource consumptive. The overall mortality rate for pediatric septic shock remains high, and mortality are associated with malignant tumor, PRISM Ⅲ and pSOFA scores.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yitangkang on browning of white adipose and PINK1/Parkin pathway of mitophagy in adipose tissue of db/db mice.Methods Totally 30 six-week db/db mice were randomly divided into model group,Yitangkang Group(30 g/kg)and liraglutide group(200 μg/kg),and another 10 C57BL/6 mice of the same age were set as normal group.All groups were treated with corresponding drugs or normal saline for 5 weeks.During the period of administration,the body mass and fasting blood glucose(FBG)of mice in each group were detected regularly,the samples of liver,white and brown adipose of mice were weighed,the contents of serum triglyceride cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were detected by biochemical analyzer,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of inguinal white adipose tissue(iWAT),immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of browning marker protein uncoupling protein-1(UCP1)in iWAT,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of browning-related proteins UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and mitophagy-related proteins PINK1,Parkin,Beclin-1,p62 in iWAT.Results Compared with the normal group,the body mass,liver,white adipose and brown adipose mass of the model group significantly increased(P<0.01),the FBG and serum TG,TC and LDL-C contents significantly increased(P<0.01),and the content of HDL-C significantly decreased(P<0.01);large vacuoles in iWAT adipocytes,the diameter of adipocytes increased obviously,some adipocytes were extruded and deformed,and the edge of adipocytes was not clear,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the body mass,liver and white adipose mass significantly decreased in Yitangkang group and the liraglutide group(P<0.01),FBG and serum contents of TC,TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while HDL-C content significantly increased(P<0.01);the diameter of iWAT adipocytes decreased,the number increased,and the morphology was regular,the expressions of iWAT UCP1,PRDM16,PGC-1α and p62 proteins increased(P<0.01),while the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and Beclin-1 proteins decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yitangkang can improve glucose and lipid metabolism and promote browning of white adipose in db/db mice,which may be related to mitophagy mediated by PINK1/Parkin pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the value of preoperative vascular ultrasound parameters in predicting the postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with gynecological malignant tumors.Methods:Ninety-nine patients with gynecological malignant tumors, aged>18 yr, with body mass index<30 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia, were selected. Vascular ultrasound examination was performed before surgery. The flow velocity and diameter of common femoral vein (CFV), deep femoral vein (DFV), popliteal vein (POV), and intermuscular vein (IMV) were recorded. Ultrasound examination of lower limb veins (including anterior tibial vein, posterior tibial vein, IMV, CFV, DFV, POV) were conducted at 1-8 days after surgery to determine whether a DVT occurred. The receiver operating charcateristic curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of each indicator in predicting the lower extremity DVT, and the cut-off value was determined based on the maximum principle of Jorden index. Results:The incidence of lower extremity DVT was 13.1%. The area under the curve (95% confidence interval) of the preoperative CFV flow velocity and diameter, DFV flow velocity and diameter, POV flow velocity and diameter, IMV flow velocity and diameter in predicting the lower extremity DVT were 0.769 (0.616-0.923) and 0.800 (0.644-0.950), 0.797 (0.641-0.954) and 0.771 (0.596-0.945), 0.806 (0.645-0.968) and 0.754 (0.606-0.903), 0.764 (0.615-0.914) and 0.818 (0.645-0.990), respectively ( P<0.05), and the predicted cut-off values were 27.13 cm/s and 11.93 mm, 19.31 cm/s and 10.15 mm, 16.04 cm/s and 8.79 mm, 14.39 cm/s and 8.68 mm, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity were 90.0%, 71.4% and 90.0%, 74.3%; 90.0%, 74.3% and 90.0%, 68.6%; 90.0%, 82.9% and 90.0%, 72.9%; 90.0%, 70.0% and 80.0%, 87.1%, respectively. Conclusions:Preoperative vascular vascular ultrasound parameters can accurately predict the occurrence of postoperative lower extremity DVT in patients with gynecological malignant tumors.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Sulforaphane(SFN)against high glucose(HG)-induced human platelet apoptosis and elucidate the underlying mechanisms in vitro.Methods Purified platelets obtained from healthy individuals were pre-incubated with various concentrations of SFN(5,10,or 20 μmol/L)or a vehicle control(0.05%DMSO)for 40 minutes at 37℃.Subsequently,the platelets were stimulated with normal glucose(NG,5 mmol/L)or high glucose(HG,25 mmol/L)for an additional duration of 90 minutes.Flow cytometry was employed to assess platelet mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization(Δψm),exposure of phosphatidylserine(PS),and generation of total intraplatelet reactive oxygen species(ROS).Phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt were determined using Western blot.Results Compared to NG-treated human platelets,HG significantly induced depolarization of platelet Δψm and exposure of PS(P＜0.001).These effects of HG were markedly attenuated by various concentrations of SFN(P＜0.001).Mechanistically,SFN down-regulated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K(P＜0.01)and Akt(P＜0.05),which were increased by HG when compared to the vehicle control,and substantially reduced total intracellular ROS levels(P＜0.001).The inhibitory effects of SFN on HG-induced phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt,as well as its efficacy on total intracellular ROS generation,Δψm depolarization,and PS exposure in HG-stimulated human platelets were completely reversed by a specific agonist for PI3K,740 Y-P.Conclusions The current study demonstrates that SFN exerts a protective effect on platelet apoptosis induced by HG,potentially through the down-regulation of the PI3K/Akt-mediated pathway in human platelets in vitro.These findings suggest that SFN may hold promise for improving thrombosis in diabetes mellitus and related chronic metabolic diseases.