Constipation is a prevalent ailment which might significantly impact the quality of people's life and rise some associated deseases risks. In this study, a chronic constipation mouse model was established using loperamide hydrochloride. Mice were gavaged an Angelica sinensis Cistanche Fiber Compound, comprised of Dang Gui [Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels], Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma), wheat fiber, and low-molecular-weight xylan at high dosage (3.6 g·kg^-1, 30 times the recommended human dose) and low dosage (0.6 g·kg^-1, 5 times the recommended human dose) for 14 days. The study assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the compound by observing fecal morphology, measuring water content, and conducting small intestine motility experiments. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were conducted to evaluate the serum levels of gastrointestinal hormones including motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), the inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Histopathological examination with H&E staining was employed to evaluate colonic tissue damage. Additionally, Western blot and immunohistochemistry experiments were conducted to examine the expression levels of aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and c-Kit in the colon. The results indicated that the Angelica sinensis Cistanche Fiber Compound could improve fecal morphology, increase fecal water content, enhance small intestinal transit rates in mice. Additionally, there was a significant elevation in the serum levels of gastrointestinal hormones and a notable reduction in the levels of inflammatory factors. The improvement in colonic histopathological damage was accompanied by a marked decrease in the expression of the colonic water channel protein AQP3 and a significant increase in c-Kit expression. These results collectively suggested the presence of a dose-response relationship. These findings indicate that the Angelica sinensis Cistanche Fiber Compound effectively alleviates constipation in mice. Its action is associated with the regulation of colonic water channel protein AQP3 and c-Kit expression, along with the modulation of serum inflammatory factors and gastrointestinal hormones. This experiment was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Jinan University.

Objective To investigate the improvement effect and mechanism of marmesin on cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease(AD)mice.Methods Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups:blank group,model group,low-and high-dose marmesin groups and donepezil(positive drug)group,with 10 mice in each group.After 21 days of continuous administration,except for the blank group,the mice in other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine to establish the AD model.Network pharmacology was used to construct the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network of common targets of marmesin in the treatment of AD,and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed to provide further research direction.The cognitive function of AD model mice was evaluated by Morris water maze,open field test and new object recognition test.Nissl staining was used to observe the damage of hippocampal neurons.The levels of acetylcholine(Ach),acetylcholine transferase(ChAT),acetylcholinesterase(AChE),reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde(MDA)and catalase(CAT)in hippocampus of mice were detected by kit.The protein expression levels of interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 1β(IL-1 β),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(NRF2),silent information regulator homologous protein 3(SIRT3),Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(KEAP1),quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)in hippocampus were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the model group,the latency of Morris water maze test was significantly shortened in the high-dose marmesin group,the time of entering the target area in the open field new object test and the movement distance in the central area of the open field were prolonged,the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions was significantly increased,the levels of ChAT and Ach in the hippocampus were significantly increased,AChE level was significantly decreased,CAT level was significantly increased,ROS and MDA levels were significantly decreased,TNF-α expression level was decreased,SIRT3 and HO-1 expression levels were increased,and KE AP1 protein expression level was decreased,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 or P＜0.001).Conclusion Marmesin can effectively improve the learning and memory impairment of AD mice,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of NRF2/SIRT3 signaling pathway,thereby alleviating oxidative stress level and neuroinflammation,and repairing cholinergic neuron function.

Objective To develop a portable medical oxygen purity analyzer capable of real-time detection of multi-compo-nent gases in medical oxygen or aviation oxygen to ensure the safety of oxygen consumption.Methods The portable medical oxygen purity analyzer with STM3F103RC as the main controller involved in a management module,an oxygen detection module,a carbon monoxide/chlorine detection module,a flow/carbon dioxide detection module and a dew point detection module as its hardware components,which had its human-machine interface programmed with DGUS supervision,control and data acquisition(SCADA)software and system program developed with C language under Keil MDK environment.The performance verification of the analyzer developed was carried out in terms of oxygen detection error and stability and errors for measuring carbon monoxide,chlorine and carbon dioxide.Results The analyzer showed high precision when used to detect oxygen with high volume fraction,with long-term stability and the absolute error restrained within±0.1％;the erros for measuring carbon monoxide,chlorine and carbon dioxide were all limited within±5％FS to meet the desired requirements.Condusion The portable medical oxygen purity analyzer developed with high precision,stability and portability can be used for detection of medical oxygen and aviation oxygen.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(3):36-40]

Objective To observe the clinical effect and safety of recombinant human interferon-α2b(rhIFN-α2b)combined with 5-aminolaevulinic acid photodynamic therapy(ALA-PDT)in the treatment of patients with cervical intraepithelial lesions and human papilloma virus(HPV)infection.Methods The clinical data of patients with cervical intraepithelial lesions and HPV infection were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into control group and treatment group according to cohort method.The control group was treated with rhIFN-α2b gel at posterior fornix,qd.On this basis,the treatment group was treated with ALA-PDT,namely applying 5％ALA temperature-sensitive gel prepared by 118 mg of ketone valerate hydrochloride powder for external use on vaginal surface,combined with photodynamic therapy,once a week.The clinical efficacy,time to recovery from clinical symptoms,recurrence rate,changes in cytokines[interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8)and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)]and immune function[T cell subsets CD3+,CD4+,CD8+and CD4+/CD8+],and safety were compared between the two groups.Results There were 98 cases in treatment group and 100 cases in control group.The total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 93.88％and 83.00％,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).The relief time of lower abdominal pain in treatment group and control group were(3.65±0.52)and(5.26±0.65)d;the time to recovery from abnormal vaginal discharge were(5.77±0.83)and(7.16±0.92)d;the time to recovery from irregular vaginal bleeding were(4.82±0.62)and(6.94±0.77)d;HPV clearance rates were 58.16％and 42.00％;IL-6 levels were(0.16±0.09)and(0.23±0.05)mg·L-1;IL-8 levels were(0.47±0.05)and(0.66±0.07)mg·L-1;IFN-γ levels were(10.07±0.98)and(7.24±0.65)ng·mL-1;CD3+were(71.06±8.29)％and(61.36±6.88)％;CD4+were(48.25±5.94)％and(42.25±5.13)％;CD8+were(20.37±2.42)％and(24.69±2.51)％;CD4+/CD8+were 2.11±0.27 and 1.36±0.16;the differences were all statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Recurrence rates in treatment group and control group were 5.10％and 14.00％,with statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in treatment group and control group were 26.53％and 21.00％,without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion The combined treatment of rhIFN-α2b and ALA-PDT is effective for patients with cervical intraepithelial lesions and HPV infection.It has obvious advantages in improving immunity,relieving inflammatory response and reducing recurrence rate,with good safety.

Objective To study the in vitro expression of three phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH)mutants(p.R243Q,p.R241C,and p.Y356X)and determine their pathogenicity.Methods Bioinformatics techniques were used to predict the impact of PAH mutants on the structure and function of PAH protein.Corresponding mutant plasmids of PAH were constructed and expressed in HEK293T cells.Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of the three PAH mutants,and their protein levels were assessed using Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Bioinformatics analysis predicted that all three mutants were pathogenic.The mRNA expression levels of the p.R243Q and p.R241C mutants in HEK293T cells were similar to the mRNA expression level of the wild-type control(P>0.05),while the mRNA expression level of the p.Y356X mutant significantly decreased(P<0.05).The PAH protein expression levels of all three mutants were significantly reduced compared to the wild-type control(P<0.05).The extracellular concentration of PAH protein was reduced in the p.R241C and p.Y356X mutants compared to the wild-type control(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the p.R243Q mutant and the wild type control(P>0.05).Conclusions p.R243Q,p.R241C and p.Y356X mutants lead to reduced expression levels of PAH protein in eukaryotic cells,with p.R241C and p.Y356X mutants also affecting the function of PAH protein.These three PAH mutants are to be pathogenic.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):188-193]

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

In the process of seeking new strategies to improve the efficacy of antidepressants,traditional Chinese medicine inter-vention has gradually revealed its unique prevention and treat-ment advantages.The dopamine reward system is closely in-volved in the pathological occurrence and development of depres-sion.Currently,research has mostly focused on the functional mechanism of a specific nucleus in the dopamine reward system,and there is less research focused on the functional mechanism of the neural circuit.In the current micro research on reward cir-cuits,the association between abnormal reward circuits and neg-ative emotions such as anxiety and depression has been widely recognized.Traditional Chinese medicine intervention can exert antidepressant effects by influencing reward circuits.This article provides a review on the loop mechanism of dopamine reward system involvement in depression and research on traditional Chinese medicine intervention.

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the laboratory indexes of patients infected with malaria patients and COVID-19, so as to provide reliable evidence for the diagnosis of mixed infection of both. Methods　The routine clinical laboratory items such as routine blood, biochemistry and lymphocyte subsets were tested in three cases of COVID-19 complicated with falciparum malaria who admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from July to December 2020 were tested. Laboratory data were stage-wise analyzed in conjunction with changes in the course of disease. Results　Three patients confirmed COVID-19 infection recruited all had malaria infection history. Fever, headache, and other symptoms emerged on the 4rd to 11th day after admission. Malaria parasite was detected by malaria parasite antigen testing and blood smear testing, and all three patients had re-ignition of malaria after being confirmed COVID-19 infection. In the early stage of malaria relapse, lymphocytes decreased, CRP and SAA increased, and gradually returned to normal level after antimalarial treatment. Interestingly, we only found one patient at the initial stage of malaria detection showed PLT decreased, no other unnormal changes in other routine blood results (WBC, ESO) and liver function results (ALT, AST, GGT, TBIL, DBIL, CG) were found from the beginning to end course of the disease. Conclusion　COVID-19 infection may promote the resurgence of malaria, so the relapse of malaria should be monitored especially for the patient with malaria infection history who begin to develop fever and other symptoms a few days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. The inflammatory indicators would be worth able as an auxiliary judgment basis for the effective treatment of the two combined infection.

Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Ankang City from 2011 to 2021, so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of PTB prevention and control strategy. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of PTB in Ankang City from 2011 to 2021, and a time series model was established to quantitatively predict the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in 2023. Results The incidence rate in Ankang City showed a significant upward trend from 2011 to 2017, and a more obvious downward trend in 2017-2021 (P<0.05), and the decrease rate in 2021 was 40.36% compared with that in 2017. The proportion of etiological positivity increased from 12.5% in 2014 to over 50.00% after 2019. The incidence season was mainly concentrated in the first quarter, accounting for 28.39% of the annual incidence. High incidence areas were concentrated in the south of Ankang: Langao County, Ziyang County and Zhenping County, with 128.32/100 000, 117.07/100 000 and 110.44/100 000, respectively. Low incidence areas were located in the north of Ankang: Ningshan County, with 60.62/100 000. Farmers and students were the high incidence groups, accounting for 81.80% and 4.97% of the total cases respectively. The incidence of young children was relatively low, but cases were reported every year. The incidence rate of male was 2.39 times that of female. The age of onset increased significantly from 15 years old, and the peak incidence was in the age group of 60-<80 years old, followed by the age group of 45-<60 years old, the average annual incidence was 136.44/100 000 and 104.47/100 000, respectively. The model ARIMA(0,1,1)(0,1,1)12 predicted that the incidence of the disease generally increased from October 2022 to March 2023, then steadily decreased, and increased again in December. Conclusions The incidence of tuberculosis varies in different areas of Ankang City, and males, farmers, students and the elderly are all factors of high incidence of tuberculosis. Therefore, different prevention and control strategies should be adopted according to the characteristics of population in different areas. The number of cases in Ankang City in 2023 showed an overall downward trend, which can provide a reference for the prevention and control of PTB.

Objective: To understand the consistency and factors influencing rural parents knowledge, attitude and practice about early childhood sex education, so as to put forward effective suggestions and countermeasures for improving childhood sex education in rural areas. Methods: A multi stage stratified sampling method was used to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of early childhood sex education among 1 015 parents in 16 kindergartens in rural areas of Sichuan from March to May 2019. Chi square text and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze factors affecting the consistency of parents knowledge, attitude and practice of childhood sex education. Results: Nearly 64.9%, 85.9% and 44.7% of parents with sufficient knowledge, support, and implement of early children s sex education, respectively, and the consistency rate of knowledge, attitude and practice were 30.2%. The results of the multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that parents aged <31 years ( OR= 5.35 , 95%CI =2.93-9.77), 31-40 years ( OR=4.82, 95%CI =2.65-8.76) and 41-50 years ( OR=2.37, 95%CI =1.10-5.11), and the mother s education level being middle school ( OR=3.67, 95%CI =1.75-7.69), secondary/high school ( OR=2.83, 95%CI =1.32-6.05) and college/bachelor s degree and above ( OR=5.44, 95%CI =2.23-12.98), sex related questions asked by child ( OR=2.00, 95%CI =1.44-2.78), having sex education in the family ( OR=5.38, 95% CI =3.82-7.59), believing that parents should be responsible for sex education for young children ( OR=2.58, 95%CI =1.40-4.74) had a higher consistency rate of knowledge, attitude and practice in early childhood sex education ( P <0.05). Conclusion In rural areas of Sichuan, although parents highly support early childhood sex education, the eligible rate of knowledge and the implementing rate are quite low, as well as the consistent rate of knowledge, attitude and practice. Relevant departments should pay attention to strengthen publicity and education, especially among older parents, low educated parents and those opposed to or not yet implementing child sex education.