ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Kaixinsan in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease （AD） based on network pharmacology， molecular docking， and animal experimental validation. MethodsThe Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP） and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine（ETCM） databases were used to obtain the active ingredients and targets of Kaixinsan. GeneCards， Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man（OMIM）， TTD， PharmGKB， and DrugBank databases were used to obtain the relevant targets of AD. The intersection （common targets） of the active ingredient targets of Kaixinsan and the relevant targets of AD was taken， and the network interaction analysis of the common targets was carried out in the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction（PPI） network. The CytoNCA plugin within Cytoscape was used to screen out the core targets， and the Metascape platform was used to perform gene ontology（GO） functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. The “drug-active ingredient-target” interaction network was constructed with the help of Cytoscape 3.8.2， and AutoDock Vina was used for molecular docking. Scopolamine （SCOP） was utilized for modeling and injected intraperitoneally once daily. Thirty-two male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into blank control （CON） group （0.9% NaCl， n=8）， model （SCOP） group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， n=8）， positive control group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of SCOP+3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of Donepezil， n=8）， and Kaixinsan group （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 of SCOP+6.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1 of Kaixinsan， n=8）. Mice in each group were administered with 0.9% NaCl， Kaixinsan， or Donepezil by gavage twice a day for 14 days. Morris water maze experiment was used to observe the learning memory ability of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining method was used to observe the pathological changes in the CA1 area of the mouse hippocampus. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to determine the serum acetylcholine （ACh） and acetylcholinesterase （AChE） contents of mice. Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3（STAT3） and nuclear transcription factor（NF）-κB p65 in the hippocampus of mice. ResultsA total of 73 active ingredients of Kaixinsan were obtained， and 578 potential targets （common targets） of Kaixinsan for the treatment of AD were screened out. Key active ingredients included kaempferol， gijugliflozin， etc.. Potential core targets were STAT3， NF-κB p65， et al. GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 3 124 biological functions， 254 cellular building blocks， and 461 molecular functions. KEGG pathway enrichment obtained 248 pathways， mainly involving cancer-related pathways， TRP pathway， cyclic adenosine monophosphate（cAMP） pathway， and NF-κB pathway. Molecular docking showed that the binding of the key active ingredients to the target targets was more stable. Morris water maze experiment indicated that Kaixinsan could improve the learning memory ability of SCOP-induced mice. HE staining and ELISA results showed that Kaixinsan had an ameliorating effect on central nerve injury in mice. Western blot test indicated that Kaixinsan had a down-regulating effect on the levels of NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and STAT3 phosphorylation in the hippocampal tissue of mice in the SCOP model. ConclusionKaixinsan can improve the cognitive impairment function in SCOP model mice and may reduce hippocampal neuronal damage and thus play a therapeutic role in the treatment of AD by regulating NF-κB p65， STAT3， and other targets involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the differences of regional homogeneity(ReHo)between overweight and normal weight male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)during rest and their correlations with clinical features.Methods Twenty-five untreated male overweight T2DM(OW-T2DM)patients,25 untreated male normal weight T2DM(NW-T2DM)patients and 25 healthy controls(HC)were enrolled.The brain structure and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were collected from all subjects.The brain structure and rs-fMRI data were preprocessed,and ReHo values of all brain regions were calculated for all subjects.ReHo values were compared among three groups and between groups respectively via the methods of one-way analysis of variance and two-sample t-test.To address the problem of multiple comparisons,the method of AlphaSim was performed(the threshold was set at P<0.005,the number of voxel clusters was>12).In addition,Pearson correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationships between ReHo values of the abnormal brain regions and clinical features in patients.Results(1)The brain regions showed differences of ReHo values among three groups were mainly distributed in the right hemisphere,including the superior parietal gyrus,superior marginal gyrus and superior occipital gyrus;(2)Compared with HC,NW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the right medial superior frontal gyrus,right middle cingulate gyrus and left anterior cingulate gyrus;(3)Compared with HC,OW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and bilateral middle cingulate gyrus;(4)Compared with NW-T2DM patients,OW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the right superior parietal gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus and left cuneus;(5)ReHo values of the right medial superior frontal gyrus and right superior parietal gyrus were negatively correlated with hemoglobinA1c(HbA1c)level and body mass index(BMI),respectively,in all patients.Conclusion The occurrence of T2DM in male patients may lead to the declined activity of brain regions located in the default mode network(DMN),while overweight may further lead to decreased brain activity within the attention and visual recognition network in male T2DM patients.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in elderly critically ill patients and construct a related risk prediction model. Methods Clinical materials of 8 905 patients with catheterization in the geriatric ICU ward of Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from January 2014 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into infection group (n=114) and non-infection group (n=8 791) based on the occurrence of CAUTI. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for CAUTI, and a Nomogram prediction model was constructed. Internal validation was performed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test to assess the discrimination and calibration of the prediction model. Results In this study, the incidence of CAUTI in elderly critically ill patients was 2.55‰. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, consciousness status, renal dysfunction, duration of catheterization, and the number of catheter insertions were independent influencing factors for CAUTI in elderly critically ill patients. A Nomogram model was constructed based on the results of the regression analysis. Area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curve for internal validation by the Bootstrap method was 0.802 (95%CI, 0.796 to 0.809). The calibration curve was close to the standard curve, and the predicted values were generally consistent with the actual values, demonstrating good predictive performance of the model. Conclusion Age, renal dysfunction, consciousness status, duration of catheterization, and the number of catheter insertions are independent influencing factors for CAUTI in elderly critically ill patients. Nomogram prediction model established based on these factors is simple and feasible, with reliable predictive performance.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride tablets (II) in the treatment of primary hypertension.Methods:A total of 280 patients with primary hypertension who were treated at Shougang Shuigang Hospital between June 2022 and June 2023 were selected as study subjects. A clinical case-control study was conducted, and the RAND function method was utilized to randomly allocate the subjects into four groups, each receiving a different treatment: amlodipine besylate group (Group A, n = 70), benazepril hydrochloride group (Group B, n = 70), compound formulation amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride tablets group (Group C, n = 71), and amlodipine besylate plus benazepril hydrochloride group (Group D, n = 69). Relevant therapeutic indicators (blood pressure compliance rate, changes in blood pressure values) and safety indicators (adverse reactions, medication adherence) were observed. Results:The blood pressure compliance rates of Group C and Group D were 91.5% (65/71) and 89.9% (62/69), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.24, P = 0.143), but both were higher than the rates of 77.1% (54/70) and 74.3% (52/70) in Group A and Group B, respectively ( χ2 = 5.68, 4.86, P = 0.004, 0.012). Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the four groups of patients (all P > 0.05). After treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the four groups compared with their pre-treatment levels (all P < 0.05). Specifically, Group C and Group D exhibited significant reductions in blood pressure following treatment ( t = 4.35, 5.12, 7.25, 5.86, all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference in systolic blood pressure between Group C and Group D after treatment ( P > 0.05), while diastolic blood pressure was lower in Group C than Group D after treatment ( t = 6.01, P < 0.05). There was a significant downward trend observed in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (all P < 0.05). Notably, Group B and Group D reported higher incidences of dry cough, with 15 and 10 cases, respectively, compared with Group A and Group C, which had 1 and 3 cases, respectively. These differences were statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.25, 5.04, both P < 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment compliance rates for Group A, Group B, and Group C were 72.9% (51/70), 71.4% (50/70), and 74.6% (53/71), respectively, all exceeding the 46.4% (32/69) compliance rate of Group D. These differences were also statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.68, 5.24, 4.98, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:The clinical efficacy and safety of the compound formulation amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride tablets (II) in the treatment of primary hypertension are superior to those of single tablets and combination therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of two brothers featuring X-linked alpha thalassemia mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome. METHODS: An infant who had presented at the Qilu Children's Hospital in 2020 for unstable upright head and inability to roll over and his family were selected as the study subjects. The clinical features of the child and one of his brothers were summarized, and their genomic DNA was subjected to targeted capture and next generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: The brothers had presented with mental retardation and facial dysmorphisms. NGS revealed that they had both harbored a hemizygous c.5275C>A variant of the ATRX gene located on the X chromosome, which was inherited from their mother. CONCLUSION The siblings were diagnosed with ATR-X syndrome. The discovery of the c.5275C>A variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the ATRX gene.
Humans ; Infant ; Male ; alpha-Thalassemia/diagnosis* ; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics* ; East Asian People ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked/diagnosis* ; Pedigree ; X-linked Nuclear Protein/genetics*

Objective:To examine the expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) in the peripheral blood and cancerous tissues of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:The expression of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in the peripheral blood of 50 individuals with PTC (PTC group) , 25 patients with benign thyroid tumors (BTT group) from Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Beilun branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and 20 healthy controls (healthy control group) from physical examination center was assessed by ELISA. Immunohistochemical examination of HLA-G levels was also performed on tissue specimens from patients in the PTC and BTT groups, and their correlation with clinicopathological features of thyroid cancer was analyzed. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. The measurement data of normal distribution were tested by two independent samples t test. Chi square test was used to compare the rates between the two groups. Results:The sHLA-G expression in peripheral blood was 21.33 (±5.54) , 22.73 (±4.99) , and 18.29 (±4.43) ng/mL in the preoperative PTC, BTT, and healthy control groups, respectively. Compared to the healthy group, sHLA-G levels were considerably higher in the PTC and BTT groups, with statistically significant differences (totally P < 0.05) . There was no significant difference in statistically sHLA-G levels between the BTT and PTC groups ( P > 0.05) . The positive HLA-G expression rate in PTC tissues was 78% (39/50) . There was no evidence of HLA-G expression in common tissues adjacent to PTC. HLA-G was not expressed in benign tumors. HLA-G was linked with the PTC tumor diameter, and the rate of positive expression was considerably greater with tumor diameters >1 cm than with those ≤1 cm ( P<0.05) . The rate of HLA-G positive expression was not significantly correlated with sex, age, multiple foci, extra-glandular invasion, metastasis of lymph nodes, or the TNM stage in PTC individuals ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:HLA-G is significantly expressed at high levels in PTC tissues, is correlated with the tumor diameter, and may probably have a significant role in this disease. Peripheral blood sHLA-G may be associated with thyroid tumorigenesis, and its value in PTC requires further verification.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin D diet early in life on airway inflammation in different endotypes of asthma mice models.Methods:In the Animal House of Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in June 2022, the BALB/c mice with 14 d pregnant were selected, the offspring mice were divided into vitamin D sufficient group and vitamin D deficient group by random number table method with 12 each. The mice in the vitamin D sufficient group were given a feed with sufficient vitamin D content, while the mice in the vitamin D deficient group were given a feed without vitamin D. At the age of 8 weeks, the mice were sensitized and stimulated with ovalbumin to establish a T2 type asthma model, while the mice were sensitized and stimulated with ovalbumin combined with ozone exposure to establish a non-T2 type asthma model, with 6 mice in each model. The level of serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D 3 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The lung tissue was stained with HE to evaluate the inflammatory response score and calculate the eosinophils density and neutrophils density. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17A, the inflammatory cell count (total cell count, neutrophil count and eosinophil count) were detected. Results:The 25 hydroxy vitamin D 3 in T2 type asthma mice and non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group were significantly lower than that in vitamin D sufficient group: (8.12 ± 1.72) μg/L vs. (26.63 ± 2.54) μg/L and (6.86 ± 1.65) μg/L vs. (23.81 ± 3.09) μg/L, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01). The inflammatory response score in non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group was significantly higher than that in non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D sufficient group: (2.58 ± 0.49) scores vs. (1.83 ± 0.21) scores, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05), there was no statistical differences in inflammatory response score in T2 type asthma mice between two groups ( P>0.05). The neutrophils density and eosinophils density in T2 type asthma mice and non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group were significantly higher than those in vitamin D sufficient group, T2 type asthma mice: (20.30 ± 1.95) cells/100 μm vs. (12.58 ± 1.04) cells/100 μm and (5.25 ± 0.62) cells/100 μm vs. (3.15 ± 0.35) cells/100 μm; non-T2 type asthma mice: (53.48±5.19) cells/100 μm vs. (33.80 ± 2.74) cells/100 μm and (3.00 ± 0.29) cells/100 μm vs. (2.17 ± 0.21) cells/100 μm, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). The BALF total cell count in T2 type asthma mice and non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D sufficient group, the BALF eosinophil count in T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group was significantly higher than that in T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D sufficient group, the BALF neutrophil count in non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group was significantly higher than that in T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D sufficient group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in BALF neutrophil count in T2 type asthma mice between two groups ( P>0.05); there was no statistical difference in BALF eosinophil count in non-T2 type asthma mice between two groups ( P>0.05). The BALF total cell count and neutrophil count in non-T2 type asthma mice of both groups were significantly higher than those in T2 type asthma mice, but the BALF eosinophil count in T2 type asthma mice was significantly higher non-T2 type asthma mice, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The BALF IL-4, IL-6 and IL-17A in T2 type asthma mice and non-T2 type asthma mice of vitamin D deficient group were significantly higher than those in vitamin D sufficient group, the BALF IL-10 was significantly lower than those in vitamin D sufficient group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). In vitamin D deficient group, the BALF IL-4 in non-T2 type asthma mice was significantly lower than that in T2 type asthma mice, the BALF IL-6 and IL-17A were significantly higher than those in T2 type asthma mice, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); in vitamin D sufficient group, the BALF IL-6 and IL-17A in non-T2 type asthma mice were significantly higher than those in T2 type asthma mice, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Vitamin D deficiency is involved in different mechanisms of airway inflammation in T2 type asthma and non-T2 type asthma, and this effect may be more obvious for non-T2 type asthma.

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated li-pocalin(NGAL)and autophagy during different time of renal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)injury in rats.Methods The rat renal I/R in-jury model was established,thirty male Wistar rats were divided by random number table method into sham operation group(Sham group)and I/R group,according to the different time of reperfusion after I/R injury,the I/R group was divided into 4subgroups:2h group,6h group,24h group,48h group.Blood,urine and renal tissue samples were collected at different time points,NGAL levels of blood and u-rineweredetectedbyenzyme-linkedimmunoadsordentassay(ELISA)method.Bloodureanitrogen(BU)and serum creatinine(SCr)were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to detect the degree of histopathological injury and score the degree of injury.TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)method was used to detect the apoptosis of renal tubular ep-ithelial cells;the expression of autophagy related genes LC3 and Beclin-1gene was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)method.Results The expression levels of NGAL in blood and urine were elevated in the 2h after I/R injury,and peaked at 6h of reperfusion,and showed a downward trend at 24h.BU and Scr values began to increase after the 6h reperfusion of I/R in-jury and peaked at 24h of reperfusion.TUNEL positive cells began to increase at 6h after I/R injury,the number of the highest was at 24h reperfusion of I/R injury.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that there were different degrees of swelling and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial tissue in all groups after I/R injury.The expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 gene began to increased after the 6h reperfusion of I/R injury and peaked at 24h of reperfusion.Conclusion The expression level of NGAL increased at the early stage of renal I/R injury in rats,which was earlier than the changes of BU and SCr levels,and could be used as a molecular indicator for early diagnosis of renal I/R injury.During the aggravation of renal I/R injury,the expression of NGAL was increased and autophagy was activated,which indica-ted that NGAL and autophagy played a certain role in the process of renal I/R injury.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of COVID-19 confirmed cases with viral nucleic acid re-positive in anal and/or throat swabs after discharge during the domestic imported epidemic stage in Guangdong Province in early 2020. Methods: The COVID-19 confirmed cases with the onset time before March 1, 2020 in Guangdong Province were collected to analyze the demographic data, epidemiological characteristics, and specimen collection and testing data after discharge. Logistic regression model was used for influencing factors analysis of re-positive cases. Results: A total of 1 286 COVID-19 confirmed cases were included, the M(Q₁,Q₃) of age was 44(32,58)years, 617 cases were male, 224 cases were re-positive in anal and/or throat swabs with the re-positive rate 17.42%. The M(Q₁,Q₃) of age of re-positive cases was 35(23, 50) years, which was younger than that of re-negative cases age was those 46(33, 59) years (P<0.001). With the increase of age, re-positive rate decreased (χ²_trend=52.73, P<0.001). 85.27% (191/224) of re-positive cases were found in 14 d after discharge, the duration time of re-positive status was 13(7, 24) d, and 81.69% (183/224) of re-positive cases were re-tested negative in 28 d after re-positive date. No fever and other symptoms had been observed among re-positive cases during the whole follow-up. No secondary infectious cases had been found among close contacts after 14 d of centralized isolation and sampling screening. Univariate logistic regression model analysis revealed that the influencing factors of the re-positive cases included age, occupation, clusters, clinical types, and admission time. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis revealed that age was an independent risk factor. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid re-positive is found in COVID-19 confirmed cases after discharge in Guangdong Province. Most re-positive cases are confirmed among 14 d after discharge and re-test to negative among 28 d after re-positive date. Age is an risk factor for re-positive cases after discharge.
COVID-19 ; China/epidemiology* ; Epidemics ; Humans ; Male ; Nucleic Acids ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, therapeutic modalities and prognosis of desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) in children, and to summarize the international research progress.Methods:A total of 8 children with DSRCT admitted to Shanghai Children′s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, from January 1999 to August 2019 were retrospectively studied.The clinical characteristics, consultation process and follow-up results were summarized, and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method was used to calculate the survival rate.Results:Among these 8 cases, there were 6 male children and 2 female children.Seven cases originated in the abdomen and pelvis, and 1 case originated in the sacral region.All cases had infiltrate surrounding tissues or viscera, and 4 cases(50%) had extra-peritoneal metastasis, including distant lymph node metastasis, liver, lung and bone metastasis.All patients received chemotherapy, among which 3 patients received radiotherapy, and 2 patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.The medical follow-up was continued to February 15, 2020, with the median follow-up period being 59 months.Three cases died and 5 cases survived (2 cases in complete remission, 1 case in recurrent relapse, 2 cases in partial remission still under treatment). The median relapse time was 14.5 months, the 3-year relapse-free survival rate was (30.0±17.5)%, and 3-year overall survival was (51.4±20.4)%.Conclusions:Half of DSRCT had distant metastasis; the prognosis was poor despite the aggressive multimodality therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery, and whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation.