The concept of "spirit" in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） aligns closely with "the liver governs the designing of strategy". By exploring the relationship between the liver and executive function decline， it is proposed that prolonged liver constraint leads to indecisiveness in strategy designing， which is the initiating factor for executive function decline； liver blood deficiency causes difficulties in executing strategy， which forms an essential foundation for the progression of executive function decline； obstruction in the "liver-du mai-brain" pathway leads to unclear strategy designing， which accelerates executive function decline. This relationship is examined from the perspectives of TCM， modern medicine， and cognitive psychology， aiming to provide insights into addressing executive function decline through treatments focused on the liver.

To analyze the distribution of serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Salmonella isolates from multiple centers across China.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of exogenous interleukin-18 (IL-18) binding protein (IL-18BP) on sepsis-associated lung injury and the role of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes in rats.Methods:This study was performed in two parts. Experiment Ⅰ Thirty-six SPF-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 200 g, were allocated into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), sepsis-associated lung injury group (SLI group), and sepsis-associated lung injury+ IL-18BP group (SI group). The rat model of sepsis-associated lung injury was developed using cecal ligation and puncture. The rats in group S underwent laparotomy without the subsequent ligation and puncture procedures. IL-18BP 1.5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after surgery in group SI. Experiment Ⅱ The aforementioned 36 rats were allocated into 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sepsis-associated lung injury + IL-18BP + vehicle group (SIV group), sepsis-associated lung injury + IL-18BP + MCC950 group (SIM group), and sepsis-associated lung injury + IL-18BP + nigericin group (SIN group). In SIV group, SIM group and SIN group, solvent, MCC950 (NLRP3 inhibitor, 5 mg/kg) and nigerin (NLRP3 agonist, 2 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected at 30 min before surgery respectively, and IL-18BP 1.5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected after operation. HE staining was used to observe the lung injury at 24 h after operation. The left lung tissues were obtained for calculation of the wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio. The concentrations of IL-18 and IL-18BP in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The percentage of NLRP3 positive cells in lung tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. The expression of IL-18, IL-18BP, cl-caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in lung tissues was detected by Western blot. Results:Experiment Ⅰ Compared with group S, the injury score of lung tissues, W/D ratio, concentrations of IL-18 and IL-18BP in BALF, and percentage of NLRP3 positive cells were significantly increased, and the expression of IL-18, IL-18BP, cl-caspase-1 and N-GSDMD was up-regulated in group SLI ( P<0.05). Compared with group SLI, the injury score of lung tissues, W/D ratio, concentrations of IL-18 and IL-18BP in BALF, and percentage of NLRP3 positive cells were significantly decreased, the expression of IL-18, cl-caspase-1 and N-GSDMD was down-regulated, and the expression of IL-18BP was up-regulated in group SI ( P<0.05). Experiment Ⅱ Compared with group SIV, the injury score of lung tissues, W/D ratio, concentrations of IL-18 in BALF, and percentage of NLRP3 positive cells were significantly decreased, and the expression of IL-18, cl-caspase-1 and N-GSDMD was down-regulated in group SIM, and the injury score of lung tissues, W/D ratio, concentrations of IL-18 in BALF, and percentage of NLRP3 positive cells were significantly increased, and the expression of IL-18, cl-caspase-1 and N-GSDMD was up-regulated in group SIN ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Exogenous IL-18BP can reduce sepsis-associated lung injury, and the mechanism is related to inhibition of activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in rats.

Abstract： Objective　To investigate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from blood cultures of patients with bloodstream infections in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 2015 to January 2022. Methods　Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from blood cultures of patients with bloodstream infections at Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 2015 to January 2022 were collected for the study. Bacterial identification, drug sensitivity testing, and an improved carbapenem inactivation test were conducted to screen for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Next-generation sequencing was performed on all strains, while whole genome sequencing was carried out on two strains that tested positive for the modified Hodge test indicating resistance to carbapenems. Results　A total of 431 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from blood cultures of patients with bloodstream infections at Shanxi Bethune Hospital between January 2015 to January 2022, among which 33 were carbapenem-resistant strains including 11 highly virulent ones and 2 of these exhibited positive for the modified Hodge test. All strains were resistant to both ertapenem and imipenem, with only one strain being intermediate-resistant to meropenem. Among the 33 resistant strains, KPC-2 was detected in 26 strains and NDM-1 in 4; three strains possessed dual carbapenemase types (KPC-2/NDM-9, KPC-2/OXA-1, NDM-1/OXA-1), while four did not show any detectable carbapenem-resistance genes. Evolutionary analysis following next-generation sequencing revealed that the main sequence types (ST) among these isolates were ST11, ST147, and ST412; and the predominant serotypes were KL64, KL47, and KL25. The plasmid conjugal transfer experiments were successful in 18 strains. The two high virulence strains identified in the modified Hodge test were found to carry virulence and resistance plasmids upon whole genome sequencing. Conclusions　The detection of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients with bloodstream infections has been increasing annually since 2015, with an outbreak occurring in 2021. The carbapenemase KPC-2 gene was the most prevalent, with the majority of strains being of the ST11/KL64 type. Strengthening screening and control measures for clinical drug-resistant strains is crucial for effective anti-infective treatment.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Purpose: Treatment options are limited after the failure of first-and second-line treatments in patients with HER2+ metastatic gastric cancer (mGC). The present study aimed to explore the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of apatinib efficacy as a third-line therapy for patients with human epithelial growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+ ) mGC. Materials and Methods: A total of 59 HER2+ mGC patients who received apatinib as thirdline therapy were retrospectively enrolled in this two-center, single-arm, cohort study; the clinical response, survival data, and adverse events were retrieved. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9–6.5), and the median overall survival (OS) was 8.2 months (95% CI, 6.6–9.8) Furthermore, forward stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score and multiple metastases were independently correlated with decreased PFS and OS (both P<0.05). The main adverse events were leukopenia (45.8%), hypertension (44.1%), thrombocytopenia (39.0%), handfoot syndrome (37.3%), and elevated transaminase (33.9%). Grade 3 adverse events mainly included hypertension (5.1%) and neutropenia (5.1%); grade 4 adverse events did not occur. Conclusions Apatinib is efficient and well tolerated in patients with HER2+ mGC as a thirdline treatment, suggesting that it may be a candidate of choice for these patients.

Objective:To analyze the effectiveness of antiviral therapy on adolescents and adults with infectious mononucleosis (IM).Methods:The clinical data of patients aged≥16 years old with IM who were hospitalized in Peking University First Hospital from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively, and the patients were divided into antiviral treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group. The duration of hospitalization day, fever duration, ratio of lymphocytes and duration for normalization of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) markers were compared between the two groups through single factor and propensity score matching analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:A total of 274 cases were enrolled and 176 cases (64.23%) were divided into antiviral treatment group and 98 cases (35.77%) into non-antiviral treatment group. The proportion of male (56.25%(99/176) vs 56.12%(55/98)), age (21.0(18.0, 26.0) years old vs 21.0(18.0, 27.0) years old), the ratio of fever (98.30%(173/176) vs 93.88%(92/98)), sore throat (90.34%(159/176) vs 88.78%(87/98)), lymphocyte ratio (0.648(0.568, 0.707) vs 0.663(0.581, 0.711)), atypical lymphocyte ratio (0.150(0.100, 0.235) vs 0.135(0.060, 0.250)) and serum EBV DNA level (2.71(2.70, 3.47) lg copies/mL vs 2.70(2.70, 3.28) lg copies/mL) were comparable between two groups at admission, and the differences were all not statistically significant(all P>0.05). The durations of hospitalization and fever in antiviral treatment group were 14.0(10.0, 18.0) d and (14.91±7.24) d, respectively, which were both significantly longer than those in non-antiviral treatment group (11.0(7.0, 15.0) d and (9.95±5.67) d, respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( Z=-3.294 and t=-5.035, respectively, both P<0.01). Twenty-six patients each in the antiviral treatment group and non-antiviral treatment group were included in the propensity score matching assessment. The fever days of the two groups were 15.0(10.0, 18.0) d and 7.5(5.0, 12.5) d, respectively, and the hospitalization days were (15.4±5.5) d and (12.0±5.7) d, respectively. The differences were both statistically significant ( Z=-3.781 and t=-2.187, respectively, both P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the time required for the ratio of lymphocytes returning to normal, the time required for the ratio of atypical lymphocytes decreasing to <0.100, and the time required for serum EBV DNA becoming negative(all P>0.05). Conclusion:The antiviral treatment could not improve the prognosis of adolescent and adult IM patients.

Objective:To investigate whether the synonymous variation of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A3 (ABCA3) gene may increase the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in Mongolian and Han newborns in Inner Mongolia.Methods:From January 2018 to June 2019, the children of Mongolian and Han nationality who were hospitalized in the Department of Neonatal Pediatrics, affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University and the control group were sequenced by ABCA3 exon gene to analyze whether there was synonymous mutation in ABCA3 gene.Results:A total of 101 children with RDS were enrolled, including 37 children with Mongolian and 64 with Han children. There were 113 patients in the control group, including 45 Mongolian children and 68 Han children. Children with Mongolian and Han nationality RDS and control group can detect multiple synonymous mutation sites, such as: F353F, P585P, A227A, V150V, L982L, A928A, S1372S, P1653P, E1618E, and A1027A, etc, among them, four synonymous variants of p.A227A, p.F353F, p.P585P and p.S1372S are common synonymous mutants. In both Mongolian and Han nationality, the frequency of ABCA3 gene synonymous mutation in RDS group was significantly higher than that in control group (Mongolian: χ2=9.402, P=0.002; Han: χ2=9.348, P=0.002 ). The mutation rates of F353F and P585P in Mongolian and Han children with RDS were higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(Mongolian F353F: χ2=5.270, P=0.022; Han F353F: χ2=5.532, P=0.019.Mongolian P585P: χ2=4.711, P=0.030; Han P585P: χ2=4.480, P=0.034). Conclusions:The synonymous variation of ABCA3 gene may increase the risk of RDS in Mongolian and Han newborns in Inner Mongolia, and F353F and P585P may be one of the susceptible genes of RDS in Mongolian and Han newborns in Inner Mongolia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients. METHODS: Forty elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into test group for treatment with ultrasound and Gracey subgingival curette for subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing and control group treated with ultrasound subgingival curette scaling (=20). We compared plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), and attachment loss (AL) between the two groups before and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: After periodontal treatment, PLI, BI, PD and AL all decreased significantly in both groups compared with the levels before the treatment ( < 0.05). The patients in the test group showed significantly more obvious decrease of PD and AL than those in the control group ( < 0.05), but the reduction of PLI and BI was comparable between the two groups (>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing produces better therapeutic effect than ultrasonic subgingival scaling alone for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients.
Aged ; Chronic Periodontitis ; therapy ; Dental Scaling ; Humans ; Root Planing ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography