Artemisia argyi (A. argyi), a plant with a longstanding history as a raw material for traditional medicine and functional diets in Asia, has been used traditionally to bathe and soak feet for its disinfectant and itch-relieving properties. Despite its widespread use, scientific evidence validating the antifungal efficacy of A. argyi water extract (AAWE) against dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum, remains limited. This study aimed to substantiate the scientific basis of the folkloric use of A. argyi by evaluating the antifungal effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of its active subfraction against dermatophytes. The results indicated that AAWE exhibited excellent antifungal effects against the three aforementioned dermatophyte species. The subfraction AAWE6, isolated using D101 macroporous resin, emerged as the most potent subfraction. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AAWE6 against T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and T. mentagrophytes were 312.5, 312.5, and 625 μg·mL^-1, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results and assays of enzymes linked to cell wall integrity and cell membrane function indicated that AAWE6 could penetrate the external protective barrier of T. rubrum, creating breaches ("small holes"), and disrupt the internal mitochondrial structure ("granary"). Furthermore, transcriptome data, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and biochemical assays corroborated the severe disruption of mitochondrial function, evidenced by inhibited tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and energy metabolism. Additionally, chemical characterization and molecular docking analyses identified flavonoids, primarily eupatilin (131.16 ± 4.52 mg·g^-1) and jaceosidin (4.17 ± 0.18 mg·g^-1), as the active components of AAWE6. In conclusion, the subfraction AAWE6 from A. argyi exerts antifungal effects against dermatophytes by disrupting mitochondrial morphology and function. This research validates the traditional use of A. argyi and provides scientific support for its anti-dermatophytic applications, as recognized in the Chinese patent (No. ZL202111161301.9).
Antifungal Agents/chemistry* ; Arthrodermataceae ; Artemisia/chemistry* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mitochondria ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Objective:To study the risk model of medical equipment maintenance and repair based on system dynamics,and to solve the problems of frequent risk of corruption,high transaction prices and low procurement timeliness in the process of medical equipment maintenance and repair.Methods:The risk matrix was formed by analyzing the procurement risk of medical equipment maintenance and warranty,and the risk matrix was drawn.The system dynamics model was constructed around the price risk,schedule risk and corruption risk of medical equipment maintenance procurement,and the causal relationship and feedback effect between the risk influencing factors of medical equipment maintenance procurement were revealed through the construction of causality diagram and stock flow diagram.The risk change effects of the PLA General Hospital's application of the system dynamics-based medical equipment maintenance and procurement risk model in practice in 2022 was compared.Results:After the application of risk management control based on system dynamics model,the increase of procurement price risk decreased from 0.54 before control to 0.27,the increase of corruption risk decreased from 0.27 before control to 0.05,and the increase of schedule risk decreased slowly.After lowering the risk threshold,the increase of price risk and price risk decrease significantly.When the risk threshold was reduced from 60 to 40,the project success rate was increased by 6.52%and the rate of doubts and complaints decreased by 6.61%.Conclusion:The medical equipment maintenance risk model based on system dynamics strictly manages the procurement demand side,implements price limit and price review management,and can effectively eliminate the corruption risk and schedule risk derived from price risk by optimizing the procurement method,building the negotiation price limit model and improving the price review and pricing mechanism.

COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection severely threatens global health and economic development. No effective antiviral drug is currently available to treat COVID-19 and any other human coronavirus infections. We report herein that a macrolide antibiotic, carrimycin, potently inhibited the cytopathic effects (CPE) and reduced the levels of viral protein and RNA in multiple cell types infected by human coronavirus 229E, OC43, and SARS-CoV-2. Time-of-addition and pseudotype virus infection studies indicated that carrimycin inhibited one or multiple post-entry replication events of human coronavirus infection. In support of this notion, metabolic labelling studies showed that carrimycin significantly inhibited the synthesis of viral RNA. Our studies thus strongly suggest that carrimycin is an antiviral agent against a broad-spectrum of human coronaviruses and its therapeutic efficacy to COVID-19 is currently under clinical investigation.

AIM: To explore the effect of ethanol extract of costusroot (EEC) on gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer rats and related mechanism. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, sucralfate group, low-EEC group and high-EEC group, and anhydrous alcohol was administrated intragastrically to replicate gastric ulcer model in groups other than the normal. Changes in the area of gastric ulcer were observed and the inhibition rate of ulcer was calculated. The pathological changes of gastric tissue were measured by HE staining, and the protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: EEC inhibited the formation of ulcer area in model rats and alleviated the histopathological damage to the stomach caused by ethanol. While enhancing the expression of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.01), it effectively inhibited the overexpression of Bax (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EEC has a strong function of anti-gastric ulcers, and its mechanism of action might be related to the regulation of the protein expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 to inhibit the apoptosis of gastri mucosal cells.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants. Methods The clinical data of 815 late preterm infants (449 males and 366 females) from 25 hospitals in Beijing were collected from October 2015 to April 2016, including 340 cases(41.7％) with hyperbilirubinemia (hyperbilirubinemia group), and 475 cases without hyperbilirubinemia (control group). The clinical data of two groups were compared, and the maternal factors influencing hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants were analyzed with logistic regression. Results There were no significant differences in gender ratio (M:F 1.39 vs. 1.12, t=1.811,P=0.172)and birth weight[(2502.6±439.6)g vs. (2470.2±402.9)g,χ2=2.330,P=0.127)]between two groups. The incidence rates of hyperbilirubinemia in infants of 34 wks, 35 wks and 36 wks of gestational age were 22.9％(87/174), 35％(119/300) and 42.1％(143/341) respectively (χ2=1.218,P=0.544). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the maternal age(OR=1.044,95％ CI:1.010-1.080,P=0.011)was independent risk factor and multiple births(OR=1.365,95％CI:0.989-1.883,P=0.048), premature rupture of membranes(OR=2.350,95％ CI:1.440-3.833,P=0.001), cesarean section(OR=1.540,95％CI:0.588-4.031,P=0.014)were risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants. Conclusions The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants is relatively high. Maternal age, multiple births, premature rupture of membranes and cesarean section are risk maternal factors related to hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm infants.

Five new sulfur-enriched alkaloids isatithioetherins A-E (-), and two pairs of scalemic enantiomers (+)- and (-)-isatithiopyrin B ( and ) and isoepigoitrin and isogoitrin and ), along with the known scalemic enantiomers epigoitrin and goitrin ( and ), were isolated and characterized from an aqueous extract of the roots. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 2D NMR and theoretical calculations of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Compounds - represent a novel group of sulfur-enriched alkaloids, biogenetically originating from stereoselective assemblies of epigoitrin-derived units. Isolation and structure characterization of and support the postulated biosynthetic pathways for the diastereomers and a rare thio-Diels-Alder reaction. Compounds and showed antiviral activity against the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2, IC 0.60 and 1.92 μmol/L) and the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1, IC 3.70 and 2.87 μmol/L), and also inhibited Coxsackie virus B3 (IC 0.71 μmol/L).

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum preparation on the behaviors,biochemistry,and autoimmunity parameters of mouse models of APP/PS-1 double transgenic Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods A total of 44 4-month-old APP/PS-1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into AD model group,Aricept group,Ganoderma lucidum middle-dose(LZ-M)group,and Ganoderma lucidum high-dose(LZ-H)group,with 11 mice in each group.In addition,10 4-month-old C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group.Water maze test was conducted to observe the behavior changes,and the protein expressions in brain tissues were detected by Western blot analysis.The autoimmune indicators were detected by indirect immunofluorescence method.Results In the navigation experiment,the time of finding the platform was gradually shortened since the 2day in the control,LZ-H,and LZ-M groups,and the time of searching the platform in the AD model group gradually increased.On the 5day,the time of finding platform was significantly shorter in control group (t=5.607,P=0.000) and LZ-H group(t=2.750,P=0.010)than AD model group.In the space exploration experiment,the number of crossing the target platform(t=2.452,P=0.025)and the residence time in the target quadrant(t=2.530,P=0.020)in AD model group mice was significantly smaller/shorter than those in control group;in addition,the number of crossing the target platform in the AD model group was significantly smaller than that in LZ-H group(t=2.317,P=0.030)and LZ-M group(t=2.443,P=0.030),while the residence time in target quadrant decreased significantly(t=2.770,P=0.020)compared with LZ-H group;the number of crossing through the target platform quadrant(t=2.493,P=0.022)and residence time in the target quadrant(t=2.683,P=0.015)in LZ-H group were significantly higher than in Aricept group.Western blot analysis showed that the expression of ApoA1 in the brain tissues of mice in LZ-H and LZ-M groups were significantly higher than those in AD model group(P<0.01,P<0.05);Aβ-40 expression in LZ-H group was significantly lower than that in AD model group(P<0.05);the expressions of Syt1,ApoE,and ABCA1 in brain tissues of mice in LZ-H group were significantly higher than those in model group(P<0.01,P<0.05).The plasma IgG level in Aricept group(t=30.945,P=0.000),LZ-M group(t=25.639,P=0.000)and LZ-H group(t=4.689,P=0.001)were significantly higher than that in the control group.Conclusion Ganoderma lucidum preparation can improve behavior disorders of AD model mice,promote the expressions of ApoA1,ApoE and Syt1,inhibit the expression of Aβ-40 protein,and improve the autoimmune function.

Objective To observe the effects of 630 nm red light and 460 nm blue light emitting diode irradiation on the healing of skin wounds in Japanese big-ear white rabbits. Methods The skin wound model was established with 8 Japanese big-ear white rabbits. Three parts of vulnus in each rabbit were used:two parts of vulnus were irradiated vertically by red and blue LED light,respectively(15 min/time),and the distance between lights and wounds was 15 cm;the 3part of the wound was used as a control. On the 21day of the wounds exposure to light,the number of healing wounds and the percentage of healing area were recorded and the treatment effect of these two light sources was compared. HE staining was used to analyze the newborn tissue structure. Masson staining was used to observe the proliferation of skin collagen fibers. Immuohistochemical staining was used to analyze fibroblast growth factor(FGF),epidermal growth factor(EGF),endothelial growth factor(CD31),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Ki-67),and inflammatory cytokines(CD68)infiltration in the skin. Results The healing rate in the red light,blue light,and control groups was 50.0%(4/8),25.0%(2/8),and 12.5%(1/8),respectively. Since the 12day after modeling,the healing area percentage in the red light group was significantly higher than those in the blue light and control groups(P<0.05,P<0.01). On the 21day after modeling,the skin thickness of the red light group was(2.95±0.34)mm,which was significantly higher than that in control group [(2.52±0.42)mm;F=3.182,P=0.016)]. The average optical density of collagen fibers was 0.15±0.03 in red light group,which was significantly higher than that of the blue light group(0.09±0.01;F=7.316,P=0.012)and control(0.07±0.01;F=7.316,P=0.003). The results of immunohistochemistry showed the expression levels of EGF,FGF,CD31 antigen,and Ki-67 in the red light group were significantly higher than those in the blue light and control groups,whereas the CD68 expression was significantly lower(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion LED red light irradiation can promote the healing of skin wounds in Japanese big-ear white rabbits,which may be achieved by the effect of red light irradiation in stimulating the proliferation of skin epidermal cells,vascular endothelial cells,and fiberous tissue.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) in prophylaxis neutropenia after chemotherapy in patients with lymphoma. Methods: This was a multicenter, single arm, open, phase Ⅳ clinical trial. Included 410 patients with lymphoma received multiple cycles of chemotherapy and PEG-rhG-CSF was administrated as prophylactic. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Ⅲ/Ⅳ grade neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (FN) after each chemotherapy cycle. Meanwhile the rate of antibiotics application during the whole period of chemotherapy was observed. Results: ①Among the 410 patients, 8 cases (1.95%) were contrary to the selected criteria, 35 cases (8.54%) lost, 19 cases (4.63%) experienced adverse events, 12 cases (2.93%) were eligible for the termination criteria, 15 cases (3.66%) develpoed disease progression or recurrence, thus the rest 321 cases (78.29%) were into the Per Protocol Set. ②During the first to fourth treatment cycles, the incidences of grade Ⅳ neutropenia after prophylactic use of PEG-rhG-CSF were 19.14% (49/256) , 12.5% (32/256) , 12.18% (24/197) , 13.61% (20/147) , respectively. The incidences of FN were 3.52% (9/256) , 0.39% (1/256) , 2.54% (5/197) , 2.04% (3/147) , respectively. After secondary prophylactic use of PEG-rhG-CSF, the incidences of Ⅳ grade neutropenia decreased from 61.54% (40/65) in the screening cycle to 16.92% (11/65) , 18.46% (12/65) and 20.75% (11/53) in 1-3 cycles, respectively. The incidences of FN decreased from 16.92% (11/65) in the screening cycle to 1.54% (1/65) , 4.62% (3/65) , 3.77% (2/53) in 1-3 cycles, respectively. ③The proportion of patients who received antibiotic therapy during the whole period of chemotherapy was 34.39% (141/410) . ④The incidence of adverse events associated with PEG-rhG-CSF was 4.63% (19/410) . The most common adverse events were bone pain[3.90% (16/410) ], fatigue (0.49%) and fever (0.24%) . Conclusion During the chemotherapy in patients with lymphoma, the prophylactic use of PEG-rhG-CSF could effectively reduce the incidences of grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ neutropenia and FN, which ensures that patients with lymphoma receive standard-dose chemotherapy to improve its cure rate.

Objective To systematically evaluate the risk factors for upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer treatment and the strength of their associations.Methods PubMed,Ovid,EMbase,and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify clinical trials published up to December 2012.The quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale;data analysis was performed by Stata 10.0 and RevMan 5.2;the strength of associations between risk factors and breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema was described as odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence intervals (CI).Results Twenty-two studies involving 10106 patients were included in the meta-analysis.The risk factors for upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer treatment mainly included axillary lymph node dissection (OR =2.72,95％ CI=1.06-6.99,P=0.038),hypertension (OR=1.84,95％ CI=1.38-2.44,P=0.000),body mass index (OR =1.68,95％ CI=1.22-2.32,P =0.001),and radiotherapy (OR =1.65,95％ CI =1.20-2.25,P =0.002),while no significant associations were found for such factors as chemotherapy,age,number of positive lymph nodes,and number of dissected lymph nodes.Conclusions The incidence of upper extremity lymphedema is high among patients with breast cancer after treatment,and axillary lymph node dissection,hypertension,body mass index,and radiotherapy are the main risk factors for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.