Misuse of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-containing herbs is the major cause of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) in China. And diuretics are among the most commonly used medications for the treatment of PA-induced HSOS in clinical practice. As a traditional diuretic in traditional Chinese medicine, the diuretic mechanism of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) has not been fully clarified, and there is no report on AR ameliorating PA-induced HSOS from a diuretic point of view. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) against acute liver injury induced by senecionine (a representative toxic PA) in mice, and to further elucidate its effect on impaired water-liquid balance in mice exposed to PA. All experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Registration number: PZSHUTCM220808017). Animal welfare and the animal experimental protocols were strictly consistent with related ethics regulations of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Model of mice was induced by a single oral exposure of senecioine (50 mg·kg^-1) (SEN group), and AB23A (40 mg·kg^-1) intervention group (AB23A+SEN group), solvent control group (Ctrl group) and AB23A control group (AB23A group) were set up. The results showed that AB23A could significantly attenuate the levels of serum biochemical indices of liver functions in senecioine-induced acute liver injury mice, as evident by alleviated hepatocyte necrosis and hepatic sinusoidal stasis. AB23A also improved kidney function of mice exposed to senecionine, fascinated urinary excretion and repaired electrolyte disorders, as well as decreased content of senecioine metabolites. Further, the protein and mRNA expression of genes related to the water balance pathway were measured. AB23A could significantly down-regulate the elevated protein and mRNA expression levels of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor, and inhibit the transport of AQP2 to the apical plasma membrane induced by senecionine exposure. AB23A also significantly decreased serum levels of angiotensin II. In vitro studies further confirmed that AB23A regulates AQP2 expression in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells 3 (IMCD3). These data indicate that AB23A regulates the expression of AQP2 in renal medulla, thereby affecting its water reabsorption in mice with senecionine-induced acute liver injury. This work achieves a better understanding of the diuretic effect of AR, and provides experimental foundation and theoretical basis for the treatment of PA-induced acute liver injury by AR in clinics.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Medicine is a continuously advancing science,characterized by the integration of multiple disciplines,ultimately focusing on the"human"aspect.Over the past half-century,there has been a global surge in efforts to reshape the humanistic spirit of medicine.Narrative medicine,a field that highly integrates medical professionalism with universal humanistic values,has developed rapidly in China from scratch over the past decade or so.This article introduces the development of narrative medicine both domestically and internationally,explains how to correctly understand the connotation of China's narrative medicine system and the significance of practicing narrative medicine.It analyzes current challenges in clinical practice,education and teaching,scientific research,doctor-patient consensus,and social recognition.Furthermore,it proposes directions for effort,namely,in the context of"greater health"and"new medical science",narrative medicine is empowered to help construct a harmonious medical narrative ecosystem,promote high-quality development in pediatrics,contribute to the innovation in medical education and talent training with humanistic strength and wisdom.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):325-330]

Objective:To investigate whether dual-energy computed tomography(DECT) measurement of monosodium urate(MSU) crystal loading can predict the risk of gout flares.Methods:A single-center, prospective, observational study included 229 gout patients initially diagnosed at the Gout Clinic of Qingdao University from August 2021 to February 2022. The patients underwent MSU assessment of the bilateral feet using DECT. Following enrolment, all patients commenced uric acid-lowering therapy(ULT) and were followed up at 3 and 6 months. Patients who experienced at least one flare within 6 months were compared with those who did not, and the odds ratio( OR) for the risk of gout flares was calculated. Results:Patients who experienced gout flare had a significantly longer disease duration[(6.69±5.42) vs(4.14±4.86) years, P<0.01], a higher number of flares in the past year(4.80±1.73 vs 2.02±1. 23, P<0.01), a higher proportion of fatty livers(11.0% vs 1.4%, P<0.05), and a greater volume of MSU crystals in the feet[(3.52±9.74) vs(0.29±0.98)cm 3,P<0.05] compared to patients without gout flare. The results of the multifactorial logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of flares in the past year( OR=1.295, 95% CI 1.032-1.613, P<0.05) and feet MSU crystal volume( OR=3.245, 95% CI 1.164-9.064, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for gout flares. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve indicated the integration of the MSU prediction model into the clinical prediction model resulted in a comprehensive prediction model with an area under curve(AUC) value of 0.780(95% CI 0.710-0.840), sensitivity of 0.83, and specificity of 0.62. Internal validation of the comprehensive prediction model using the Bootstrap method yielded a C-index of 0.770(95% CI 0.701-0.833) for predicting flares. The calibration curve of the model demonstrated a good fit between the predicted probability of flares and the actual probability, indicating high calibration accuracy. Conclusion:The volume of MSU crystals in the feet is an independent risk factor for flares following ULT. A larger volume of MSU crystals in the foot increases the likelihood of a flare. This study provides a basis for early prediction of flare and a reference for early preventive treatment.

Background: and Purpose Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Early recognition OH is required with sensitive assessments. The purpose of this study was to determine whether blood pressure (BP) changes during exercise can predict the occurrence of OH in PD. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 80 consecutive patients with PD. All patients agreed to participate in a baseline evaluation and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).According to the initial active standing test (AST), those without OH (PD-nonOH) at baseline had their AST results followed up for 6 months. The main outcome was defined as whether patients without OH at baseline would develop OH after 6 months. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the relevant variables. A nomogram was constructed based on clinical features and identified variables. The concordance index (C-index) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the accuracy and predictive ability of the nomogram, respectively. Results: CPET results indicated that peak load, peak heart rate, heart rate recovery at 1 min, and systolic BP change (ΔSBP) were lower in those with OH than in the PD-nonOH group (p<0.05) at baseline. Logistic regression analysis indicated that peak load and ΔSBP during CPET had significant effects on OH (p<0.05). Age, sex, peak load, and ΔSBP were used to construct the nomogram model (C-index=0.761). The prediction model had an AUC of 0.782 (95% confidence interval=0.649–0.889) and a specificity and sensitivity of 70.0% and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusions This study has identified predictive factors for OH development in patients with PD. CPET could be used as a complementary examination to identify patients at a high risk of OH.

Objective To establish drug use evaluation(DUE)criteria for aminocaproic acid injection,and to evaluate and analyse clinical use of aminocaproic acid injection.Methods Based on the aminocaproic acid injection drug label,DUE of aminocaproic acid injection from three aspects(indications,medications and medication results)were established with reference to relevant literature.A retrospective survey was conducted to evaluate the rationality of medication for inpatients who used aminocaproic acid injection from July 1,2021 to June 30,2022 in Fuding Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Results A total of 143 midical records were included.73 cases fully met the DUE criteria,70 cases did not fully meet the DUE criteria,and the unreasonable rate was 48.95%.The most common types of irrational using of aminocaproic acid injection were inappropriate timing of perioperative prevention of medication(26.57%),overcourse in perioperative prevention of medication(23.08%),and contraindications(7.69%).Conclusions The aminocaproic acid injection DUE standard established is scientific,practical,the irrational rate of aminocaproic acid injection use is relatively high in this hospital,and the management of rational use of aminocaproic acid injection needs to be strengthened.

Carcinoma, Endometrioid/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/surgery* ; Carcinoma, Small Cell/surgery* ; Endometrial Neoplasms/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/surgery* ; Uterus/pathology*

OBJECTIVES: To study the association of the anti-oxidative damage factors nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. The neonates who were hospitalized in Yanbian Hospital from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled as subjects, among whom there were 30 infants with PPROM, 32 infants with term premature rupture of membranes (TPROM), and 35 full-term infants without premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the inflammatory changes of placental tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in placental tissue. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in placental tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the PPROM group, the TPROM group and the non-PROM full-term group had significantly higher positive expression rates and relative protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in placental tissue (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the positive expression rates and relative protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in placental tissue between the TPROM and non-PROM full-term groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The low expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in placental tissue may be associated with PPROM, suggesting that anti-oxidative damage is one of the directions to prevent PPROM.
Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Oxidative Stress ; Placenta/metabolism* ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

Objective: To examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with frailty among oldest-old adults in China. Methods: A total of 7 987 people aged 80 years and older (oldest-old) who participated in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2017-2018 were included. Information on demographic characteristics, behavior pattern, diet, activities of daily living, cognitive function, health status, disease condition were collected by questionnaire and physical examination. Generalized linear mixed model and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to analyze the association of BMI and WC with frailty. Results: The mean age of all participants was 91.7 years, and their mean BMI and WC were (21.3±3.5) kg/m² and (82.9±10.5) cm, respectively. The proportion of male was 42.3% (3 377/7 987), and the proportion of people with frailty was 33.7% (2 664/7 987). After controlling confounding factors, compared with T₂ (19.1-22.1 kg/m²) of BMI, the OR (95%CI) of the female T₁ (<19.1 kg/m²) and T₃ (≥22.2 kg/m²) group was 1.39 (1.17-1.65) and 1.27 (1.07-1.52), respectively. Compared with T₂ (77-85 cm) of WC, the OR (95%CI) of female T₁ (<77 cm) and T₃ (≥86 cm) group was 1.20 (1.01-1.42) and 1.10 (0.93-1.31), respectively. The results of multiple linear regression model with restrictive cubic spline showed that there was a non-linear association of BMI and WC with frailty in female. Conclusion: There is a U-shaped association of BMI and WC with frailty in female participants.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged, 80 and over ; Waist Circumference ; Body Mass Index ; Frailty/epidemiology* ; Activities of Daily Living ; China/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors

Child ; Humans ; von Willebrand Disease, Type 2