The many-banded krait, Bungarus multicinctus, has been recorded as the animal resource of JinQianBaiHuaShe in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Characterization of its venoms classified chief phyla of modern animal neurotoxins. However, the evolutionary origin and diversification of its neurotoxins as well as biosynthesis of its active compounds remain largely unknown due to the lack of its high-quality genome. Here, we present the 1.58 Gbp genome of B. multicinctus assembled into 18 chromosomes with contig/scaffold N50 of 7.53 Mbp/149.8 Mbp. Major bungarotoxin-coding genes were clustered within genome by family and found to be associated with ancient local duplications. The truncation of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor in the 3'-terminal of a LY6E paralog released modern three-finger toxins (3FTxs) from membrane tethering before the Colubroidea divergence. Subsequent expansion and mutations diversified and recruited these 3FTxs. After the cobra/krait divergence, the modern unit-B of β-bungarotoxin emerged with an extra cysteine residue. A subsequent point substitution in unit-A enabled the β-bungarotoxin covalent linkage. The B. multicinctus gene expression, chromatin topological organization, and histone modification characteristics were featured by transcriptome, proteome, chromatin conformation capture sequencing, and ChIP-seq. The results highlighted that venom production was under a sophisticated regulation. Our findings provide new insights into snake neurotoxin research, meanwhile will facilitate antivenom development, toxin-driven drug discovery and the quality control of JinQianBaiHuaShe.

Humans ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Biological Therapy

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of hospitalization for pregnant women with influenza A.Methods:From December 2018 to February 2019, 261 pregnant women with influenza A were admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University. The clinical data of age, gestational period, underlying diseases, time from onset to treatment, white blood cell count and lymphocyte count of these patients were collected. Data of out-patients were compared with those of inpatients. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization in pregnant women with influenza A.Results:Among the 261 cases of pregnancy with influenza A, 36 cases (13.79%) were hospitalized, of which 10 (27.78%) were hospitalized due to severe influenza complications, the other 26 cases (72.22%) were hospitalized due to pregnancy related adverse events. The proportions of hospitalized patients with age ≥30 years old, gestational period ≥28 weeks, combined with underlying diseases and lymphocyte count <1×10 9/L were 75.00%(27/36), 83.33%(30/36), 16.67%(6/36) and 50.00%(18/36), respectively, which were significantly higher than those of out-patients (47.11%(106/225), 35.56%(80/225), 0.89%(2/225) and 13.22%(16/121), respectively; χ2=9.66, 29.05, 26.00 and 22.12, respectively, all P<0.05). The proportions of inpatients and out-patients with white blood cell count ≥4×10 9/L were 97.22%(35/36) and 97.52%(118/121), respectively, and there was no significant difference ( χ2=0.01, P=0.921). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥30 years (odds ratio ( OR)=5.181, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.628-16.489, P=0.005), gestational period ≥28 weeks ( OR=11.054, 95% CI 3.233-37.796, P<0.01), lymphocyte count <1×10 9/L ( OR=6.864, 95% CI 2.237-20.729, P=0.001), and time from onset to treatment <24 h ( OR=0.076, 95% CI 0.012-0.468, P=0.005) were the influencing factors for hospitalization of pregnant women with influenza A. Conclusion:Age ≥30 years old, gestational period ≥28 weeks, lymphocyte count <1×10 9/L and time from onset to treatment <24 h are the influencing factors for hospitalization of pregnant women with influenza A.

Objective:To evaluate the identification rate of separating gel or HB&L pretreatment methods of MALDI-TOF-MS, thereby to provide a new idea for the rapid and accurate identification of pathogens of bloodstream infections in daily clinic practice.Methods:A total of 149 alarmed positive blood culture samples of single bacterial infection by routine laboratory methods were collected between January to December 2020 from the Sixth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital. Samples were pretreated with the separation gel accelerating tube method or the HB&L microbial culture system, followed by direct MALDI-TOF MS bacterial identification, the identification rates of the two pretreatment methods were compared and results from the traditional method were used as the standard control.Results:Among the 149 positive blood culture samples, 47.0% (70/149) were gram-negative (G -) bacteria and 53.0% (79/149) were gram-positive (G +) bacteria. Identification rate of G -strain level was 78.6% (55/70) by serum separation gel coagulation tube method and 91.4% (64/70) by HB&L microbial culture system, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.033). Identification rate of G +strain levels was 73.4% (58/79) by serum separation gel coagulation tube method and 87.3% (69/79) by HB&L microbial culture system, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.028). For G -bacteria in the range of 3.000-2.300, the identification rate was 22.9% (16/70) by serum separation gel accelerating tube method and 38.6% (27/70) by the HB&L microbial culture system, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.044). For G +bacteria in the range of 3.000-2.300, the identification rate was 19.0% (15/79) by serum separation gel accelerating tube method and 34.2% (27/79) by the HB&L microbial culture system, the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.031). Conclusion:The identification rate of HB&L microbial culture system is higher than that of serum separation gel coagulation tube method. Direct MALDI-TOF MS identification of pathogenic bacteria in positive blood culture samples after pretreatment is feasible in daily clinical practice.

Objective To explore the impact of glucocorticoid on coagulation through administrating on rats with smoke inhalation.Methods Totally 150 male S-D rats were randomly (random number) divided into 5 groups:control group (ambient air inhalation),smoke group (smoke inhalation for 30 min),smoke+high dosage methyl prednisolone group(MP 40 mg/kg,intraperitoneal injection,s+HMP group),smoke+medium dosage MP (4 mg/kg) group (s+MMP group),smoke+low dosage MP (0.4 mg/kg) group (s+LMP group) (all n=30).Survival rates were calculated 24 h after smoke inhalation.Lung tissues were collected for histopathology and wet to dry (W/D) ratio.Arterial blood was collected for blood gas test.Coagulation factors in lung and plasma were tested.Results Survival rates of three MP groups were markedly improved compared with the smoke group (all P＜0.05),and was significantly higher in the medium dosage group(85.17％) than those in the low and high dosage groups (65.73％ and 60.07％,all P＜0.05).The W/D ratio and blood gas test were markedly improved in the high and medium groups (all P＜0.05).Tissue factor (TF) and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT-c) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased dramatically after SI (P＜0.01,P=0.005) with a remarkable drop of factor Ⅱ (F Ⅱ) (P=0.007),all of which were attenuated by MP with dosage dependence.The mRNA expression of TF increased dramatically after SI and recovered significantly with MP administration,while the expression of thrombomodulin (TM) recovered in the opposite direction with MP,all of which were in a dosage dependent manner.TF,fibrinogen (FIB),TAT-c increased significantly in plasma after smoke inhalation (P＜0.01,P=0.027,P=0.005).F Ⅷ ％ increased with MP administration and TF was raised by high dosage MP compared with the smoke group.FIB and TAT-c were decreased in all MP groups,which were significant higher in the high and middle dosage groups.The change of TM and endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) in circulation were similar with FIB or TAT-c with or without MP.Protein C (PC％) and antithrombin (AT Ⅲ ％) dropped dramatically after SI,high and middle dosages of MP could restore the activity significantly,while low dosage would restore AT Ⅲ ％ but not PC％.Conclusions Glucocorticoid can significantly improve local and systemical coagulation disorder caused by smoke inhalation,and high-and medium-dosage hormones are effective.The regulation of hormones on the coagulation system is an important mechanism in the treatment of smoke inhalation induced lung injury.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of different doses of methylprednisolone (MP) in smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury (SI-ALI).Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group (group A,n = 6), smoke inhalation group (group B, smoke inhalation 30 minutes,n = 30) and smoke+MP 40, 4, 0.4 mg/kg intervention group (groups C, D, E; intraperitoneal injection of MP at 1 hour before smoke inhalation, n = 30) according to random number table method. The survival status of rats in each group was observed at 24 hours, and murine smoke inhalation induced trauma score (MSITS) according to the symptoms and signs of rats at 3 hours after smoke inhalation were scored. The blood of abdominal aorta of rats was collected. Then the rats were sacrificed to harvest bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. The levels of interleukin (IL-6, IL-17a) in plasma and BALF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the total number of white blood cells and the proportion of leukocytes or macrophages in BALF were calculated; the histopathological changes of lung were observed and the lung injury score was given; the expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in lung tissue were detected by Western Blot.Results The 24-hour survival rate of group B rats was 33.67％. The survivalrate of groups C, D and E (65.73％, 85.17％, 60.07％) were significantly higher than that of group B (allP < 0.05), and the survival rate of group D was significantly higher than that of groups C and E. Diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration, intra-alveolar hemorrhage and a large amount of edema fluid were seen in the lung tissue of group B; and the lung injury score was significantly higher than that of group A. Compared with group B, the lung injury in different doses of MP group were decreased to different degrees, while the lung injury scores in groups C and D were significantly decreased (3.31±1.37, 2.62±0.98 vs. 5.52±0.97, bothP < 0.01); correlation analysis showed that MSITS score was significantly and positively correlated with lung injury score (r = 0.862,P < 0.001). The levels of plasma inflammatory factors and BALF protein, inflammatory cells and inflammatory factors, and the expression of MPO, HMGB1 in group B were significantly higher than those in group A. Compared with group B, the levels of inflammatory factors in plasma, and protein content, inflammatory cells and inflammatory factors in BALF in different doses of MP group were decreased to different degrees, with significant differences in groups C and D [plasma: IL-17a (pg/L): 49.28±27.12, 36.57±16.52 vs. 191.79±88.21; IL-6 (ng/L): 206.47±109.96, 197.52±113.86 vs. 669.00±299.60; BALF: protein content (mg/L):892.0±164.5, 566.1±120.9 vs. 1838.0±145.8; white blood cell count (×109/L): 5.40±1.67, 2.81±1.20 vs. 9.02± 2.06; neutrophil ratio: 0.315±0.081, 0.273±0.080 vs. 0.590±0.096; IL-17a (ng/L): 22.63±8.62, 18.92±8.43 vs. 43.31±19.17; IL-6 (ng/L): 156.49±46.94, 123.66±64.91 vs. 253.43±80.03; allP< 0.01]; in addition, the expression of MPO and HMGB1 protein in lung tissues of MP groups with different doses were significantly decreased, the expression of MPO in group D was significantly lower than that in group E [MPO/β-actin (fold increase from group A):2.14±0.97 vs. 4.35±0.87,P < 0.01], the expression of HMGB1 in groups C and D were significantly lower than that in group E [HMGB1/β-actin (fold increase from group A): 1.77±0.73, 1.23±0.67 vs. 3.65±1.08, bothP < 0.05]. Conclusions MP can significantly improve the survival rate of SI-ALI rats and reduce the acute pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response. The MP effect of 4 mg/kg was better than 40 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg.

Objective To explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) on the inflammatory reaction and the expression of single immunoglobin IL-1 receptor related protein (SIGIRR) in rats with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (normal group, H2 S group, ALI group and ALI + H2 S group). The ALI rat model was established by LPS peritoneal injection. After LPS stimulation for 1 h, rats inhaled H2 S 80mg /m3 for 6h. Then, rats were sacrificed with a supraphysiological dose of pentobarbital sodium. The histological changes in the lung, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum and lung tissue homogenates, and the protein expression of SIGIRR in lung tissues were examined. Results Compared with the normal and H2 S groups, typical histological features of ALI were observed in ALI group, and the lung injury scores of ALI group were higher than those of the normal and H2 S groups (P ＜ 0. 05). Moreover, there were marked increases in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum and lung tissue homogenates after LPS injection. In contrast, inhalation of H2 S could attenuate lung pathological changes and inhibit the productions of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum and lung tissue homogenates (P ＜ 0. 05). Additionally, inhalation of H2 S could induce the protein expression of SIGIRR in rat lung tissues. Conclusion Inhalation of H2 S protected rats from LPS-induced ALI and its mechanisms were partially associated with inhibition of the productions of TNF-α and IL-1β and modulation of SIGIRR expression.

Objective To observe the effects of seawater immersion at different temperatures on survival time and mortality and physiological state of non-anesthetized rats.Methods Totally 100 SD male rats(The abdominal cavity was implanted with a temperature sensor in advance)were randomly divided into five groups which were immersed in 20 ℃,17 ℃,15 ℃,13 ℃ and 10 ℃ seawater,respectively.Each group contains 20 rats.The changes of respiration,heart rate and muscle fibrillation within 2 hours were observed and the survival time and mortality of each group were counted in 24 hours.The decrease trend of intraperitoneal temperature in rats was analyzed retrospectively within 2 hours.Results Soaking for 10 minutes,the respiratory and heart rate of each group were significantly increased,but there was no significant difference among groups(P>0.05).The respiratory and heart rate decreased rapidly between 10 and 40 minutes,and the decline was slower relatively between 40 and 80 minutes.Soaking for 80 minutes,the respiration rate of rats among groups had significant difference(P<0.05).Immersing for 100 minutes,the heart rates of rats in each group were significantly different(P<0.05).Soaking for 20 minutes,the muscle fibrillation of 15 ℃,13 ℃ and 10 ℃ group reached the peak,and there were significant differences among groups(P<0.05),then disappeared.However the rats in 20 ℃ and 17 ℃ group reached the peak at 30 minutes,but there was no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05),hereafter the muscle fibrillation was maintained at a certain level.The mean survival time of 20 ℃ group,17 ℃ group,15 ℃ group,13 ℃ group and 10 ℃ group in 24 hours were(23.6±1.23)hours,(15.0±4.16)hours,(7.7±3.21)hours,(2.4±0.91)hours and (1.1±0.39)hours,respectively,and the survival curve of each group was statistically significant(P<0.05).The intraperitoneal temperature of rats showed a decline in the cliff,the lower the water temperature,the faster the descending.Soaking for 40 minutes,the difference of intraperitoneal temperature of each group was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The effects of seawater immersion at different temperatures on the physiological state and survival time and mortality of rats are significantly different.With the decrease of water temperature,the physiological state changes more obviously,the survival time is shorter and the mortality rate is higher.

Objective To explore the effect of curcumine on the inflammation and expression of single immunoglobin IL-1 receptor related protein in alveolar epithelial cells induced by lipopolysacharride (LPS).Methods The rat type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells were cultured in vitro,and cell activity was measured when stimulated with LPS and different doses of curcumin.The level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in supematant was detected.Cells pretreated with curcumin (20 μmol/L),were stimulated with LPS (10 μg/mL).The nuclear protein and membrane protein was extracted to detect the expression level of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) and single immunoglobin IL-1 receptor related protein (SIGIRR).Results The cells activities were not affected by curcumin (5 ～30 pμmol/L) and LPS (10 μg/mL) (P ＜ 0.05).Curcumin (5 ～30 μ mol/L) significantly inhibited LPS-induced overpression of TNF-α and IL-6 (P ＜ 0.05).In 20 μ mol/L and 30 μ mol/L pretreatment groups,the inhibition of curcumin was most obvious,and there were no significant differences between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Curcumin (20 μ mol/L) significantly inhibited the expression level of phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in cell nucleus,while up-regulated the expression of SIGIRR (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Curcumin inhibits the expression of inflammatory factor such as TNF-α and IL-6 as well as activation of NF-κB in alveolar epithelial cells induced by LPS.Up-regulating the expression level of negative regulatory molecules SIGIRR is one of the possible mechanism.

Objective To investigate the status of invasive fungal infection(IFI)associated with hematopathy,and evaluate drug resistance and risk factors of fungal infection.Methods 1 246 cases of infection occurred in patients in a hospital from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed retrospectively,pathogenic features and risk factors of IFI were ana-lyzed.Results There were 281 cases of fungal infection,and 162 fungal isolates were isolated,the main infection site was respiratory tract(134 isolates,82.72%).Four major Candida were Candida albicans ,Candida tropicalis , Candida glabrata ,and Candida krusei ;in 2006-2009,the main fungi were Candida albicans ,while in 2010,the majority were non-Candida albicans .The resistant rates of four isolated Candida to fluconazole and itraconazole were 5.15% and 4.41 % respectively,6 isolated Candida krusei strains were all resistant to both fluconazole and itraconazole,voriconazole-resistant strain was not found.The independent risk factors for fungal infection were dia-betes and duration time of agranulocytosis>14 days.Conclusion The proportion of infection caused by non-Candi-da albicans increased obviously,fluconazole-and itraconazole-resistant non-Candida albicans strains have emerged, comprehensive measures should be adopted to prevent IFI actively and treat patients early.