ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in ameliorating inflammatory injury in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) mice based on the Toll-like receptor 4（TLR4）/nuclear transcription factor-kappa B（NF-κB）/absent in melanoma 2（AIM2）inflammasome signaling pathway. MethodThe 120 genetically susceptible 8-week-old NOD.H-2^h4 mice were selected and randomly divided into control group， model group， low， medium and high dose groups of Buzhong Yiqitang （4.78， 9.56， 19.12 g·kg^-1）， and western medicine group （selenium yeast tablets， 3.033×10^-5 g·kg^-1）. The AIT model mice in each group drank ad libitum 0.05% sodium iodide aqueous solution for 8 weeks to establish the AIT model， and the control group drank ad libitum distilled water. Eight weeks later， the mice in each dosing group were divided into groups and gavage. The swelling of thyroid tissue was observed with the naked eye， and the weight of spleen was weighed. The content of serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65，apoptosis-associated speck-like protein（ASC），cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1（Caspase-1）， IL-1β mRNA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of high motility group protein 1 （HMGB1）， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65， phosphorylation（p）-NF-κB p65， ASC， Caspase-1， and IL-1β proteins in thyroid tissue， and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the protein expression of HMGB1， AIM2， and NF-κB p65 in thyroid tissue of mice. ResultCompared with the control group， the thyroid tissue of mice in the model group was significantly swollen， the spleen quality was significantly increased， and the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， NF-κB p65， AIM2， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β in thyroid tissue was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the swelling of thyroid tissue in mice in each dose group of Buzhong Yiqitang was improved， the quality of spleen was significantly reduced， and the expression of HMGB1， TLR4， AIM2， NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β in thyroid tissue was significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang can effectively improve the inflammatory injury of AIT， and regulating the abnormal activation of the TLR4/NF-κB/AIM2 inflammasome signal pathway may be one of its intervention mechanisms.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the application of digital impression and resin model technology in removable partial dentures(RPD)for Kennedy classⅠandⅡdentition defects.Methods Patients with Kennedy classⅠorⅡdental defect were selected and grouped in accordance with the following denture production processes:digital impression/resin model/cast cobalt-chromium alloy framework group(group A),digital impression/resin model/laser printed titanium framework group(group B),alginate impression/plaster model/cast cobalt-chromium alloy framework group(group C),and alginate impression/plaster model/laser printed titanium framework group(group D),with 40 cases in each group.The final RPD was examined in place in the mouth,and the evaluation indicators included the retention force of clamp ring,the tightness of connector and base,and the accuracy of occlusion.The evaluation scores of each in-dex were used for analysis on the Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum test.Results No statistically significant difference in the score of each index was found among the four groups in RPD.Conclusion The cast cobalt-chromium alloy and laser-printed titanium framework RPD using digital impression and resin model can meet the clinical restoration requirements of patients with Kennedy classⅠandⅡdentition defects.

Hyperhidrosis is a disease in which excessive sweat is secreted,resulting in an abnormal increase in systemic or local perspiration.In traditional Chinese medicine,hyperhidrosis belongs to the category of sweating disease.It is caused by an imbalance between yin and yang and abnormal excretion of body fluid.Many doctors treat the sweating disease from the perspective of heart,lung,and kidney;in contrast,we discuss the etiology and pathogenesis of hyperhidrosis from the perspective of liver and spleen,explain the significance of harmonizing the liver and spleen to improve the sweating disease,and put forward the key pathogenic factors of stagnation liver qi and spleen deficiency,and disharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi,and the imbalance between yin and yang are the key pathogenic factor.Most of the clinical treatment start from the liver and spleen.The main treatment principle is based on soothing the liver and relieving depression,invigorating the spleen and nourishing blood,and regulating and harmonizing the nutrient qi and defensive qi,paying attention to the relationship between qi and blood in zangfu organs,invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi to consolidate its foundation,soothing the liver and relieving depression to regulate its qi,and invigorating qi and blood and perspiration.Treatment can be supplemented with Xiaoyao Powder plus-minus,mainly to strengthen liver wood and spleen soil,acquire nourishment,smooth qi,nourish the five zang,reconcile qi and blood,enhance physical strength and peace of mind,ensure sufficient qi to arrest sweating,coordinate the liver and spleen,balance the ascending and descending phases,and harmonize the five zang organs.

In view of the education and teaching problems in the course of Pediatrics about the construction of students' knowledge system and the cultivation of high-order abilities, on the basis of integrated organ and system courses, with the learner-centered and goal-oriented teaching concept seeking continuous improvement, we have developed a clinical problem-centered integrated teaching model in line with the learning law of medical students, innovatively integrating theoretical learning and clinical practice, and featuring the normalization of hybrid teaching and diversified teaching activities and evaluations. The curriculum innovation efforts substantially improve student satisfaction with teaching, and achieve good teaching effects. It has been actively promoted in the western pediatrics alliance of China, receiving extensive attention and positive feedback.

In recent years, with the in-depth study of pemphigus, new pathogenesis has been identified based on the desmoglein antibody-mediated immune response mechanism, and new progress has been made in targeted therapy. This review summarizes recent advances in the pathogenesis and targeted therapy of pemphigus.

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Vaccination

Objective To explore the major risk factors of post transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and analyze the correlation between tacrolimus and PTDM after kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 123 kidney transplant recipients were collected. All recipients were divided into the PTDM group (n=19) and non-PTDM group (n=104). Clinical data of all recipients in two groups were analyzed. The risk factors of PTDM were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Twenty-four mice were evenly divided into the control group (normal saline), low-dose tacrolimus (0.1 mg/kg), medium-dose tacrolimus (0.75 mg/kg) and high-dose tacrolimus groups (1.5 mg/kg). The solutions were given twice a day. The effect of tacrolimus on blood glucose metabolism in mice was evaluated. Results The incidence of PTDM was 15.4% (19/123) within 1 year after kidney transplantation. Age≥48 years old and the trough concentration of tacrolimus≥9 ng/mL within 3 months after kidney transplantation were the risk factors for PTDM after kidney transplantation (both P < 0.05). The fasting blood glucose levels of mice after administration in the low-, medium- and high-dose tacrolimus groups were significantly lower than those before administration (all P < 0.05) in a dose-independent manner (P=0.750). In the low-, medium- and high-dose tacrolimus groups, the postprandial blood glucose levels of mice after administration were significantly higher than those before administration (all P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner (P=0.012). Conclusions Tacrolimus is intimately correlated with the incidence of PTDM after kidney transplantation. Age≥48 years old and the trough concentration of tacrolimus ≥9 ng/mL within 3 months after kidney transplantation are the independent risk factors of PTDM. Tacrolimus affects the postprandial blood glucose levels of mice in a dose-dependent manner.

Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiome contributes to the host immune response to infectious diseases. Here, to explore the role of the gut microbiome in the host immune responses in COVID-19, we conducted shotgun metagenomic sequencing and immune profiling of 14 severe/critical and 24 mild/moderate COVID-19 cases as well as 31 healthy control samples. We found that the diversity of the gut microbiome was reduced in severe/critical COVID-19 cases compared to mild/moderate ones. We identified the abundance of some gut microbes altered post-SARS-CoV-2 infection and related to disease severity, such as Enterococcus faecium, Coprococcus comes, Roseburia intestinalis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides cellulosilyticus and Blautia obeum. We further analyzed the correlation between the abundance of gut microbes and host responses, and obtained a correlation map between clinical features of COVID-19 and 16 severity-related gut microbe, including Coprococcus comes that was positively correlated with CD3⁺/CD4⁺/CD8⁺ lymphocyte counts. In addition, an integrative analysis of gut microbiome and the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that genes related to viral transcription and apoptosis were up-regulated in Coprococcus comes low samples. Moreover, a number of metabolic pathways in gut microbes were also found to be differentially enriched in severe/critical or mild/moderate COVID-19 cases, including the superpathways of polyamine biosynthesis II and sulfur oxidation that were suppressed in severe/critical COVID-19. Together, our study highlighted a potential regulatory role of severity related gut microbes in the immune response of host.
COVID-19 ; Clostridiales ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immunity ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND: Vascular intimal hyperplasia (IH) is one of the key challenges in the clinical application of smalldiameter vascular grafts. Current tissue engineering strategies focus on vascularization and antithrombotics, yet few approaches have been developed to treat IH. Here, we designed a tissue-engineered vascular scaffold with portulaca flavonoid (PTF) composition and biomimetic architecture.METHOD: By electrospinning, PTF is integrated with biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) into a bionic vascular scaffold. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated based on material characterization and cellular biocompatibility. Human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) were cultured on scaffolds for up to 14 days. RESULTS: The incorporation of PTF and preparation parameters during fabrication influences the morphology of the scaffold, including fibre diameter, structure, and orientation. Compared to the PCL scaffold, the scaffolds integrated with bioactive PTF show better hydrophilicity and degradability. HVSMCs seeded on the scaffold alongside the fibres exhibit fusiform-like shapes, indicating that the scaffold can provide contact guidance for cell morphology alterations. This study demonstrates that the PCL/PTF (9.1%) scaffold inhibits the excessive proliferation of HVSMCs without causing cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION The study provides insights into the problem of restenosis caused by IH. This engineered vascular scaffold with complex function and preparation is expected to be applied as a substitute for small-diameter vascular grafts.

Objective: To explore the relationship between behavioral problems and accidental injuries among preschoolers, and to provide evidence for the targeted prevention of children s accidental injuries. Methods: During September to October 2019, parent of 2 062 children aged 3 to 6 selected from 8 kindergartens in Hefei through stratified clustering method were investigated. The prevalence of accidental injuries and behavioral problems among preschoolers was collected by questionnaire survey. Results: The prevalence of accidental injury during the past year was 14.55%(300), and behavioral problems 14.21%(293). Total rate of behavioral problems and rate of each dimensions in children with accidental injury were 32.67%, 2.33%, 19.67%, 15.00%, 2.00%, 1.00 % and 5.00%, compared to 11.07%, 0.45%, 6.41%, 4.88%, 0.40%, 0.17% and 0.79% in children without accidental injury ( χ 2=98.11, 12.54, 58.90, 44.12, 10.51, 6.08, 32.68, P <0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that psychosomatic problems( OR =3.13, 95% CI =2.11-4.66), learning problems( OR =2.73, 95% CI =1.86-3.99), abnormal hyperactivity index ( OR =3.16, 95% CI =1.40-7.14) and left behind children ( OR =1.53, 95% CI =1.13-2.07) were associated with higher risk of accidental injuries( P <0.05). Conclusion Behavioral problems are significantly associated with unintentional injuries among preschool children, which deserved further attention and intervention when formulating prevention and control measures for childhood accidental injury.