ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA）-associated sarcopenia by regulating autophagy and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis based on network pharmacology，bioinformatics，machine learning，and animal experiments. MethodsActive ingredients and targets of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP），PubChem，and SwissTargetPrediction databases. RA-related datasets were retrieved from the GEO database，and differential genes were screened. Sarcopenia-related targets were searched through GeneCards and the Comparative Toxicology Database （CTD），and autophagy-related gene sets were downloaded from the Human Autophagy Database （HADb）. Their intersection was analyzed to identify autophagy-related therapeutic targets，followed by enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction （PPI） network was constructed using the STRING database，and key targets were selected using multiple methods. Machine learning was applied to predict models based on the expression profiles of intersecting targets，and nomogram models were constructed based on key targets. Molecular docking of the top four active ingredients with key targets was performed using AutoDockVina. A collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） rat model was established using bovine type Ⅱ collagen，with SD rats divided into groups including a blank group，a model group，and low-，medium-，and high-dose groups of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang （2.44，4.88，and 9.76 g·kg^-1） and administered for five consecutive weeks. Joint scores and gastrocnemius muscle mass were recorded and analyzed after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining and Masson's staining were used to observe pathological changes in muscle tissue. Immunofluorescence staining was applied to observe the protein expression levels of myosin heavy chain （MYHC） and insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） in skeletal muscle. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of autophagy-related proteins ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，muscle-specific proteins （MuRF1），MaFbx，and MYHC. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR （Real-time PCR） was performed to measure the mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，MaFbx，and MYHC in muscle tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacology revealed that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang shared 25 common targets with autophagy genes related to RA-associated sarcopenia. The PPI network and machine learning identified six key targets，which were primarily involved in autophagy and inflammatory pathways. Animal experiments showed that compared to the blank group，the model group had significantly higher joint scores （P<0.01） and lower gastrocnemius muscle index （P<0.01）. HE staining indicated a significant reduction in the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle fibers，with notable inflammatory cell infiltration and muscle atrophy in the model group. Masson's staining revealed obvious collagen fiber proliferation and deposition，with significant muscle fibrosis in the model group. The protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx were significantly increased （P<0.01），while the protein expression of MYHC and IGF1 was significantly downregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the high-dose group of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang showed significantly reduced protein and mRNA expression levels of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，MuRF1，and MaFbx （P<0.01） and increased protein expression levels of MYHC and IGF1 （P<0.01）. The cross-sectional area of muscle fibers increased，and the muscle cell morphology approached normal. Moreover，pathological abnormalities in the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly improved，with reduced collagen fiber proliferation （P<0.01）. ConclusionHuangqi Guizhi Wuwutang can mediate autophagy by regulating the expression of ATG5，Beclin1，LC3B，and IGF1，thereby reducing skeletal muscle catabolism and improving skeletal muscle homeostasis，which contributes to the treatment of RA-associated sarcopenia. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the effects of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in the treatment of RA-related sarcopenia and offer a reference for its enhanced clinical application.

The Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Qinbaohong Zhike Oral Liquid in Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Attack of Chronic Bronchitis （GS/CACM 337-2023） was released by the China Association of Chinese Medicine on December 13^th， 2023. This expert consensus was developed by experts in methodology， pharmacy， and Chinese medicine in strict accordance with the development requirements of the China Association of Chinese Medicine （CACM） and based on the latest medical evidence and the clinical medication experience of well-known experts in the fields of respiratory medicine （pulmonary diseases） and pediatrics. This expert consensus defines the application of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid in the treatment of cough and excessive sputum caused by phlegm-heat obstructing lung， acute bronchitis， and acute attack of chronic bronchitis from the aspects of applicable populations， efficacy evaluation， usage， dosage， drug combination， and safety. It is expected to guide the rational drug use in medical and health institutions， give full play to the unique value of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid， and vigorously promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese patent medicines.

BACKGROUND:There are many treatment methods for knee osteoarthritis,among which electroacupuncture,as an important non-drug treatment,is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,but its exact mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVE:Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of p53 and P21 in articular cartilage and subchondral bone of aged rats with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Eight 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the young group and sixteen 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into old group(n=8)and electroacupuncture group(n=8).The rats in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture stimulation once a day,5 days a week,for 8 continuous weeks,and the other two groups did not do any treatment.Eight weeks later,the level of type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide in peripheral blood was detected by ELISA,the morphology of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was observed by safranin O-fast green staining,the degree of knee cartilage degeneration was evaluated by modified Mankin's score,the microstructure of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was detected by micro-CT,and the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53,P21 Mrna and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the young group,the level of C-terminal peptide of type Ⅱ collagen in the peripheral blood was increased in the old group(P<0.05).The micro-CT results showed that the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae were decreased in the old group compared with the young group(P<0.05),while the trabecular separation increased(P<0.05).Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the old group,the surface layer of cartilage was uneven with fissures,the morphology of chondrocytes was irregular and stained unevenly,the boundary between the cartilage and subchondral bone was blurred,and the matrix loss was serious.The Mankin's score was higher in the old group than the young group(P<0.05).The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53,P21 at Mrna and protein levels increased in the old group compared with the young group(P<0.05).Compared with the old group,electroacupuncture decreased the level of C-terminal peptide of type Ⅱ collagen(P<0.05),increased the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae(P<0.05),and decreased the trabecular separation(P<0.05).Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the electroacupuncture group,the surface of cartilage was smooth and red staining was uniform,and the cell morphology and structure were between the young group and the old group.Following electroacupuncture treatment,the Mankin's score(P<0.05),matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P21 Mrna expression(P<0.05),and matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P53 protein expression decreased(P<0.05),while there was a decreasing trend of P53 Mrna and P21 protein expression,but with no statistical significance(P>0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture may delay articular cartilage degeneration and subchondral osteoporosis in aged rats by inhibiting the expression of P53 and P21,so as to protect joints and delay joint aging.

Objective To compare the differences in virulence-related factor aspartate protease,biofilm formation,and gene expression among clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis(C.parapsilosis).Methods Gene sequencing and microsatellite typing(MT)method were adopted to identify C.parapsilosis isolated from patients with clinical fungal infection.The production of secreted aspartate protease and biofilm formation ability of each strain were de-tected,and the expression of biofilm formation related-genes BCR1,EFG1,and HWP1,as well as aspartate prote-ase virulence genes SAPP1,SAPP2,SAPP3 were compared among the strains.Results A total of 8 clinically iso-lated C.parapsilosis strains were collected,all of which were identified as genotype Ⅰ.Based on microsatellite ty-ping results,8 clinical strains were divided into 4 microsatellite types.G1,G2,and G3 strains isolated from the urine,peripherally inserted central catheters(PICC),and blood of patient A were of different subtypes.J1,J2,J3,J4,and J5 strains were of the same type,and isolated from blood specimens of patient B at different periods.All 8 clinical strains could form biofilm,and their biofilm formation ability was higher than that of the standard strain of C.parapsilosis(ATCC 22019).G1,G3 and J5 strains had strong biofilm formation ability,J1,J2,J3,and J4 strains had moderate biofilm formation ability,and G2 strain had weak biofilm formation ability.All of the eight clinical isolates secreted aspartate protease,and their in vitro expression levels of the enzyme were higher than that of the standard strain(ATCC 22019).G3,G1,and G2 strains showed low,moderate,and high in vitro enzyme expression respectively,with statistical differences(all P＜0.05).Enzyme expressed moderately in J1 and J5 strains,and highly in J2,J3,and J4 strains.Difference between moderate and high expressions was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The expression levels of biofilm formation genes BCR1,EFG1,and HWP1 in various strains isolated from patients A and B increased.In strains isolated from patient A,the expression level of EFG1 gene in G1 strain was higher than that in G2 strain(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in BCR1,EFG1,and HWP1 gene expression levels among strains isolated from patient B.The expression levels of as-partate protein genes(SAPP1,SAPP2,and SAPP3)in various strains isolated from patients A and B increased.The expression levels of SAPP1 and SAPP2 in strain G1 were higher than those in G2 and G3(both P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the expression levels of SAPP1,SAPP2,and SAPP3 genes in strains from patient B.Conclusion Clinical isolates of C.parapsilosis have higher biofilm formation and aspartate protease production abilities than standard strain.The expression of virulence factors varies among strains isolated from different specimens,while there is no significant difference in the expression of virulence factors among strains isolated at different periods.Patients may have been infected with different MT types of C.parapsilosis in multiple sites during the same period.

Objective To analyze the value of phase angle(PA)measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis in evaluating nutritional status of peritoneal dialysis(PD)patients.Methods Totally 271 patients admitted to the Department of Nephrology,Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from April 2020 to December 2021 were selected.InBody S10(Korean Biospace)was used to detect PA at 50kHz,which was divided into normal PA group and low PA group.The differences of general data and laboratory indexes between the two groups were compared,and the relationship between PA and each index was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results Among 271 PD patients,108(39.9％)were in the normal PA group and 163(60.1％)were in the low PA group.The proportion of diabetic nephropathy patients in low PA group was significantly higher than that in normal PA group.Pearson correlation analysis showed that PA was negatively correlated with age,glycated hemoglobin,neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),percent body fat(PBF),edema index and visceral fat area(VFA).It was positively correlated with creatinine,prealbumin,albumin,predictive nutritional index(PNI),25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3],serum iron,fat free mass,skeletal muscle mass,arm muscle circumference(AMC),bone mineral content,VFA,basal metabolic rate and skeletal muscle mass index(SMI)(P＜0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that creatinine,NLR,AMC,SMI were independently correlated with PA.Conclusions Bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA)is non-invasive and rapid to evaluate the nutritional status of patients.Early identification of patients'nutritional status and implementation of individualised nutritional interventions are important ways to improve the quality of life and survival of patients with renal failure.

Objective To establish an illness perception intervention program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and preliminarily analyse its application effect.Methods On the basis of systematic retrieval,a draft of the illness perception intervention program for patients with COPD was formed through content analysis.From May to August 2022,after 2 rounds of expert consultation,the illness perception intervention program for patients with COPD was formed.Patients with COPD who were hospitalized in the respiratory departments of 2 hospitals in Jiangsu Province from December 2022 to January 2023 were selected as the study subjects by convenience sampling method.The experimental group was treated with the illness perception intervention program,while the control group was treated with routine nursing.The effects of the 2 groups were compared by Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire,Modified British Medical Research Council、Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire、Acceptance and Action Questionnaire Ⅱ,COPD Assessment Test,COPD Self-management Scale before and after intervention,and a month after intervention.Results The illness perception intervention program for patients with COPD included 6 intervention topics and 24 specific intervention items.In the 2 rounds of correspondence,the expert group authority coefficient was 0.81,and the Kendall coordination coefficients were 0.19 and 0.16 in the second round(all P＜0.001).In the intervention study,the recruitment rate of patients was 56％;the withdrawal rate was 15％;and the high compliance rate was 80％.Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that there was an interaction effect between the scores of Acceptance and Action Questionnaire Ⅱ of the 2 groups(P＜0.05).The differences in the scores of Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire,COPD Assessment Test,Self-management Scale between the 2 groups were statistically significant in terms of time effect(P＜0.05),and the differences in the scores of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire Ⅱ between the 2 groups were statistically significant in terms of main effect(P＜0.05).Conclusion The established illness perception intervention program for patients with COPD is scientific,feasible and effective,and it can provide practical references for clinical healthcare workers to promote illness perception and improve negative psychology in patients with COPD.

Objective To understand the current status of implicit theory derivation forms and applications in the health field at home and abroad,and to provide references for clinical practice and future research.Methods In accordance with the scoping review framework,PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,CINAHL,PsycINFO,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,SinoMed were searched for relevant studies.The time limit for the search was from the establishment of the databases to 10 March 2024.Results A total of 45 articles were included in the study,including 24 articles on health behaviour and 21 articles on mental health,covering 14 derivations of implicit theories such as implicit health theory,implicit weight theory and implicit emotion theory.The main intervention process of implicit theories can be summarised as 3 major steps:belief-led intervention,attention examination and outcome testing.Conclusion The research value of implicit theory in the field of health has been gradually explored,and it is an important antecedent to improve individual health behaviors and mental health,and its brief and effective intervention model is more compatible with the characteristics of nursing work,so domestic and foreign nursing researchers can learn from the relevant research results to further optimize the strategies of health education,preventive guidance,and psychological care,and to carry out high-quality studies to validate them.

【Objective】 To compare the risk of generalization in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) receiving or not receiving immunosuppressive treatment. 【Methods】 The data of patients with OMG registered in Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 1, 2015 to May 1, 2019 were reviewed; the patients were divided into treatment group and control group according to whether they had received immunosuppressive treatment. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis was used to compare the risk of generalization between the two groups of patients within 2 years of onset. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the duration of immunosuppressive treatment and the risk of generalization under different immunotherapy regimens. By using stratified analysis, the consistency of the main results across different levels of subgroup factors was evaluated. 【Results】 A total of 702 OMG patients were collected. Of them 367 patients (52.3%) were included in the treatment group, with an average onset age of (50.54±15.1) years, and 159 (43.3%) being female. Another 335 patients (47.7%) were included in the control group, with an average age of (49.1±14.6) years, and 159 ones (47.5%) were female. A total of 28 cases (7.7%) in the treatment group and 106 cases (31.6%) in the control group developed generalization during the observation period. After multivariate-adjusted Cox model analysis, patients who had received immunosuppressive treatment had a significantly lower risk of generalization compared with the control group (HR=0.24; 95% CI: 0.15-0.37; P<0.001). Sensitivity analysis found that the longer the duration of immunosuppression, the lower the risk of generalization (HR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.85-0.91; P<0.001). Stratified analysis showed that immunosuppressive therapy reduced the risk of generalization in different subgroups of patients. 【Conclusion】 Early immunosuppressive treatment can significantly reduce the risk of generalization in patients with OMG.

Objective Dexmedetomidine(Dex)is a highly selective α2 adrenoceptor agonist that reduces blood pressure and heart rate.However,its ability to provide stable hemodynamics and a clinically significant reduction in blood loss in spine surgery is still a matter of debate.This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dex on intraoperative hemodynamics and blood loss in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods The Web of Science,MEDLINE,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library were searched up to February 2023 for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)including patients undergoing spine surgeries under general anaesthesia and comparing Dex and saline.A fixed-or random-effect model was used depending on heterogeneity. Results Twenty-one RCTs,including 1388 patients,were identified.Dex added the overall risk of intraoperative hypotension(odds ratio[OR]:2.11;95％confidence interval[CI]:1.24-3.58;P=0.006)and bradycardia(OR:2.48;95％CI:1.57-3.93;P=0.0001).The use of a loading dose of Dex led to significantly increased risks of intraoperative hypotension(OR:2.00;95％CI:1.06-3.79;P=0.03)and bradycardia(OR:2.28;95％CI:1.42-3.66;P=0.0007).For patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia,there was an increased risk of hypotension(OR:2.90;95％CI:1.24-6.82;P=0.01)and bradycardia(OR:2.66;95％CI:1.53-4.61;P=0.0005).For patients in the inhalation anesthesia group,only an increased risk of bradycardia(OR:4.95;95％CI:1.41-17.37;P=0.01)was observed.No significant increase in the risk of hypotension and bradycardia was found in the combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia group.The incidence of severe hypotension(OR:2.57;95％CI:1.05-6.32;P=0.04),but not mild hypotension,was increased.Both mild(OR:2.55;95％CI:1.06-6.15;P=0.04)and severe(OR:2.45;95％CI:1.43-4.20;P=0.001)bradycardia were associated with a higher risk.The overall analyses did not reveal significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss.However,a significant decrease in blood loss was observed in total inhalation anesthesia subgroup(mean difference[MD]:-82.97;95％CI:-109.04--56.90;P＜0.001). Conclusions Dex increases the risks of intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia in major spine surgery.The administration of a loading dose of Dex and the utilization of various anesthesia maintenance methods may potentially impact hemodynamic stability and intraoperative blood loss.

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]