[Regulatory effect of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthmatic rats by urine metabolomics].

Urine metabolomics based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was utilized to investigate the metabolic regulation mechanism of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction(TLDZ) in rats with allergic asthma. SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a dexamethasone group, and a TLDZ group. The allergic asthma model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) to induce allergy, combined with atomization excitation. Urine metabolites from all rats were collected by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The metabolic profiles of rats in each group were built by principal component analysis(PCA). Besides, the differential metabolites between the model group and the TLDZ group were selected by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), t-test(P<0.05), and variable importance in the projection(VIP) values of more than 3. The differential metabolites were identified through HMDB, METLIN, and other online databa-ses. Heat maps and clustering analysis for relative quantitative information of biomarkers in each group were drawn by MeV 4.8.0 software. Finally, MetaboAnalyst, MBRole, and KEGG databases were used to enrich related metabolic pathways and construct metabolic networks. The result demonstrated that TLDZ could effectively regulate the disordered urine metabolic profiles of asthmatic rats. Combined with multivariate statistical analysis and online databases, a total of 45 differential metabolites with significant changes(P<0.05) between the model group and the TLDZ group were screened out. Metabolic pathways including histidine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism were enriched. TLDZ could improve asthma by regulating related metabolic pathways and interfering with pathological processes such as immune homeostasis airway inflammation. The study investigates the molecular mechanism of anti-asthma of TLDZ from the perspective of urine metabolomics, and combined with previous pharmacological studies, it provides a scientific basis for the clinical development and application of TLDZ in the treatment of asthma.

A novel bioaccessibility-based probabilistic risks assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in earthworm.

Introduction: Early risk assessment studies usually based on total heavy metal (loid) contents, inevitably leading to an overestimation of the health risks. In addition, inputs are represented as single-point estimates in deterministic models, leading to underestimation or overestimation of the health risks. Methods: To overcome these barriers, a novel probabilistic risk assessment strategy based on the combinational use of bioaccessibility and Monte Carlo simulation was developed to assess heavy metal (loid) associated health risks of earthworms in this study. To obtain a realistic and robust probabilistic risk assessment, heavy metal (loid) exposure duration and frequency were determined using our questionnaire data. Results: As a result, the mean gastrointestinal bioaccessibility was in the order: Cd > As > Cu > Hg. The mean hazard index (HI) values for investigated metal (loid)s were 0.65 and 0.59 for male and female, respectively, demonstrating an acceptable health risk in an average community. However, the 90th percentile of HI values was 1.87 and 1.65 for male and female, respectively. And the total non-cancer risks of heavy metal (loid) exposure exceeded the acceptable threshold for 19.9% and 17.8% of male and female, respectively. In addition, the total cancer risk (TCR) value through co-exposure to As and Cd suggested that the carcinogenic risks may be of concern for average exposure population. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the exposure frequency and bioaccessible As concentration were the dominant contributors to the total risk variance, which provided meaningful implications for environmental management. Conclusion: Altogether, the refined strategy based on bioaccessibility and Monte Carlo simulation is the first of its kind, such effort attempts to scientifically guide the rational clinic use of TCM and the improvement of population-health.

Super-refractory status epilepticus in a woman with Aeromonas caviae meningitis: a rare case report and review of the literature.

Currently, there is a lack of knowledge regarding Aeromonas caviae meningitis. We report the first case of super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in a woman with Aeromonas caviae meningitis. The case report demonstrates that this condition can lead to severe SRSE. Effective treatment for epilepsy is crucial for improving the prognosis for similar patients. According to Gomes et al.'s consensus protocol for SRSE, using a combination of up to one anesthetic drug and three non-anesthetic anti-epileptic drugs may be helpful and important in managing SRSE that is caused by Aeromonas caviae meningitis.

A new canthinone glycoside isolated from the root barks of Ailanthus altissima with NO inhibitory activity.

One new canthinone glycoside (1), together with six known compounds (2-7) including three lignans (2-4), two coumarins (5-6) and one phenol (7) was isolated from the root barks of Ailanthus altissima. The structure of new compound 1 was established by the interpretation of UV, IR, MS and NMR data, while its absolute configuration was determined by acid hydrolysis and GIAO NMR calculations with DP4+ probability analysis. The inhibitory effects of all compounds on Nitric oxide (NO) production were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Results showed that compounds 2 and 5 displayed NO production inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 30.1 and 15.3 µM, respectively.

SPEctacle Correction for the TReatment of Amblyopia (SPECTRA): study protocol for a prospective non-randomised interventional trial in adults with anisometropic/mixed mechanism amblyopia.

INTRODUCTION: Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental vision disorder typically affecting one eye, resulting in compromised binocular function. While evidence-based treatments exist for children, there are no widely accepted treatments for adults. This trial aims to assess the efficacy of appropriate optical treatment in improving vision and visual functions in adults with amblyopia. This is hypothesised to significantly improve visual acuity of the amblyopic eye and other visual functions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: SPEctacle Correction for the TReatment of Amblyopia is a prospective non-randomised interventional trial. The following criteria for amblyopia will be used: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the amblyopic eye of 0.3 to 1.0 (inclusive) logMAR VA and in the fellow eye, 0.1 logMAR or better, with an interocular VA difference of ≥2 logMAR lines. Eligible participants aged 18-39 will receive full/near-full optical treatment requiring wear for at least half their waking hours for the trial duration. A difference of ≥1.00D spherical equivalent between a participant's current refractive correction and the study prescription is required for eligibility. Primary outcome is the change in amblyopic eye BCVA from baseline to 24-week postenrolment. Secondary outcomes include distance and near VA of both eyes, stereoacuity, contrast sensitivity, interocular suppression, angle of strabismus and fixation stability measured at monthly intervals. Visual evoked potentials will also be measured at baseline, week 12 and week 24. Treatment compliance and quality of life for all participants will be monitored.Analyses comparing baseline and week 24 will utilise pairwise comparisons. Linear mixed models will be fitted to the data for measures taken monthly. This allows estimates and inferences to be drawn from the coefficients of the model, while handling missing data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Human ethics approval was obtained from the respective ethics board of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HSEARS20210915002) and the University of Waterloo (#44235). The study protocol will conform to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05394987; clinicaltrials.org.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus 069 and Lactobacillus brevis 031: Unraveling Strain-Specific Pathways for Modulating Lipid Metabolism and Attenuating High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Obesity is a global health crisis, marked by excessive fat in tissues that function as immune organs, linked to microbiota dysregulation and adipose inflammation. Investigating the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus SG069 (LR069) and Lactobacillus brevis SG031 (LB031) on obesity and lipid metabolism, this research highlights adipose tissue's critical immune-metabolic role and the probiotics' potential against diet-induced obesity. Mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with either LR069 or LB031 for 12 weeks. Administration of LB031 boosted lipid metabolism, indicated by higher AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation, and increased the M2/M1 macrophage ratio, indicating LB031's anti-inflammatory effect. Meanwhile, LR069 administration not only led to significant weight loss by enhancing lipolysis which evidenced by increased phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) but also elevated Akkermansia and fecal acetic acid levels, showing the gut microbiota's pivotal role in its antiobesity effects. LR069 and LB031 exhibit distinct effects on lipid metabolism and obesity, underscoring their potential for precise interventions. This research elucidates the unique impacts of these strains on metabolic health and highlights the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and obesity, advancing our knowledge of probiotics' therapeutic potential.

Modulatory Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei-Fermented Turmeric on Metabolic Dysregulation and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Turmeric, derived from Curcuma longa, and Lactobacillus paracasei, a lactic acid bacteria, have been studied for their potential antiobesity effects. To date, the antiobesity effects of turmeric fermented with L. paracasei have not been sufficiently investigated. This study was conducted via oral administration of 5% L. paracasei-fermented (FT) and unfermented turmeric (UT) in diet over 16 weeks using high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Results showed that the curcuminoid content of turmeric decreased following fermentation. Furthermore, FT significantly suppressed weight gain and liver and visceral adipose tissue weight and reduced plasma metabolic parameters in both the UT and FT experimental groups. The effects of FT were more noticeable than those of the unfermented form. Moreover, FT downregulated the expression of adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and inflammatory-related protein, but upregulated liver ß-oxidation protein SIRT 1, PPARα, and PGC-1α in perigonadal adipose tissue. Additionally, FT ameliorated insulin resistance by activating insulin receptor pathway protein expressions in visceral adipose tissues. FT also modulated gut microbiota composition, particularly in two beneficial bacteria, Akkermansia muciniphila and Desulfovibrio, as well as two short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria: Muribaculum intestinale and Deltaproteobacteria. Our findings indicate that the modulation effect of FT may be an important pathway for its antiobesity mechanisms.

Time association study on a sub-acute mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe neurodegenerative disease that disturbs human health. In the laboratory researches about PD, the mice model induced by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was widely used. However, there has been controversy about the model effectiveness to simulate PD symptoms and pathology, and the time-varying development of behavioral and pathological characteristic after MPTP treatment remains unclear. In order to solve these problems, we designed a series of experiments to evaluate this PD model at different time points. We constructed the subacute PD mouse model by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP for 5 consecutive days. The rotarod test, open field test and the immunohistochemical staining of tyrosine hydroxylase were conducted at -5, 1, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the last injection of MPTP. The results showed that 5 days after the last MPTP administration, typical motor disorders with significant balance function damage in rotarod test began to appear and remained stable throughout the entire experiment. Simultaneously, we also observed the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells in the substantia nigra compacta and reduction of TH content in the striatum but this pathological change in the substantia nigra compacta reversed 21 days after injection. Besides, the spontaneous movement of mice in open field test remained unchanged by MPTP. This research indicated the time-dependence of MPTP neurotoxicity that impair the motor function and histological features and confirmed the symptom occurrence time after MPTP injection, which provides a reference for the future research about MPTP-induced PD.

Molecular genetic identification of Wuzhishan ant chicken, a newly discovered resource in China.

Introduction: The Wuzhishan ant (MY) chicken exhibits significant differences from other chicken breeds. However, the molecular genetic relationship between the MY breed and other chicken breeds has not been assessed. Methods: Whole-genome resequencing was used to compare genetic diversity, nucleotide diversity, the fixation index, the linkage disequilibrium coefficient, and phylogenetic tree relationships between the MY breed and the Wenchang (WC), Danzhou (DZ), Bawangling (BW), and Longsheng Feng (LF) breeds. Results: A total of 21,586,378 singlenucleotide polymorphisms and 4,253,341 insertions/deletions were screened out among the five breeds. The MY breed had the second highest genomic genetic diversity and nucleotide diversity and the lowest LD coefficient among the five breeds. Moreover, the phylogenetic tree analysis showed that individual birds of each breed clustered together with those of their respective breeds. Discussion: Our data indicated that the MY breed is distinct from the other breeds and can be considered a new genetic resource.

Investigation of N-Glycan Functions in Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products V Domain through Chemical Glycoprotein Synthesis.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) plays a crucial role in inflammation-related pathways and various chronic diseases. Despite the recognized significance of N-glycosylation in the ligand-binding V domain (VD) of RAGE, a comprehensive understanding of the site-activity and structure-activity relationships is lacking due to the challenges in obtaining homogeneous glycoprotein samples through biological expression. Here, we combined chemical and chemoenzymatic approaches to synthesize RAGE-VD and its congeners with Asn3-glycosylation by incorporating precise N-glycan structures. Evaluation of these samples revealed that, in comparison to other RAGE-VD forms, α2,6-sialylated N-glycosylation at the Asn3 site results in more potent inhibition of HMGB1-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression in RAGE-overexpressing cells. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrum analysis revealed a sialylated RAGE-VD-induced interaction region within HMGB1. Conversely, Asn3 N-glycosylation in VD has negligible effects on RAGE-VD/S100B interactions. This study established an approach for accessing homogeneously glycosylated RAGE-VD and explored the modulatory effects of N-glycosylation on the interactions between RAGE-VD and its ligand proteins.

Breaking barriers: pCF10 type 4 secretion system relies on a self-regulating muramidase to modulate the cell wall.

Conjugative type 4 secretion systems (T4SSs) are the main driver for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in bacteria. To deliver the DNA substrate to recipient cells, it must cross the cell envelopes of both donor and recipient bacteria. In the T4SS from the enterococcal conjugative plasmid pCF10, PrgK is known to be the active cell wall degrading enzyme. It has three predicted extracellular hydrolase domains: metallo-peptidase (LytM), soluble lytic transglycosylase (SLT), and cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolases/peptidases (CHAP). Here, we report the structure of the LytM domain and show that its active site is degenerate and lacks the active site metal. Furthermore, we show that only the predicted SLT domain is functional in vitro and that it unexpectedly has a muramidase instead of a lytic transglycosylase activity. While we did not observe any peptidoglycan hydrolytic activity for the LytM or CHAP domain, we found that these domains downregulated the SLT muramidase activity. The CHAP domain was also found to be involved in PrgK dimer formation. Furthermore, we show that PrgK interacts with PrgL, which likely targets PrgK to the rest of the T4SS. The presented data provides important information for understanding the function of Gram-positive T4SSs.IMPORTANCEAntibiotic resistance is a large threat to human health and is getting more prevalent. One of the major contributors to the spread of antibiotic resistance among different bacteria is type 4 secretion systems (T4SS). However, mainly T4SSs from Gram-negative bacteria have been studied in detail. T4SSs from Gram-positive bacteria, which stand for more than half of all hospital-acquired infections, are much less understood. The significance of our research is in identifying the function and regulation of a cell wall hydrolase, a key component of the pCF10 T4SS from Enterococcus faecalis. This system is one of the best-studied Gram-positive T4SSs, and this added knowledge aids in our understanding of horizontal gene transfer in E. faecalis as well as other medically relevant Gram-positive bacteria.

Developing an entrustable professional activity for providing health education and consultation in occupational therapy and examining its validity.

BACKGROUND: Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA)-based assessment is easily and intuitively used in evaluating the learning outcomes of competency-based medical education (CBME). This study aimed to develop an EPA for occupational therapy focused on providing health education and consultation (TP-EPA3) and examine its validity. METHODS: Nineteen occupational therapists who had completed online training on the EQual rubric evaluation participated in this study. An expert committee identified six core EPAs for pediatric occupational therapy. TP-EPA3 was developed following the EPA template and refined through consensus meetings. The EQual rubric, a 14-item, five-point criterion-based anchor system, encompassing discrete units of work (DU), entrustable, essential, and important tasks of the profession (EEIT), and curricular role (CR), was used to evaluate the quality of TP-EPA3. Overall scores below 4.07, or scores for DU, EEIT, and CR domains below 4.17. 4.00, and 4.00, respectively, indicate the need for modifications. RESULTS: The TP-EPA3 demonstrated good validity, surpassing the required cut-off score with an average overall EQual score of 4.21 (SD = 0.41). Specific domain scores for DU, EEIT, and CR were 3.90 (SD = 0.69), 4.46 (SD = 0.44), and 4.42 (SD = 0.45), respectively. Subsequent revisions clarified observation contexts, enhancing specificity and focus. Further validation of the revised TP-EPA3 and a thorough examination of its reliability and validity are needed. CONCLUSION: The successful validation of TP-EPA3 suggests its potential as a valid assessment tool in occupational therapy education, offering a structured approach for developing competency in providing health education and consultation. This process model for EPA development and validation can guide occupational therapists in creating tailored EPAs for diverse specialties and settings.

Structural Variances in Curcumin Degradants: Impact on Obesity in Mice.

Some thermal degradants of curcuminoids have demonstrated moderate health benefits in previous studies. Feruloyl acetone (FER), recently identified as a thermal degradant of curcumin, has been previously associated with anticancer and antioxidative effects, yet its other capabilities remain unexplored. Moreover, earlier reports suggest that methoxy groups on the aromatic ring may influence the functionality of the curcuminoids. To address these gaps, an animal study was conducted to investigate the antiobesity effects of both FER and its demethoxy counterpart (DFER) on mice subjected to a high-fat diet. The results demonstrated the significant prevention of weight gain and enlargement of the liver and various adipose tissues by both samples. Furthermore, these supplements exhibited a lipid regulatory effect in the liver through the adiponectin/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway, promoted thermogenesis via AMPK/PGC-1α activation, and positively influenced gut-microbial-produced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels. Notably, DFER demonstrated superior overall efficacy in combating obesity, while FER displayed a significant effect in modulating inflammatory responses. It is considered that SCFA may be responsible for the distinct effects of FER and DFER in the animal study. Future studies are anticipated to delve into the efficacy of curcuminoid degradants, encompassing toxicity and pharmacokinetic evaluations.

Concentration and health risk assessment of 16 rare earth elements in six types of tea in China.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) have been implicated in potential health effects. However, the health risk of REE exposure among tea drinkers in China remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the concentration of REEs in different tea categories and evaluate the associated health risks for tea consumers in China. By analyzing the content of 16 REEs in 4326 tea samples from China, the exposure level of REEs to the general population was estimated. The content of these 16 REEs was similar across six types of tea, with oolong tea exhibiting the highest levels. The concentration of light rare earth elements (LREEs) in six types of tea was higher than that of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs). The daily mean and 95th percentile (P95) exposure to REEs from tea for the general population in China were 0.0328 µg/kg BW and 0.1283 µg/kg BW, respectively, which are significantly lower than the temporary acceptable daily dose (tADI). Our findings suggest that REEs from tea do not pose a known health risk to Chinese consumers.

BAPCP: A comprehensive and user-friendly web tool for identifying biomarkers from protein microarray technologies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Proteome microarrays are one of the popular high-throughput screening methods for large-scale investigation of protein interactions in cells. These interactions can be measured on protein chips when coupled with fluorescence-labeled probes, helping indicate potential biomarkers or discover drugs. Several computational tools were developed to help analyze the protein chip results. However, existing tools fail to provide a user-friendly interface for biologists and present only one or two data analysis methods suitable for limited experimental designs, restricting the use cases. METHODS: In order to facilitate the biomarker examination using protein chips, we implemented a user-friendly and comprehensive web tool called BAPCP (Biomarker Analysis tool for Protein Chip Platforms) in this research to deal with diverse chip data distributions. RESULTS: BAPCP is well integrated with standard chip result files and includes 7 data normalization methods and 7 custom-designed quality control/differential analysis filters for biomarker extraction among experiment groups. Moreover, it can handle cost-efficient chip designs that repeat several blocks/samples within one single slide. Using experiments of the human coronavirus (HCoV) protein microarray and the E. coli proteome chip that helps study the immune response of Kawasaki disease as examples, we demonstrated that BAPCP can accelerate the time-consuming week-long manual biomarker identification process to merely 3 min. CONCLUSIONS: The developed BAPCP tool provides substantial analysis support for protein interaction studies and conforms to the necessity of expanding computer usage and exchanging information in bioscience and medicine. The web service of BAPCP is available at https://cosbi.ee.ncku.edu.tw/BAPCP/.

Correlation Between Basal Metabolic Rate and Clinical Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Hypermetabolism is associated with clinical prognosis of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore the association between basal metabolic rate (BMR) and postoperative clinical outcomes in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: We collected data of 958 gastric cancer patients admitted at our center from June 2014 to December 2018. The optimal cutoff value of BMR (BMR ≤1149 kcal/day) was obtained using the X-tile plot. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were then performed to evaluate the relevant influencing factors of clinical outcomes. Finally, R software was utilized to construct the nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients were defined as having a lower basal metabolic rate (LBMR). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that gastric cancer patients with LBMR were more prone to postoperative complications and had poor long-term overall survival (OS). The established nomogram had good predictive power to assess the risk of OS in gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy (c-index was 0.764). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, LBMR on admission is associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications in gastric cancer patients, and this population has a poorer long-term survival. Therefore, there should be more focus on the perioperative management of patients with this risk factor before surgery.

PrgE: an OB-fold protein from plasmid pCF10 with striking differences to prototypical bacterial SSBs.

A major pathway for horizontal gene transfer is the transmission of DNA from donor to recipient cells via plasmid-encoded type IV secretion systems (T4SSs). Many conjugative plasmids encode for a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) together with their T4SS. Some of these SSBs have been suggested to aid in establishing the plasmid in the recipient cell, but for many, their function remains unclear. Here, we characterize PrgE, a proposed SSB from the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pCF10. We show that PrgE is not essential for conjugation. Structurally, it has the characteristic OB-fold of SSBs, but it has very unusual DNA-binding properties. Our DNA-bound structure shows that PrgE binds ssDNA like beads on a string supported by its N-terminal tail. In vitro studies highlight the plasticity of PrgE oligomerization and confirm the importance of the N-terminus. Unlike other SSBs, PrgE binds both double- and single-stranded DNA equally well. This shows that PrgE has a quaternary assembly and DNA-binding properties that are very different from the prototypical bacterial SSB, but also different from eukaryotic SSBs.

Interstitial fibrosis increases the risk of end-stage kidney disease in patients with lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients using tubulointerstitial lesion scores. METHODS: Clinical profiles and histopathological presentations of 151 biopsy-proven LN patients were retrospectively examined. Risk factors of ESKD based on characteristics and scoring of their tubulointerstitial lesions (e.g. interstitial inflammation [II], tubular atrophy [TA], and interstitial fibrosis [IF]) were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of 151 LN patients was 36 years old, and 136 (90.1%) were female. The LN cases examined included: class I/II (n = 3, 2%), class III/IV (n = 119, 78.8%), class V (n = 23, 15.2%), and class VI (n = 6, 4.0%). The mean serum creatinine level was 1.4 mg/dl. Tubulointerstitial lesions were recorded in 120 (79.5%) patients. Prior to receiving renal biopsy, 9 (6.0%) patients developed ESKD. During the follow-up period (mean, 58 months), an additional 47 patients (31.1%) progressed to ESKD. Multivariate analyses identified serum creatinine (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-2.03, p < 0.001) and IF (HR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.58-6.49, p = 0.001) as independent risk factors of ESKD. Kaplan-Meier analysis further confirmed a heightened risk of ESKD associated with IF. CONCLUSION: Tubulointerstitial involvement is commonly observed in histopathological presentation of LN. However, IF, rather than II, or TA, was found to increase the risk of ESKD in our cohort. Therefore, to predict renal outcome in LN patients prior to adjusting immunosuppressive treatment, degree of IF should be reviewed.

Experiences of youth growing up with anorectal malformation or Hirschsprung's disease: a multicenter qualitative in-depth interview study.

PURPOSE: Patients with anorectal malformation (ARM) and Hirschsprung's disease (HD) live with long-term impact of these diseases even into adulthood. We aimed to explore the physical, social and emotional impact of these diseases in adolescents and young adults to develop best practices for transition care. METHODS: We conducted one-on-one in-depth interviews with ARM and HD patients aged ≥ 11 years who had undergone surgery at four tertiary referral centers. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We analyzed transcripts for recurring themes, and data were collected until data saturation was reached. Three researchers independently coded the transcripts for major themes using thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: We interviewed 16 participants (11 males) between October 2022 and April 2023. Ages ranged from 11 to 26 years. Five major themes emerged: (1) personal impact (subthemes: physical, emotional and mental health, social, school), (2) impact on family, (3) perceptions of their future (subthemes: relationships, career, state of health), (4) sources of support (subthemes: family, peers, partner), and (5) transition care (subthemes: concerns, expectations). Only females expressed concerns regarding future fertility. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the evolving problems faced by adolescents and young adults with ARM and HD, especially gender-specific concerns. Our findings can inform efforts to provide individualized care.

[Pseudo-targeted metabolomics for differential components of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma from three plant species].

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is common traditional Chinese medicine with multiple original plants. The content and proportion of the active components in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma from different plant species were compared to accurately evaluate the medicine qua-lity and provide a theoretical basis for precise use of this medicine in clinical practice. In this study, fresh Rhei Radix et Rhizoma samples were collected from the four-year-old plants of Rheum palmatum, R. tanguticum, and R. officinale. The relative content of 220 anthraquinones, anthrones, and tannins in the samples were determined by pseudo-targeted metabolomics, and the differential components were screened by multivariate statistical methods. The principal component analysis classified the samples into three clusters according to the original plants. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) screened out 117 differential components, including 8 free anthraquinones, 18 anthraquinone glycosides, 80 anthrones, and 11 tannins. Twenty-eight components had the highest content in R. tanguticum, mainly including sennosides, anthraquinone glycosides, and procyanidins. Thirty-five components showed the highest content in R. officinale, mainly including free anthraquinones and catechines. Fifty-four components showed the highest content in R. palmatum, mainly including dianthrones, while the structures of most of them cannot be determined temporarily. The content distribution of differential components in the three original plants indicates that R. tanguticum has the strongest effect of purging, while R. officinale has the strongest effect of clearing heat and purging fire, and both have stronger effects of resolvong stasis and dredging meridians than R. palmatum.