Development of a Nomogram Model to Identify Appropriate Candidates from Cytoreductive Nephrectomy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database.

BACKGROUND: Although a survival benefit was observed in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN), there is a lack of effective tools for predicting which individuals are likely to benefit from surgical intervention. Herein, we developed a predictive model using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with mRCC were screened from the SEER database (2010-2020), supplemented by patients from East Asia. Patients were categorized into surgical and non-surgical groups, with propensity score matching conducted to balance baseline characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with benefits and a nomogram was constructed based on these factors. RESULTS: This study included 11,044 cases from the SEER database and 50 cases from an external validation cohort. CN was identified as an independent protective factor for OS. A nomogram was established, and it performed well in the training and validation sets. The calibration curves and DCA confirmed that the nomogram model could precisely predict the probability of surgical benefit. We used the nomogram to classify surgical patients into benefit and non-benefit groups. Then, we found that OS was significantly higher in the benefit group than in the non-benefit group. The external validation cohort observed the same result (P=0.035). CONCLUSION: While CN offers potential benefits for patients with mRCC, its applicability varies across the patient population. Our study constructed a nomogram that quantitatively assesses the likelihood of surgical benefit in mRCC patients, facilitating more tailored therapeutic decision-making.

Rules of acupoint selection in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with acupuncture-moxibustion based on complex network analysis. / åŸºäºŽå¤æ‚ç½‘ç»œåˆ†æžé’ˆç¸æ²»ç–—ç‚Žæ€§è‚ ç— çš„é€‰ç©´è§„å¾‹.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the rules of acupoint selection and compatibility of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on complex network technology and provide the reliable evidences for acupoint selection in treatment of this disease with acupuncture and moxibustion. METHODS: The clinical studies on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of IBD were searched from the databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Embase. The studies were screened and the acupoint prescriptions were extracted to set up the database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for IBD. Using Microsoft Excel 2021 software, the use times of acupoint, the use frequency (%) of acupoint, meridian tropism and the use of special point were imported. With SPSS Modeler 18.0 software adopted, the association rules were analyzed on the acupoint prescriptions. The acupoint co-occurrence network diagram, k-core network diagram, and community analysis diagram were drawn by Gephi 0.9.5 software. RESULTS: A total of 156 studies were included, composed of 175 acupoint prescriptions, 75 acupoints, with 1 378 use times in total and around 8 acupoints in one prescription. Regarding the top use frequency, Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongwan (CV12) and Pishu (BL20) were listed. The top meridians involved were the foot-yangming stomach meridian, the foot-taiyang bladder meridian and the Conception Vessel. The front-mu point had been used with the highest frequency among the special points. ST36 and ST25 were a pair of points with the highest frequency in treatment. The k-core hierarchical analysis was adopted to optimize acupoint prescriptions, and 22 core acupoints were obtained, i.e. ST25, ST36, CV4, CV12, BL20, Dachangshu (BL25), Shangjuxu (ST37), Shenshu (BL23), Qihai (CV6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Mingmen (GV4), Xingjian (LR2), Yinlingquan (SP9), Neiting (ST44), Taichong (LR3), Xiajuxu (ST39), Shuifen (CV9), Shenque (CV8), Ganshu (BL18), Weishu (BL21), Hegu (LI4) and Quchi(LI11), which were classified into three core acupoint groups by community analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Through complex network analysis, it is found that the local acupoints on the chest and abdomen are generally selected in treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion for IBD, the combination of the nearby and distal points is considered simulta-neously, and the acupoint prescription is modified according to syndrome/pattern differentiation；and among special points, the front-mu point is widely used in treatment. All of these rules provide the ideas for the acupoint selection of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment of IBD.

Melanoserispenghuana (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), a new species from North-central Yunnan, China.

In this paper, we describe a new species, Melanoserispenghuana, from Mt. Jiaozi Xueshan located in North-central Yunnan, China. Despite its morphological similarities to M.likiangensis, M.penghuana exhibits distinct differences in leaf texture, shape of terminal lobes, indumentum of leaves, peduncles, and involucres, as well as the length of the achenes. Additionally, the conservation status of this species is classified as Vulnerable through data analysis from two field surveys.

Research hotspots for pediatric fractures from 2017 to 2022: A bibliometric and visual analysis via Citespace.

Objective: This review provides guidance and ideas for researchers through a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the present state, trends, and hotspots in the pediatric fracture literature over the past 6 years. Methods: We used Citespace 6.1.R6 software to explore the country/region distribution, institutions, journals, keyword analysis, and co-cited references of the literature from Web of Science core database. Results: There are 6472 pieces of pediatric fracture-related literature, including 2962 from 2017 to 2019 and 3510 from 2020 to 2022. The country with the most papers is the United States, and US institutions and journals also have a pivotal position in this field. Research hotspots for pediatric fractures in 2017-2019: The topic with the most attention is bone mineral density leading to related bone diseases. Treatment for pediatric fractures, including supracondylar humeral fractures, Monteggia fractures, forearm fractures, knee fractures, and ankle fractures in children, is another topic of greater interest. Brain injuries and dental injuries in children due to abuse and trauma are also concerning issues. Research hotspots for pediatric fractures in 2020-2022: comparison with 2017-2019 revealed a relative decrease regarding ankle-related epiphyseal injuries, but there is a higher focus on the epidemiology of fractures in children, risk factors, and reasons for childhood trauma. We have confirmed through literature co-citations that the literature of high interest is also in these aspects. Conclusion: Researchers and clinicians can quickly learn about topics of interest through authoritative journals and highly cited literature and rapidly master the current status and frontiers of the field through study, providing ideas for future work.

Predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine in breast cancer: targeting the PI3K pathway.

Breast cancer (BC) is a multifaceted disease characterized by distinct molecular subtypes and varying responses to treatment. In BC, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway has emerged as a crucial contributor to the development, advancement, and resistance to treatment. This review article explores the implications of the PI3K pathway in predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine for BC. It emphasizes the identification of predictive biomarkers, such as PIK3CA mutations, and the utility of molecular profiling in guiding treatment decisions. The review also discusses the potential of targeting the PI3K pathway for preventive strategies and the customization of therapy based on tumor stage, molecular subtypes, and genetic alterations. Overcoming resistance to PI3K inhibitors and exploring combination therapies are addressed as important considerations. While this field holds promise in improving patient outcomes, further research and clinical trials are needed to validate these approaches and translate them into clinical practice.

Amuc_1100 pretreatment alleviates acute pancreatitis in a mouse model through regulating gut microbiota and inhibiting inflammatory infiltration.

Amuc_1100 is a membrane protein from Akkermansia muciniphila, which has been found to play a role in host immunological homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by activating TLR2 and TLR4. In this study we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Amuc_1100 on acute pancreatitis (AP) induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The mice were treated with the protein Amuc_1100 (3 µg, i.g.) for 20 days before caerulein injection. Cecal contents of the mice were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that pretreatment with Amuc_1100 significantly alleviated AP-associated pancreatic injury, reduced serum amylase and lipase. Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IFN-γ and IL-6) in spleen and pancreas through inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, Amuc_1100 pretreatment significantly decreased the inflammatory infiltration, accompanied by the reduction of Ly6C+ macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen of AP mice. Gut microbiome analysis showed that the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Desulfobacterota and Campilobacterota was decreased, while the proportion of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota was increased in AP mice pretreated with Amuc_1100. We further demonstrated that Amuc_1100 pretreatment restored the enrichment of tryptophan metabolism, which was mediated by intestinal flora. These results provide new evidence that Amuc_1100 lessens the severity of AP through its anti-inflammatory properties with a reduction of macrophages and neutrophil infiltration, as well as its regulation of the composition of intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism.

Lanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma amboinense.

Lanostane-type triterpenoids are the main characteristic constituents in Ganoderma mushrooms. Phytochemical analysis on the ethanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma amboinense led to isolation and identification of twelve previously undescribed lanostane triterpenoids (1-12). Their chemical structures were determined by HR-ESI-MS, IR, and NMR spectroscopic analysis, NMR calculation, as well as X-ray crystallography. All isolates were evaluated for the α-glucosidase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 11 showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 33.5 µM to 96.0 µM. Moreover, compound 12 showed anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 value of 21.7 ± 2.1 µM.

Melanoseriskangdingensis (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), a new species reported from western Sichuan, China.

Melanoseriskangdingensis, a new species native to western Sichuan, China, is firstly described and illustrated, and its conservation status is also assessed. It bears resemblance to M.macrantha and M.bracteata in terms of morphology; however, there are distinguishing characteristics in terms of their leaf structure, presence of bracts, hairiness of involucre, number of florets, and length of both stamen tube and achene's beak.

Phylogeny and Genetic Divergence among Sorghum Mosaic Virus Isolates Infecting Sugarcane.

Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV, the genus Potyvirus of the family Potyviridae) is a causal agent of common mosaic in sugarcane and poses a threat to the global sugar industry. In this study, a total of 901 sugarcane leaf samples with mosaic symptom were collected from eight provinces in China and were detected via RT-PCR using a primer pair specific to the SrMV coat protein (CP). These leaf samples included 839 samples from modern cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids) and 62 samples from chewing cane (S. officinarum). Among these, 632 out of 901 (70.1%) samples were tested positive for SrMV. The incidences of SrMV infection were 72.3% and 40.3% in modern cultivars and chewing cane, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all tested SrMV isolates were clustered into three clades consisting of six phylogenetic groups based on 306 CP sequences (this study = 265 and GenBank database = 41). A total of 10 SrMV isolates from South America (the United States and Argentina) along with 106 isolates from China were clustered in group D, while the remaining 190 SrMV isolates from Asia (China and Vietnam) were dispersed in five groups. The SrMV isolates in group F were limited to Yunnan province in China, and those in group A were spread over eight provinces. A significant genetic heterogeneity was elucidated in the nucleotide sequence identities of all SrMV CPs, ranging from 69.0% to 100%. A potential recombination event was postulated among SrMV isolates based on CP sequences. All tested SrMV CPs underwent dominant negative selection. Geographical isolation (South America vs. Asia) and host types (modern cultivars vs. chewing cane) are important factors promoting the genetic differentiation of SrMV populations. Overall, this study contributes to the global understanding of the genetic evolution of SrMV and provides a valuable resource for the epidemiology and management of the mosaic in sugarcane.

Effectiveness and safety of interspinous spacer versus decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

STUDY DESIGN: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVE: Our meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether interspinous spacer (IS) results in better performance for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) when compared with decompressive surgery (DS). BACKGROUND DATA: DS and IS are common surgeries for the treatment of LSS. However, controversy remains as to whether the IS is superior to DS. METHODS: We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for prospective randomized controlled trials that compared IS versus DS for LSS. The retrieved results were last updated on July 30, 2023. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 852 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled data indicated that IS was superior to DS considering shorter operation time (P = .003), lower dural violation rate (P = .002), better Zurich Claudication Questionnaire Physical function score (P = .03), and smaller foraminal height decrease (P = .004), but inferior to DS considering the higher rate of reoperation (P < .0001). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding hospital stay (P = .26), blood loss (P = .23), spinous process fracture (P = .09), disc height decrease (P = .87), VAS leg pain score (P = .43), VAS back pain score (P = .26), Oswestry Disability Index score (P = .08), and Zurich Claudication Questionnaire symptom severity (P = .50). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we considered that IS had similar effects with DS in hospital stay, blood loss, spinous process fracture, disc height decrease, VAS score, Oswestry Disability Index score, and Zurich Claudication Questionnaire Symptom severity, and was better in some indices such as operation time, dural violation, Zurich Claudication Questionnaire Physical function, and foraminal height decrease than DS. However, due to the higher rate of reoperation in the IS group, we considered that both IS and DS were acceptable strategies for treating LSS. As a novel technique, further well-designed studies with longer-term follow-up are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IS.

Olfactory Three-Needle Electroacupuncture Improved Synaptic Plasticity and Gut Microbiota of SAMP8 Mice by Stimulating Olfactory Nerve.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of olfactory three-needle (OTN) electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of the olfactory system on cognitive dysfunction, synaptic plasticity, and the gut microbiota in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. METHODS: Thirty-six SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into the SAMP8 (P8), SAMP8+OTN (P8-OT), and SAMP8+nerve transection+OTN (P8-N-OT) groups according to a random number table (n=12 per group), and 12 accelerated senescence-resistant (SAMR1) mice were used as the control (R1) group. EA was performed at the Yintang (GV 29) and bilateral Yingxiang (LI 20) acupoints of SAMP8 mice for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze test, transmission electron microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, Nissl staining, Golgi staining, Western blot, and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the P8 group, OTN improved the cognitive behavior of SAMP8 mice, inhibited neuronal apoptosis, increased neuronal activity, and attenuated hippocampal synaptic dysfunction (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, the expression levels of synaptic plasticity-related proteins N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1), NMDAR2B, synaptophysin (SYN), and postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) in hippocampus were increased by OTN treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, OTN greatly enhanced the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/cAMP-response element binding (CREB) signaling and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling compared with the P8 group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, the neuroprotective effect of OTN was attenuated by olfactory nerve truncation. Compared with the P8 group, OTN had a very limited effect on the fecal microbial structure and composition of SAMP8 mice, while specifically increased the genera Oscillospira and Sutterella (P<0.05). Interestingly, the P8-N-OT group showed an abnormal fecal microbiota with higher microbial α-diversity, Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and pathogenic bacteria (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: OTN improved cognitive deficits and hippocampal synaptic plasticity by stimulating the olfactory nerve and activating the BDNF/CREB and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. Although the gut microbiota was not the main therapeutic target of OTN for Alzheimer's disease, the olfactory nerve was essential to maintain the homeostasis of gut microbiota.

Lanostane triterpenoids with anti-proliferative and PTP1B/α-glucosidase inhibitory activities from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma calidophilum.

Twelve previously undescribed and four known lanostane triterpenoids were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma calidophilum. The structures of undescribed compounds, ganodecalones H-S (1-12), were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis as well as ECD and NMR calculations. Compound 4 showed significant inhibitory activity against human leukaemia cell line K562, gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901, and cervical cancer cell line HeLa with IC50 values of 13.10 ± 0.19, 17.26 ± 4.75, and 4.36 ± 0.58 µM, respectively. Compound 16 exhibited inhibitory potency against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 30.2 ± 0.13 µM and 120.6 ± 0.14 µM, respectively. The binding sites and interactions of 16 with PTP1B and α-glucosidase were revealed using molecular docking simulations.

Comprehensive immune landscape of lung-resident memory CD8+ T cells after influenza infection and reinfection in a mouse model.

Background: Resident phenotypic memory CD8+ T cells are crucial for immune defense against pathogens. However, little is known about the potential transitions and regulation mechanisms of their function after influenza virus infection and reinfection. In this study, we utilized integrated transcriptome data and in vivo experiments to investigate the key characteristics behind it. Methods: Two single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets of lung CD8+ T cells and one RNA-seq dataset of lung tissue after infection or reinfection were included. After Seurat procedures classifying CD8+ T subsets, the scCODE algorithm was used to identify the differentially expressed genes for GSVA, GO, and KEGG pathway enrichment. Monocle 3 and CellChat were used to infer pseudotime cell trajectory and cell interactions. The ssGSEA method was used to estimate the relative proportions of immune cells. The findings were confirmed with a mouse model via flow cytometry and RT-PCR analysis. Results: Our study refined the landscape of CD8+ T-cell subsets in the lung, showing that CD8+ Trm cells accumulated in the lung within 14 days after influenza infection. The classical CD8+ Trm cells co-expressed a high level of CD49a and even maintained 90 days after primary infection. The ratio of CD8+ Trm cells decreased 1 day after influenza reinfection, which may be parallel with their potential transition into effector types, as observed in trajectory inference analysis. KEGG analysis suggested that PD-L1 expression and PD-1 checkpoint pathway were upregulated in CD8+ Trm cells on day 14 after infection. GO and GSVA analyses revealed that PI3K-Akt-mTOR and type I interferon signaling pathways were enriched in CD8+ Tem and Trm cells after reinfection. Additionally, CCL signaling pathways were involved in cell interaction between CD8+ Trm cells and other cells, with Ccl4-Ccr5 and Ccl5-Ccr5 ligand/receptor pairs being important between CD8+ Trm and other memory subsets after infection and reinfection. Conclusion: Our data suggest that resident memory CD8+ T cells with CD49a co-expression account for a large proportion after influenza infection, and they can be rapidly reactivated against reinfection. Function differences exist in CD8+ Trm and Tem cells after influenza infection and reinfection. Ccl5-Ccr5 ligand/receptor pair is important in cell interactions between CD8+ Trm and other subsets.

Cartilaginous predictors of residual acetabular dysplasia (RAD) in developmental dysplasia of the hip following closed or open reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Object: This study was designed to analyze the cartilaginous predictors of residual acetabular dysplasia (RAD) after early treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip and their diagnostic accuracy. Study design: Databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of science were searched to screen the literature. The quality of the literature was assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool. Qualitative and quantitative synthesis of literature were performed based on extracted data. For quantitative synthesis studies, the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve with corresponding confidence intervals were calculated. Results: For the cartilaginous acetabular index (CAI) group, the combined values of sensitivity, specificity, and DOR were 0.80 (95% CI = 0.54-0.93), 0.73 (95% CI = 0.57-0.84), and 10.62 (95% CI = 3.96-28.53), respectively. The corresponding values in the cartilaginous center-edge angle (CCE) group were 0.71 (95% CI = 0.57-0.82), 0.78 (95% CI = 0.66-0.87), and 8.64 (95% CI = 3.08-24.25), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of SROC was 0.82 (95% CI = 0.78-0.85) and 0.80 (95% CI = 0.76-0.83) for the CAI and CCE groups. The CAI group had higher sensitivity, DOR, and AUC than the CCE group. Conclusion: Both of these two groups have good diagnostic accuracy, and CAI/L-AI has a little edge over CCE/L-CEA. However, there is still more research needed to determine whether they can be used as independent indications for secondary orthopedic surgery.Systematic review registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier: [CRD42022338332].

The research of liver failure in Banna miniature pigs caused by amanita exitialis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To explore the characteristics of Banna miniature pig liver failure induced by amanita exitialis. Methods: From September to October 2020, a reverse high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was used to determine the toxin content of amanita exitialis solution, and 2.0 mg/kg amanita exitialis solution (α-amanitins+β-amanitins) was administered orally to Banna miniature pigs. Toxic symptoms, blood biochemical indexes and histopathological changes of liver, heart and kidney were observed at each time point. Results: All Banna miniature pigs died within 76 h of exposure, and different degrees of digestive tract symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea appeared between 6 and 36 h. The biochemical indexes of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin, creatine kinase isoenzyme, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine increased significantly at 52 h after exposure, and the differences were statistically significant compared with 0 h (P<0.05). The bleeding of liver and heart was obvious under macroscopic and microscopic observation, hepatocyte necrosis, renal tubule epithelial cell swelling. Conclusion: Large dose of amanita exitialis can cause acute liver failure of Banna miniature pigs, which is in line with the pathophysiological characteristics of acute liver failure, and lays a foundation for further research on the toxic mechanism and detoxification drugs of amanita exitialis induced liver failure.

Investigation on a case of Amanita neoovoidea poisoning / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

This paper reported a case of poisoning caused by ingestion of Amanita neoovoidea. The patient experienced nausea, vomiting, oliguria, acute renal function injury, and was discharged after symptomatic support treatment and blood purification treatment. Given the different toxicity of different mushrooms, species identification of poisonous mushrooms can help clinicians in diagnosis and treatment.

Lateral approach is a more aesthetical option for radical resection of BSCC: assessment of its surgical, oncological, functional, and aesthetic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to introduce a modified lateral approach for combined radical resection of buccal squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) and evaluate its surgical, oncological, functional, and aesthetic outcomes in comparison with the conventional lower-lip splitting approach. METHODS: This single-center study retrospectively reviewed 80 patients with BSCC, of which 37 underwent the lateral approach and 43 underwent the conventional approach. Surgical, functional, oncological, and aesthetic evaluations, as well as follow-ups, were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Compared to the conventional approach group, the lateral approach group had a longer surgical time (P = 0.000), but there was no significant difference in other surgical and oncological parameters. Moreover, the scar in the head and neck had a significantly discreet appearance in the lateral approach group, whose satisfaction was better than those in the conventional approach group (P = 0.000). Other oral function parameters, postoperative mouth-opening, and 3-year survival rate were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The lateral approach could provide superior aesthetic results while maintaining equal surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes compared to the conventional approach for radical resection of BSCC.

Cycling and activated CD8+ T lymphocytes and their association with disease severity in influenza patients.

BACKGROUND: T cell lymphopenia was a significant characteristic of severe influenza infection and it was associated with the functional changes of T cells. It is necessary to clarify the T cells characteristics of kinetic changes and their correlation with disease severity. METHODS: In a cohort of hospitalized influenza patients with varying degrees of severity, we characterized lymphocyte populations using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The numbers of cycling (Ki67+) T cells at the acute phase of severe influenza were higher, especially in the memory (CD45RO+) T cell subsets. T cells from hospitalized influenza patients also had significantly higher levels of the exhausted marker PD-1. Cycling status of T cells was associated with T cell activation during the acute phase of influenza infection. The recruitment of cycling and activated (CD38+HLA-DR+) CD8+ T cells subset is delayed in severe influenza patients. CONCLUSIONS: The increased numbers of cycling memory (Ki67+CD45RO+) T cells subsets and delayed kinetics of activated (CD38+HLA-DR+) CD8+ T cells, could serve as possible biological markers for disease severity.

Association between pulmonary hemorrhage and CPAP failure in very preterm infants.

Background: Pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) in neonates is a life-threatening respiratory complication. We aimed to analyze the perinatal risk factors and morbidity with PH among very preterm infants in a large multicenter study. Methods: This was a multicenter case-control study based on a prospective cohort. Participants included 3,680 in-born infants with a gestational age at 24-32 weeks (birth weight <1,500 g) who were admitted between January 1, 2019, and October 31, 2021. All infants were divided into two groups, namely, the PH and no-PH groups, at a ratio of 1:2 according to the following factors: gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology with Perinatal extension II (SNAPPE II). Perinatal factors and outcomes were compared between the two groups by logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 3,680 infants were included in the study, and the number of identified cases of PH was 262 (7.1%). The incidence was 16.9% (136/806) for neonates with extremely low BW (BW < 1,000 g) infants. The multivariate analysis showed that CPAP failure (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.57, 5.08) was significantly associated with PH. PH was associated with a high likelihood of death (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.67, 5.43) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (≥grade II) (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.00, 2.48). Conclusions: In this multicenter case-control study based on a prospective cohort, PH to be common among VLBW infants. PH is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and perinatal management, especially CPAP failure. Respiratory management strategies to decrease the risk of PH should be optimized.

[Mechanism of "Ephedrae Herba-Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen" combination in treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aims to investigate mechanism of "Ephedrae Herba-Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen" combination(MT) in the treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and in vivo experiment, which is expected to lay a theoretical basis for clinical application of the combination. First, the potential targets of MT in the treatment of bronchial asthma were predicted based on network pharmacology, and the "Chinese medicine-active component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed, followed by Gene Oncology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment of the potential targets. Molecular docking was used to determine the binding activity of key candidate active components to hub genes. Ovalbumin(OVA, intraperitoneal injection for sensitization and nebulization for excitation) was used to induce bronchial asthma in rats. Rats were classified into control group(CON), model group(M), dexamethasone group(DEX, 0.075 mg·kg~(-1)), and MT(1∶1.5) group. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE), Masson, and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining were performed to observe the effect of MT on pathological changes of lungs and trachea and goblet cell proliferation in asthma rats. The levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-ß1, interleukin(IL)6, and IL10 in rat serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the mRNA and protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase 8(MAPK8), cyclin D1(CCND1), IL6, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K), and protein kinase B(Akt) by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Network pharmacology predicted that MAPK8, CCND1, IL6, and EGFR were the potential targets of MT in the treatment of asthma, which may be related to PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway. Quercetin and ß-sitosterol in MT acted on a lot of targets related to asthma, and molecular docking results showed that quercetin and ß-sitosterol had strong binding activity to MAPK, PI3 K, and Akt. In vivo experiment showed that MT could effectively alleviate the symptoms of OVA-induced asthma rats, improve the pathological changes of lung tissue, reduce the production of goblet cells, inhibit the inflammatory response of asthma rats, suppress the expression of MAPK8, CCND1, IL6, and EGFR, and regulate the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, MT may relieve the symptoms and inhibit inflammation of asthma rats by regulating the PI3 K/Akt signaling pathway, and quercetin and ß-sitosterol are the candidate active components.