Characteristic cembrane-type diterpenoids with nitric oxide inhibitory activity from the gum resin of Boswellia carterii Birdw.

Five new characteristic cembrane-type diterpenoids (olibacartiols A-E, 1-5) were acquired from the gum resin of Boswellia carterii. The structures of these diterpenoids were characterized by detailed spectroscopic analysis, and compounds 1-3 were unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated using LPS-induced BV2 cell model and compounds 2-5 showed moderate NO inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 8.84 ± 1.02, 9.82 ± 1.95, 9.75 ± 2.24, and 7.39 ± 1.24 µM, respectively.

Rapid detection of clarithromycin resistance in clinical samples of nontuberculous mycobacteria by nucleotide MALDI-TOF MS.

The multidrug resistance of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Rapid and reliable drug susceptibility testing is urgently needed for evidence-based treatment decision, especially for macrolides. This study evaluated the utility of nucleotide matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (NMTMS) in detecting clarithromycin resistance. Sixty-four clinical isolates were identified to species by NMTMS, and mutations associated with clarithromycin resistance were detected. Twenty-three M. abscessus (MAB) isolates and 30 M. intracellulare isolates (including M. intracellulare alone and M. intracellulare in combination with other SGM species) were included for analysis. The predictive sensitivity of NMTMS in detecting clarithromycin resistance was 82.35% (95% CI, 56.57% to 96.20%), with an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.96) in all MAB and M. intracellulare (n = 53), and up to 93.33% (95% CI, 68.05% to 99.83%) in MAB alone (n = 23). The assay provides a rapid, high-throughput, and highly sensitive tool for detecting clarithromycin resistance in NTM, especially in MAB. Optimization of the panel is necessary to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

SREBP1 deficiency diminishes glutamate-mediated HT22 cell damage and hippocampal neuronal pyroptosis induced by status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening disorder that can result in death or severe brain damage, and there is a substantial body of evidence suggesting a strong association between pyroptosis and SE. Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) is a significant transcription factor participating in both lipid homeostasis and glucose metabolism. However, the function of SREBP1 in pyroptosis during SE remains unknown. In this study, we established a SE rat model by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride and pilocarpine in vivo. Additionally, we treated HT22 hippocampal cells with glutamate to create neuronal injury models in vitro. Our results demonstrated a significant induction of SREBP1, inflammasomes, and pyroptosis in the hippocampus of SE rats and glutamate-treated HT22 cells. Moreover, we found that SREBP1 is regulated by the mTOR signaling pathway, and inhibiting mTOR signaling contributed to the amelioration of SE-induced hippocampal neuron pyroptosis, accompanied by a reduction in SREBP1 expression. Furthermore, we conducted siRNA-mediated knockdown of SREBP1 in HT22 cells and observed a significant reversal of glutamate-induced cell death, activation of inflammasomes, and pyroptosis. Importantly, our confocal immunofluorescence analysis revealed the co-localization of SREBP1 and NLRP1. In conclusion, our findings suggest that deficiency of SREBP1 attenuates glutamate-induced HT22 cell injury and hippocampal neuronal pyroptosis in rats following SE. Targeting SREBP1 may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for SE.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease]. / å„¿ç«¥è‚›å‘¨ç˜˜ç®¡åž‹å ‹ç½—æ©ç— çš„ä¸´åºŠç‰¹å¾åŠé¢„åŽ.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of children with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (pfCD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the children, aged 6-17 years, who were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) from April 2015 to April 2023. According to the presence or absence of perianal fistulizing lesions, they were divided into two groups: pfCD (n=60) and non-pfCD (n=82). The two groups were compared in terms of clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis. RESULTS: The incidence of pfCD was 42.3% (60/142). The proportion of males in the pfCD group was higher than that in the non-pfCD group. Compared with the non-pfCD group, the pfCD group had a significantly higher proportion of children with involvement of the colon and small intestine or those with upper gastrointestinal lesions (P<0.05). Compared with the non-pfCD group, the pfCD group had a significantly higher rate of use of infliximab during both induction and maintenance treatment (P<0.05). In the pfCD group, the children with complex anal fistula accounted for 62% (37/60), among whom the children receiving non-cutting suspended line drainage accounted for 62% (23/37), which was significantly higher than the proportion among the children with simple anal fistula patients (4%, 1/23) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in mucosal healing rate and clinical remission rate at week 54 of treatment (P>0.05). The pfCD group achieved a fistula healing rate of 57% (34/60) at week 54, and the children with simple anal fistula had a significantly higher rate than those with complex anal fistula (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence rate of pfCD in children with CD, and among the children with pfCD, there is a high proportion of children with the use of biological agents. There is a high proportion of children receiving non-cutting suspended line drainage among the children with complex anal fistula. The occurrence of pfCD should be closely monitored during the follow-up in children with CD.

Microporous Polyelectrolyte Complexes by Hydroplastic Foaming.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have emerged as an attractive category of materials for their water processability and some similarities to natural biopolymers. Herein, we employ the intrinsic hydroplasticity of PEC materials to enable the generation of porous structures with the aid of gas foaming. Such foamable materials are fabricated by simply mixing polycation, polyanion, and a UV-initiated chemical foaming agent in an aqueous solution, followed by molding into thin films. The gas foaming of the PEC films can be achieved upon exposure to UV illumination under water, where the films are plasticized and the gaseous products from the photolysis of foaming agents afford the formation, expanding, and merging of numerous bubbles. The porosity and morphology of the resulting porous films can be customized by tuning film composition, foaming conditions, and especially the degree of plasticizing effect, illustrating the high flexibility of this hydroplastic foaming method. Due to the rapid initiation of gas foaming, the present method enables the formation of porous structures via an instant one-step process, much more efficient than those existing strategies for porous PEC materials. More importantly, such a pore-forming mechanism might be extended to other hydroplastic materials (e.g., biopolymers) and help to yield hydroplasticity-based processing strategies.

Enabling Stable and Low-Strain Lithium Plating/Stripping with 2D Layered Transition Metal Carbides by Forming Li-Zipped MXenes and a Li Halide-Rich Solid Electrolyte Interphase.

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials demonstrate prominent advantage in regulating lithium plating/stripping behavior by confining lithium diffusion/plating within interlayer gaps. However, achieving effective interlayer confined lithium diffusion/plating without compromising the stability of bulk-structural and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) remains a considerable challenge. This paper presents an electrochemical scissor and lithium zipper-driven protocol for realizing interlayer confined lithium plating with pretty-low strain and volume change. In this protocol, lithium serves as a "zipper" to reunite the adjacent MXene back to MAX-like phase to markedly enhance the structural stability, and a lithium halide-rich SEI is formed by electrochemically removing the terminals of halogenated MXenes to maintain the stability and rapid lithium ions diffusion of SEI. When the Ti3 C2 I2 serves as the host for lithium plating, the average coulomb efficiency exceeds 97.0 % after 320 lithium plating/stripping cycles in conventional ester electrolyte. Furthermore, a full cell comprising of LiNi0.8 Mn0.1 Co0.1 O2 and Ti3 C2 I2 @Li exhibits a capacity retention rate of 73.4 % after 200 cycles even under high cathode mass-loading (20 mg cm-2 ) and a low negative/positive capacity ratio of 1.4. Our findings advance the understanding of interlayer confined lithium plating in 2D layered materials and provide a new direction in regulating lithium and other metal plating/stripping behaviors.

[Chemical constituents of Lindera aggregata and their bioactivities: a review].

The medicinal Lindera aggregata(Lindera, Lauraceae) boasts abundant resources, which is widely used in clinical settings. It has been found that the main chemical constituents of this medicinal species are sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenoid dimers, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Some unreported novel structures, including lindenane-type sesquiterpene dimers and trimers, have been discovered from L. aggregata in recent years. The extracts and active components of L. aggregata have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antalgic, liver-protecting, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and glucose-lowering activities, and their mechanisms of action have been comprehensively investigated. This study summarizes the research on the chemical constituents and bioactivities of L. aggregata over the past decade, which is expected to serve as a reference for the future research and utilization of L. aggregata.

Correlations between flavor and fermentation days and changes in quality-related physiochemical characteristics of fermented Aurantii Fructus.

The effects of different fermentation times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days) on the physicochemical properties and flavor components of fermented Aurantii Fructus (FAF) were evaluated. Component analysis identified 66 compounds in positive ion mode and 32 compounds in negative ion mode. Flash GC e-nose results showed that propanal, (+)-limonene and n-nonanal may be the flavor characteristic components that distinguish FAF with different fermentation days. Furthermore, we found that the change of total flavonoid content was closely related to colony growth vitality. The total flavonoid content of FAF gradually decreased from 3rd day and then increased from 5th day (3rd day: 0.766 ± 0.123 mg/100 g; 4th day: 0.464 ± 0.001 mg/100 g; 5th day: 0.850 ± 0.192 mg/100 g). Finally, according to antioxidant activity correlation analysis, meranzin, (+)-limonene and total flavonoids were found to be the key substances affecting the fermentation days of FAF. Overall, the optimal fermentation time for FAF was 4 days.

Unsymmetrical Phosphodiesters as GPR84 Antagonists with High Blood Exposure for the Treatment of Lung Inflammation.

GPR84 is a proinflammatory G protein-coupled receptor that mediates myeloid immune cell functions. Blocking GPR84 with antagonists is a promising approach for treating inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Previously, a GPR84 antagonist 604c, with a symmetrical phosphodiester structure, has displayed promising efficacy in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. However, the low blood exposure resulting from physicochemical properties prevented its uses in other inflammatory diseases. In this study, a series of unsymmetrical phosphodiesters with lower lipophilicity were designed and tested. The representative compound 37 exhibited a 100-fold increase in mouse blood exposure compared to 604c while maintaining in vitro activity. In a mouse model of acute lung injury, 37 (30 mg/kg, po) significantly reduced the infiltration of proinflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory cytokines and ameliorated pathological changes equally or more effectively than N-acetylcysteine (100 mg/kg, po). These findings suggest that 37 is a promising candidate for treating lung inflammation.

GPR84 regulates pulmonary inflammation by modulating neutrophil functions.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute, progressive hypoxic respiratory failure that could develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with very high mortality rate. ALI is believed to be caused by uncontrolled inflammation, and multiple types of immune cells, especially neutrophils, are critically involved in the development of ALI. The treatment for ALI/ARDS is very limited, a better understanding of the pathogenesis and new therapies are urgently needed. Here we discover that GPR84, a medium chain fatty acid receptor, plays critical roles in ALI development by regulating neutrophil functions. GPR84 is highly upregulated in the cells isolated from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of LPS-induced ALI mice. GPR84 deficiency or blockage significantly ameliorated ALI mice lung inflammation by reducing neutrophils infiltration and oxidative stress. Further studies reveal that activation of GPR84 strongly induced reactive oxygen species production from neutrophils by stimulating Lyn, AKT and ERK1/2 activation and the assembly of the NADPH oxidase. These results reveal an important role of GPR84 in neutrophil functions and lung inflammation and strongly suggest that GPR84 is a potential drug target for ALI.

Pyrazine-Functionalized Donor-Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution with High Proton Transport.

The well-defined 2D or 3D structure of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) makes it have great potential in photoelectric conversion and ions conduction fields. Herein, a new donor-accepter (D-A) COF material, named PyPz-COF, constructed from electron donor 4,4',4″,4'″-(pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetrayl)tetraaniline and electron accepter 4,4'-(pyrazine-2,5-diyl)dibenzaldehyde with an ordered and stable π-conjugated structure is reported. Interestingly, the introduction of pyrazine ring endows the PyPz-COF a distinct optical, electrochemical, charge-transfer properties, and also brings plentiful CN groups that enrich the proton by hydrogen bonds to enhance the photocatalysis performance. Thus, PyPz-COF exhibits a significantly improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance up to 7542 µmol g-1 h-1 with Pt as cocatalyst, also in clear contrast to that of PyTp-COF without pyrazine introduction (1714 µmol g-1 h-1 ). Moreover, the abundant nitrogen sites of the pyrazine ring and the well-defined 1D nanochannels enable the as-prepared COFs to immobilize H3 PO4 proton carriers in COFs through hydrogen bond confinement. The resulting material has an impressive proton conduction up to 8.10 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 353 K, 98% RH. This work will inspire the design and synthesis of COF-based materials with both efficient photocatalysis and proton conduction performance in the future.

Transcriptome analysis reveals dysregulated gene expression networks in Sertoli cells of cattle-yak hybrids.

Cattle-yak, the hybrid offspring of yak and taurine cattle, exhibits male sterility with normal female fertility. Spermatogenesis is arrested in adult cattle-yak, and apoptosis is elevated in spermatogenic cells. Currently, the mechanisms underlying these defects remain elusive. Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells that directly interact with spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules and play essential roles in spermatogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate gene expression signatures and potential roles of Sertoli cells in hybrid sterility in cattle-yak. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the 5 mC and 5hmC signals in Sertoli cells of cattle-yaks were significantly different from those of age-matched yaks (P < 0.05). Transcriptome profiling of isolated Sertoli cells identified 402 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cattle-yaks and yaks. Notably, niche factor glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was upregulated, and genes involved in retinoic acid (RA) biogenesis were changed in Sertoli cells of cattle-yak, suggesting possible impairments of spermatogonial fate decisions. Further studies showed that the numbers of proliferative gonocytes and undifferentiated spermatogonia in cattle-yak were significantly higher than those in yak (P < 0.01). Exogenous GDNF significantly promoted the proliferation of UCHL1-positive spermatogonia in yaks. Therefore, we concluded that altered GDNF expression and RA signaling impacted the fate decisions of undifferentiated spermatogonia in cattle-yak. Together, these findings highlight the role of Sertoli cells and their derived factors in hybrid sterility.

ARHGEF15 is expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia but is not required for spermatogenesis in mice.

Spermatogenesis is a continual process that relies on the activities of undifferentiated spermatogonia, which contain spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that serve as the basis of spermatogenesis. The gene expression pattern and molecular control of fate decisions of undifferentiated spermatogonia are not well understood. Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 15 (ARHGEF15, also known as EPHEXIN5) is a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) that activates the Rho protein. Here, we reported that ARHGEF15 was expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia and spermatocytes in mouse testes; however, its deletion did not affect spermatogenesis. Arhgef15-/- mice were fertile, and histological examination of the seminiferous tubules of Arhgef15-/- mice revealed complete spermatogenesis with the presence of all types of spermatogenic cells. Proliferation and differentiation of the undifferentiated spermatogonia were not impacted; however, further analysis showed that Arhgef15 deletion resulted in decreased expression of Nanos2, Lin28a and Ddx4. Together, these findings suggest that ARHGEF15 was specifically enriched in undifferentiated spermatogonia and regulated gene expression but dispensable for spermatogenesis in mice.

Two-Dimensional Nanofluidic Membranes with Intercalated In-Plane Shortcuts for High-Performance Blue Energy Harvesting.

Two-dimensional nanofluidic membranes offer great opportunities for developing efficient and robust devices for ionic/water-nexus energy harvesting. However, low counterion concentration and long pathway through limited ionic flux restrict their output performance. Herein, it is demonstrated that rapid diffusion kinetics can be realized in two-dimensional nanofluidic membranes by introducing in-plane holes across nanosheets, which not only increase counterion concentration but also shorten pathway length through the membranes. Thus, the holey membranes exhibited an enhanced performance relative to the pristine ones in terms of osmotic energy conversion. In particular, a biomimetic multilayered membrane sequentially assembled from pristine and holey sections offers an optimized combination of selectivity and permeability, therefore generating a power density up to 6.78 W m-2 by mixing seawater and river water, superior to the majority of the state-of-the-art lamellar nanofluidic membranes. This work highlights the importance of channel morphologies and presents a general strategy for effectively improving ion transport through lamellar membranes for high-performance nanofluidic devices.

Observation on the teaching effect of mind mapping on interns in nephrology department / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To improve the critical thinking ability of interns in nephrology department based on electronic "Spot" mind mapping teaching method.Methods:In the control group, the traditional clinical teaching method was adopted. Each kidney disease unit was divided into 3 courses. ①The clinical practice teacher dictated or demonstrated his/her experience to the student in the first class. ②Students could exchange questions and answers in the second class. ③In the third class, according to the homework situation, the teacher presided over the discussion, guided the students to express their difficulties and help them solve the problems. The research group adopted the electronic "Spot" mind mapping teaching method: ①Grouping: the students were divided into groups, 6 to 8 people in each group, a total of 16 groups. ②Preparation: each group established a WeChat group, and teachers guided them download the Mindmanager software and learn its mapping method. ③In class: each kidney disease unit was divided into 3 sessions. In the first class, based on what the instructor taught, the students summarized the contents and drew a mind map, and then explain their understanding according to the map. In the second class, "Spot" in the group was conducted based on standards, reading each other in the group, actively discussing with each other, further improving and reconstructing the core knowledge points of the chapter, and encouraging each student to actively participate in enhancing their subjective initiative in learning. In the third class, teachers evaluated students according to their learning situation, and students filled in the gaps according to their opinions, perfected their mind maps, and finally posted to the WeChat group. ④Review: the final versions were sent to the WeChat groups as review materials, which was convenient for learning together. SPSS 24.0 was used for Chi-square test.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups before study ( P>0.005). After the research, the scores of theory test ( t=2.52, P=0.015), clinical skill test ( t=2.22, P=0.034) and total score ( t=3.53, P=0.003) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the scores of critical thinking ability between the two groups before research ( P>0.05). Six months after research, the total scores of critical thinking ability in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The introduction of electronic "Spot" mind mapping teaching method into clinical practice teaching can realize the cross-linking of related knowledge points and systematize the knowledge. At the same time, it is interesting and can stimulate students' learning interest, and is helpful to cultivate the clinical critical thinking ability of students.

Effects of electroacupuncture on NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis and neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemic reperfusion / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Quchi" (LI 11) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in the rats with cerebral ischemic reperfusion and the potential mechanism of microglia pyroptosis.@*METHODS@#Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group and an EA group, with 20 rats in each group. The Zea Longa method was employed to establish the rat model of the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MACO/R) in the left brain. In the EA group, since the 2nd day of modeling, EA was given at "Quchi" (LI 11) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) of right side with disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/20 Hz in frequency and 0.2 mA in current intensity, 30 min each time, once a day for lasting 7 consecutive days. The reduction rate of cerebral blood flow was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry during operation. The neurological function of rats was observed using Zea Longa neurobehavioral score. The cerebral infarction volume was detected by TTC staining method. The microglia positive expression in the ischemic side of the cortex was detected with the immunofluorescence method. Under transmission electron microscope, the ultrastructure of cell in the ischemic cortex was observed. The mRNA expression levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1) and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the ischemic cortex were detected using real-time PCR.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the sham-operation group, in the model group, the reduction rate of cerebral blood flow was increased during operation (P<0.001); Zea Longa neurobehavional score and the percentage of cerebral infarction volume were increased (P<0.001), the numbers of M1-type microglia marked by CD68+ and M2-type microglia marked by TMEM119+ were elevated in the ischemic cortex (P<0.001), the mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD was increased (P<0.001, P<0.01); the cytomembrane structure was destroyed, with more cell membrane pores formed in the ischemic cortex. Compared with the model group, after intervention, Zea Longa neurobehavioral score and the percentage of cerebral infarction volume were reduced (P<0.05), the number of M1-type microglia marked by CD68+ was reduced (P<0.05) and the number of M2-type microglia marked by TMEM119+ was increased (P<0.05); and the mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the EA group. Even though the cytomembrane structure was incomplete, there were less membrane pores presented in the ischemic cortex in the EA group after intervention.@*CONCLUSION@#The intervention with EA attenuates the neurological dysfunction and reduces the volume of cerebral infarction in the rats with cerebral ischemic reperfusion. The underlying mechanism is related to the inhibition of microglia pyroptosis through modulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis.

Chemical constituents of Lindera aggregata and their bioactivities: a review / 中国中药杂志

The medicinal Lindera aggregata(Lindera, Lauraceae) boasts abundant resources, which is widely used in clinical settings. It has been found that the main chemical constituents of this medicinal species are sesquiterpenoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenoid dimers, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Some unreported novel structures, including lindenane-type sesquiterpene dimers and trimers, have been discovered from L. aggregata in recent years. The extracts and active components of L. aggregata have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antalgic, liver-protecting, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and glucose-lowering activities, and their mechanisms of action have been comprehensively investigated. This study summarizes the research on the chemical constituents and bioactivities of L. aggregata over the past decade, which is expected to serve as a reference for the future research and utilization of L. aggregata.

Recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting with elevated triglyceride and positive antinuclear antibody in a girl aged 12 years. / 12å²å¥³å­©åå¤è ¹ç—›ã€å‘•åä¼´ä¸‰é °ç”˜æ²¹å‡é«˜ã€æŠ—æ ¸æŠ—ä½“é˜³æ€§.

A girl aged 12 years and 2 months presented with recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting for more than 2 years and arthrodynia for 3 months. She was diagnosed with recurrent acute pancreatitis with unknown causes and had been admitted multiple times. Laboratory tests showed recurrent significant increases in fasting serum triglyceride, with elevated immunoglobulin and positive antinuclear antibody. The girl was improved after symptomatic supportive treatment. The girl developed arthrodynia with movement disorders 3 months before, and proteinuria, hematuria, and positive anti-double-stranded DNA antibody were observed. The renal biopsy was performed, and the pathological examination and immunofluorescence assay suggested diffuse lupus nephritis (type Ⅳ). She was finally diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis (type Ⅳ), and recurrent acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was suspected to be highly associated with SLE. She was treated with oral hydroxychloroquine sulfate and intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate and cyclophosphamide. Arthrodynia was partially relieved. She was then switched to oral prednisone acetate tablets. Intravenous cyclophosphamide and pump infusion of belimumab were regularly administered. Now she had improvement in arthrodynia and still presented with proteinuria and hematuria. It is concluded that recurrent acute pancreatitis may be the first clinical presentation of SLE. For pancreatitis with unknown causes, related immunological parameters should be tested, and symptoms of the other systems should be closely monitored to avoid delaying the diagnosis.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Reveal the Mechanism of Cassiae Semen against Cataracts.

Cassiae semen (CS) is one of the most well-known herbs used in the treatment of cataracts in China. However, the potential mechanisms of its anticataract effects have not been fully explored. In this study, network pharmacology was used to investigate the potential mechanism underlying the actions of CS against cataracts, and molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding activity of proteins and compounds. qPCR was performed to detect the mRNA level of genes, and the cell apoptotic rate was measured using flow cytometry. We identified 13 active compounds from CS and 105 targets, as well as 238 cataract-related targets. PPI networks were constructed, and fifty key targets were obtained. These key targets were enriched in the regulation of transcription, apoptotic process, and signal transduction pathways. Molecular docking demonstrated that the compounds of CS exhibited good affinity to some critical targets. Furthermore, CS prevented the apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells induced by UVB lights by decreasing the gene expression of CASP3, ESR1, and TP53 and increasing the CRYAB gene expression. The present study attempted to explain the mechanisms for the effects of CS in the prevention and treatment of cataracts and provided an effective strategy to investigate active ingredients from natural medicines. Further studies are required to verify these findings via in vivo and in vitro experiments.

[Effectiveness of induction therapy with exclusive enteral nutrition in pediatric Crohn's disease]. / å ¨è‚ å† è¥å »å¯¹å„¿ç«¥å ‹ç½—æ©ç— è¯±å¯¼ç¼“è§£ç–—æ•ˆç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of induction therapy with exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 62 children with CD who received EEN in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from March 2013 to August 2021. The medical data included general information and height, weight, Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum albumin level before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment. The changes in the above indicators were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Among the 62 children with CD, there were 39 boys (63%) and 23 girls (37%), with a mean age of (11.9±3.0) years at diagnosis. Among the 55 children who completed EEN treatment for at least 8 weeks, 48 (87%) achieved clinical remission at week 8. PCDAI at week 8 was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.001). Except for 17 children with involvement of the small intestine alone and 3 children with involvement of the colon who did not receive colonoscopy reexamination, the remaining 35 children with involvement of the colon received colonoscopy reexamination after the 8-week EEN treatment. Of the 35 children, 29 (83%) achieved mucosal healing. As for the 48 children who achieved clinical remission at week 8, there were significant improvements in height-for-age Z-score and body mass index-for-age Z-score at week 8 (P<0.01). As for the 7 children who did not achieve clinical remission at week 8, there were no significant changes in height-for-age Z-score and body mass index-for-age Z-score at week 8 (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 8-week EEN treatment has a good effect on clinical remission and mucosal healing in children with CD. For the children with CD achieving clinical remission, EEN can improve their height and body mass index.