Rosmarinic acid activates the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway to regulate CD8+ T cells and autophagy to clear Chlamydia trachomatis in reproductive tract-infected mice.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases worldwide, which can cause diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical and fallopian tube inflammation, and poses a threat to human health. Rosmarinic acid (RosA) is an active ingredient of natural products with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the role of RosA in inhibiting autophagy-regulated immune cells-CD8+ T cells via the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in a CT-infected mouse model. Mice were inoculated with CT infection solution vaginally, and the mechanistic basis of RosA treatment was established using H&E staining, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and western blot. The key factors involved in RosA treatment were further validated using the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib. Experimental results showed that both RosA and the reference drug azithromycin could attenuate the pathological damage to the endometrium caused by CT infection; flow cytometry showed that peripheral blood CD8+ T cells increased after CT infection and decreased after treatment with RosA and the positive drug azithromycin (positive control); immunofluorescence showed that endometrial CD8 and LC3 increased after CT infection and decreased after RosA and positive drug treatment; the results of transmission electron microscopy showed that RosA and the positive drug azithromycin inhibited the accumulation of autophagosomes; western bolt experiments confirmed the activation of autophagy proteins LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ, ATG5, Beclin-1, and p62 after CT infection, as well as the inhibition of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. RosA and azithromycin inhibition of autophagy proteins activates Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. In addition, the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib attenuated RosA's protective effect on endometrium by further activating CD8+ T cells on a CT-induced basis, while transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and western blots showed that cobimetinib blocked ERK signals activation and further induced phagocytosis on a CT-induced basis. These data indicated that RosA can activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway to inhibit autophagy, and RosA could also regulate the activation of immune cells-CD8+T cells to protect the reproductive tract of CT-infected mice.

An investigation on the nutritional status and support of in-patients with common variable immunodeficiency / 中华预防医学杂志

The study aimed to reveal for the first time the clinical characteristics, nutritional and metabolic status and support of hospitalized patients with common variant immunodeficiency disease (CVID), and provide reference to improve the long-term nutritional management for such patients. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Through searching the electronic medical record system of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the study included 33 consecutive in-patients with CVID diagnosed in Jan 2016 to Jun 2021, with the male to female ratio of 16∶17. All their medical data, nutritional assessment and intervention retrospectively summarized and analyzed. Data with normal distribution were described using (x¯±s), and analyzed with independent sample t-test. Data with non-normal distribution were compared with non-parametric test. The results showed that the median onset-age of the included patients was 22 (10.0,36.5) years old, and the median duration was 9.0 (2.0,16.0) years. All patients had recurrent infections involving various systems (33/33), with development of autoimmune diseases (8/33) and lymphoproliferative disease or malignancy (9/33) in some cases among them. The nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) scores revealed that 85.19% of adults had an NRS 2002≥3 points, and 33.33% of children had a BMI-for-age z score<-2. Weight loss occurred in 66.67% of patients (22/33), while 87.88% (29/33), 69.70% (23/33) and 81.82% (27/33) of patients respectively had anemia, hypoalbuminemia and decreased prealbumin. Among 22 patients with micronutrients status evaluated, 77.27% (17/22), 22.73% (5/22) and 31.82% (7/22) of patients respectively had lowered serum iron, folate deficiency and vitamin B12 insufficiency. Six patients underwent 25-OH-VD3 measurement, and were all testified to have vitamin D deficiency. Among all patients with nutritional risk, 56.00% of them underwent nutritional support: oral nutritional supplements (14 cases), enteral feeding (4 cases) and parenteral nutrition (5 cases). In conclusion, the condition of malnutrition was prevalent in patients with CVID, but was under-recognized and undertreated to some degree.

An investigation on the nutritional status and support of in-patients with common variable immunodeficiency / 中华预防医学杂志

The study aimed to reveal for the first time the clinical characteristics, nutritional and metabolic status and support of hospitalized patients with common variant immunodeficiency disease (CVID), and provide reference to improve the long-term nutritional management for such patients. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Through searching the electronic medical record system of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the study included 33 consecutive in-patients with CVID diagnosed in Jan 2016 to Jun 2021, with the male to female ratio of 16∶17. All their medical data, nutritional assessment and intervention retrospectively summarized and analyzed. Data with normal distribution were described using (x¯±s), and analyzed with independent sample t-test. Data with non-normal distribution were compared with non-parametric test. The results showed that the median onset-age of the included patients was 22 (10.0,36.5) years old, and the median duration was 9.0 (2.0,16.0) years. All patients had recurrent infections involving various systems (33/33), with development of autoimmune diseases (8/33) and lymphoproliferative disease or malignancy (9/33) in some cases among them. The nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) scores revealed that 85.19% of adults had an NRS 2002≥3 points, and 33.33% of children had a BMI-for-age z score<-2. Weight loss occurred in 66.67% of patients (22/33), while 87.88% (29/33), 69.70% (23/33) and 81.82% (27/33) of patients respectively had anemia, hypoalbuminemia and decreased prealbumin. Among 22 patients with micronutrients status evaluated, 77.27% (17/22), 22.73% (5/22) and 31.82% (7/22) of patients respectively had lowered serum iron, folate deficiency and vitamin B12 insufficiency. Six patients underwent 25-OH-VD3 measurement, and were all testified to have vitamin D deficiency. Among all patients with nutritional risk, 56.00% of them underwent nutritional support: oral nutritional supplements (14 cases), enteral feeding (4 cases) and parenteral nutrition (5 cases). In conclusion, the condition of malnutrition was prevalent in patients with CVID, but was under-recognized and undertreated to some degree.

Analysis of the effect of gene mutations on the efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis based on second-generation sequencing technology / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To assess the effect of gene mutations on the efficacy of ruxolitinib for treating myelofibrosis (MF) . Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 patients with MF treated with ruxolitinib from July 2017 to December 2020 and applied second-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to detect 127 hematologic tumor-related gene mutations. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between mutated genes and the efficacy of ruxolitinib. Results: ①Among the 56 patients, there were 36 cases of primary bone marrow fibrosis (PMF) , 9 cases of bone marrow fibrosis (ppv-mf) after polycythemia vera, and 11 cases of bone marrow fibrosis (PET-MF) after primary thrombocytosis (ET) . ②Fifty-six patients with MF taking ruxolitinib underwent NGS, among whom, 50 (89.29%) carried driver mutations, 22 (39.29%) carried ≥3 mutations, and 29 (51.79%) carried high-risk mutations (HMR) . ③ For patients with MF carrying ≥ 3 mutations, ruxolitinib still had a better effect of improving somatic symptoms and shrinking the spleen (P=0.001, P<0.001) , but TTF and PFS were significantly shorter in patients carrying ≥ 3 mutations (P=0.007, P=0.042) . ④For patients carrying ≥ 2 HMR mutations, ruxolitinib was less effective in shrinking the spleen than in those who did not carry HMR (t= 10.471, P=0.034) , and the TTF and PFS were significantly shorter in patients carrying ≥2 HMR mutations (P<0.001, P=0.001) . ⑤Ruxolitinib had poorer effects on spleen reduction, symptom improvement, and stabilization of myelofibrosis in patients carrying additional mutations in ASXL1, EZH2, and SRSF2. Moreover, patients carrying ASXL1 and EZH2 mutations had significantly shorter TTF [ASXL1: 360 (55-1270) d vs 440 (55-1268) d, z=-3.115, P=0.002; EZH2: 327 (55-975) d vs 404 (50-1270) d, z=-3.219, P=0.001], and significantly shorter PFS compared to non-carriers [ASXL1: 457 (50-1331) d vs 574 (55-1437) d, z=-3.219, P=0.001) ; 428 (55-1331) d vs 505 (55-1437) d, z=-2.576, P=0.008]. Conclusion: The type and number of mutations carried by patients with myelofibrosis and HMR impact the efficacy of ruxolitinib.

Correlation Between Functional Components in Codonopsis pilosula Roots and Soil Factors / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between the content of 4 functional components in Codonopsis pilosula roots from different areas and soil factors， and thereby to lay a theoretical basis for soil ecological regulation and improvement of quality of C. pilosula roots. MethodThe content of lobetyolin， atractylenolide Ⅲ， alcohol extract， and polysaccharides， as well as soil fertility and 16 soil factors in 24 batches of samples from different producing areas were determined. Principal component analysis （PCA） and Pearson's correlation analysis were used to explore the key soil factors leading to the variation of chemical component content in C. pilosula roots. ResultThe content of lobetyolin and atractylenolide Ⅲ in samples from Longxi was the highest， and the content of polysaccharides peaked in samples from Huguan. The content of lobetyolin was in positive correlation with soil total nitrogen， total phosphorus， total potassium， alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen， and available potassium （P<0.01）， as well as soil organic matter， pH， available manganese， and available zinc （P<0.05）. There was a positive correlation between pH and atractylenolide Ⅲ content （P<0.05）. Soil total potassium was in positive correlation with alcohol extract and polysaccharide content （P<0.01）. Soil available zinc was positively correlated with alcohol extract and the polysaccharide content （P<0.05）. Sample sites with higher PCA scores were Pingshun， Huguan， and Longxi， which were significantly positively correlated with the content of polysaccharides in C. pilosula roots in different habitats. ConclusionThe content of functional components in C. pilosula roots can be improved by raising soil organic matter content and applying specific fertilizers.

The accuracy and safety of using the electrocardiogram positioning technique in localizing the peripherally inserted central catheter tip position: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the accuracy and safety of using the electrocardiogram (ECG) positioning technique to localize the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tip position to provide objective evidence for its clinical application. METHODS: We searched the literature for randomized controlled trials evaluating the diagnostic analysis of using electrocardiograms to localize PICC tip positions in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and PsycINFO databases. We used a risk ratio with accompanying 95% confidence interval (CI) to express estimates. Reviewer Manager (RevMan) 5.1.0 was used to complete all statistical analyses. RESULTS: This systematic review identified 9 studies (N = 3,194 patients). Overall, the results of the meta-analysis revealed that, for patients in whom the ECG positioning method was used compared with patients in whom the landmark positioning method was used, the RR for accurate catheter tip positioning was RR = 1.17, and the difference was statistically significant. The RR for the incidence of complications was RR = 0.28, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The application of ECGs in PICC tip positioning can improve the accuracy of catheter tip positioning and reduce the incidence of related complications.

Broad neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants induced by a modified B.1.351 protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Beginning in late 2020, the emergence and spread of multiple variant SARS-CoV-2 strains harboring mutations which may enable immune escape necessitates the rapid evaluation of second generation COVID-19 vaccines, with the goal of inducing optimized immune responses that are broadly protective. Here we demonstrate in a mouse immunogenicity study that two doses of a modified B.1.351 spike (S)-Trimer vaccine (B.1.351 S-Trimer) candidate can induce strong humoral immune responses that can broadly neutralize both the original SARS-CoV-2 strain (Wuhan-Hu-1) and Variants of Concern (VOCs), including the UK variant (B.1.1.7), South African variant (B.1.351) and Brazil variant (P.1). Furthermore, while immunization with two doses (prime-boost) of Prototype S-Trimer vaccine (based on the original SARS-CoV-2 strain) induced lower levels of cross-reactive neutralization against the B.1.351 variant, a third dose (booster) administered with either Prototype S-Trimer or B.1.351 S-Trimer was able to increase neutralizing antibody titers against B.1.351 to levels comparable to neutralizing antibody titers against the original strain elicited by two doses of Prototype S-Trimer.

Clinical features and prognosis of pediatric acute megakaryocytic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features and prognosis of children with acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) and the clinical effect of acute myeloid leukemia 03 (AML03) regimen for the treatment of pediatric AMKL.@*METHODS@#The clinical data were collected from 47 children with AMKL who were diagnosed from May 2011 to December 2019. The treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used for survival analysis.@*RESULTS@#Among the 47 children with AMKL, 22 with non-Down syndrome-AMKL were treated by the AML03 regimen, with a median follow-up time of 11.4 months. For the 22 non-Down syndrome-AMKL patients, the remission rate of bone marrow cytology was 85% and the negative rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) was 79% after induction Ⅱ, with a 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of (50±13)% and a 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate of (40±12)%. The group with positive immunophenotypic marker CD56 had significantly lower 2-year EFS and OS rates than the group with negative CD56 (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Children with AMKL tend to have a low remission rate and a poor prognosis. Positive immunophenotypic marker CD56, bone marrow cytology during early treatment response, and MRD results are important factors influencing the prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has no significant effect on the prognosis of AMKL.

Nucleosides-based identification model for Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus / 中国中药杂志

A high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) method was established for the fast,and precise determination of ten nucleosides in Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus and its counterfeits. Then multivariate statistical analyses,such as clustering analysis,principal component analysis( PCA),and Fisher' s linear discriminant analysis( LDA),were conducted to establish a discriminant function model for an integrated analysis. The results indicated that data acquisition time of a single sample was shortened within 16 min by the HPLC method. In the range of 5-1 000 mg·kg~(-1),the mass concentrations of all nucleosides exhibited good linear relationships with the corresponding peak areas( R2> 0. 999). The spiked recoveries were in the range of 93. 83%-108. 9% with RSDs of0. 12%-1. 3%( n = 5). The limit of quantitation( LOQ) was 0. 98-4. 13 mg·kg~(-1). As revealed by the clustering analysis,Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus and the counterfeits could be discriminated into two clusters based on the content of nucleosides. Fisher's LDA could achieve this discrimination,while PCA dimension reduction failed. The accuracy of the discriminant function model established on the screened characteristic indicators reached 97. 5%. The present study proposed a new identification method of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus with one-dimensional indicators,which is simple,accurate,and reliable. It can provide a scientific basis for further optimizing the identification techniques for Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus and inspiration for quality control strategy development of Chinese medicinal materials.

Magnolol attenuates right ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertensive rats through inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Right ventricular (RV) remodeling is one of the essential pathological features in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). RV hypertrophy or fibrosis are the leading causes of RV remodeling. Magnolol is a com?pound isolated from Magnolia officinalis. It possesses multiple pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. This study aims to evaluate the effects and underlying mechanisms of magnolol on RV remodeling in hypoxia-induced PAH. METHODS ① Male SD rats (220 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): the normoxia group, the hypoxia group, the hypoxia plus Magnolol (10 and 20 mg·kg-1·d-1) group, and the vehicle group. Rats in the normoxia group were kept in a normoxia environment for 4 weeks, while rats in the hypoxia group were kept in a hypoxic chamber (10％ O2). The rats in the hypoxia plus magnolol groups were administered with magnolol at 10 or 20 mg·kg-1 (ip) once a day for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, the heart function was assessed by Doppler echocardiography, and then the rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (30 mg·kg-1, ip). The RVSP was measured by the right heart catheterization method. The heart tissues were collected and dissected to calculate the index of RV remodeling (RV/LV+IVS, RV/tibial length, or RV/body weight). Part of the RV samples was fixed with 4％paraformaldehyde for morphological analysis, while other samples were frozen at-80℃for molecular studies (measurements of ANP, BNP,α-SMA, and col?lagen Ⅰ/Ⅲ mRNA expression as well as p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 protein levels). ② To evaluate the effect of magnolol on hypoxia-induced myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, H9c2 or cardiac fibroblasts were divided into 7 groups: the control group, cells were cultured under normal conditions; the hypoxia group, cells were cultured under hypoxic condition (3％ O2);the hypoxia plus magnolol 10 mg·kg-1 group, magnolol10μmol·L-1 was added to the culture medium before the hypoxia treatment;the hypoxia plus magnolol 30 mg·kg-1 group, magnolol 20μmol·L-1 was added to the culture medium before the hypoxia treatment;the hypoxia plus TG-101348 group, TG-101348 (a specific inhibitor of JAK2) 1μmol·L-1 was added to the culture medium before the hypoxia treatment;the hypoxia plus JSI-124 group, JSI-124 (a specific inhibitor of JAK2) 1μmol·L-1 was added to the culture medium before the hypoxia treatment;and the hypoxia plus vehicle group, an equal volume of vehicle (DMSO) was added to the culture medium before the hypoxia treatment. At the end of the experiments, the cells were collected for morphological and molecular analysis. RESULTS In vivo, male Sprang-Daley rats were exposed to 10％ O2 for 4 weeks to establish an RV remodeling model, which showed hypertrophic and fibrotic features (increases of RV remodeling index, cellular size, hypertrophic and fibrotic marker expression), accompanied by an elevation in phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3;these changes were attenuated by treating rats with magnolol. In vitro, the cultured H9c2 cells or cardiac fibroblasts were exposed to 3％ O2 for 48 h to induce hypertrophy or fibrosis, which showed hypertrophic (increases in cellular size as well as the expression of ANP and BNP) or fibrotic features (increases in the expression of collagenⅠ, collagenⅢandα-SMA). Administration of mag?nolol and TG-101348 or JSI-124 (JAK2 selective inhibitors) could prevent the process of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, accompanied by the decrease in the phosphorylation level of JAK2 and STAT3. CONCLUSION Magnolol can attenuate RV hypertrophy and fibrosis in hypoxia-induced PAH rats through a mechanism involving inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.