Paper-based material with hydrophobic and antimicrobial properties: Advanced packaging materials for food applications.

The environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution have prompted the exploration of eco-friendly alternatives to disposable plastic packaging and utensils. Paper-based materials, derived from renewable resources such as wood pulp, non-wood pulp (bamboo pulp, straw pulp, reed pulp, etc.), and recycled paper fibers, are distinguished by their recyclability and biodegradability, making them promising substitutes in the field of plastic food packaging. Despite their merits, challenges like porosity, hydrophilicity, limited barrier properties, and a lack of functionality have restricted their packaging potential. To address these constraints, researchers have introduced antimicrobial agents, hydrophobic substances, and other functional components to improve both physical and functional properties. This enhancement has resulted in notable improvements in food preservation outcomes in real-world scenarios. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent progress in hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials. In addition to outlining the characteristics and functions of commonly used antimicrobial substances in food packaging, it consolidates the current research landscape and preparation techniques for hydrophobic paper. Furthermore, the paper explores the practical applications of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials in agricultural produce, meat, and seafood, as well as ready-to-eat food packaging. Finally, challenges in production, application, and recycling processes are outlined to ensure safety and efficacy, and prospects for the future development of antimicrobial hydrophobic paper-based materials are discussed. Overall, the emergence of hydrophobic antimicrobial paper-based materials stands out as a robust alternative to plastic food packaging, offering a compelling solution with superior food preservation capabilities. In the future, paper-based materials with antimicrobial and hydrophobic functionalities are expected to further enhance food safety as promising packaging materials.

Earthworm Protein Protects Vascular Endothelial Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of earthworm protein on the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 （PI3K/Akt/Nrf2） pathway in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats （SHR） and explore mechanism of earthworm protein in treating hypertensive vascular endothelial dysfunction （VED）. MethodTen 10-week-old Wistar Kyoto （WKY） rats and fifty SHR rats were selected for a week of adaptive feeding. WKY rats were selected as the normal group， and fifty SHR rats were randomized according to body weight into model， valsartan （8×10-3 g·kg-1·d-1）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose （0.2， 0.1， 0.05 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） earthworm protein groups. The normal and model groups were administrated with equal volume of double distilled water by gavage. During the drug intervention period， the general situations of rats in each group were observed and their blood pressure was monitored at specific time points every other week before and after administration. After 8 weeks of drug intervention， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of angiotensin-Ⅱ （Ang-Ⅱ） and endothelin-1 （ET-1） in the serum of rats in each group. The corresponding kits were used to determine the levels of nitric oxide （NO）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione peroxidase （GPX）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and ferrous ion （Fe2+）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was employed to observe the changes in the intima of the aorta. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to measure the mRNA levels of PI3K， Akt， Nrf2， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） in the aortic tissue. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of p-PI3K （Tyr467/199）， PI3K， p-Akt （Ser473）， Akt， Nrf2， HO-1， and GPX4 in the thoracic aorta. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group had decreased body mass， increased irritability， severe endothelial damage， elevated blood pressure and serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ， ET1， MDA， and Fe2+ （P<0.01）， lowered NO level （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of p-PI3K （Tyr467/199）， PI3K， p-Akt （Ser473）， Akt， Nrf2， HO-1， and GPX4 in the aortic tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， drug intervention caused no significant change in the body mass， calmed the rats， alleviated the endothelial damage， lowered blood pressure and serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ， ET1， MDA， and Fe2+ （P<0.01）， elevated the NO level （P<0.05）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of p-PI3K （Tyr467/199）， PI3K， p-Akt （Ser473）， Akt， Nrf2， HO-1， and GPX4 （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe earthworm protein can exert antihypertensive effects by ameliorating VED in SHR. Specifically， it may regulate the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and ferroptosis.

Study on the Clinical Effects of Liposuction and Small Incision Gland Resection for the Treatment of Gynecomastia.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of liposuction combined with small incision gland resection for treating gynecomastia. Methods: This study included 78 male patients with gynecomastia who received treatment at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, between August 2009 and June 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: the combined group (n = 39) underwent liposuction combined with small incision gland resection, while the open group (n = 39) underwent open surgical resection alone. The two groups were compared in terms of incision length, postoperative complications, postoperative scarring, and patient satisfaction. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in appearance. However, the combined group had fewer postoperative complications, significantly better incision length, and patient satisfaction than the open group (P < .05). Conclusions: Liposuction combined with small incision gland resection is a precise, less invasive, and less complicated surgical treatment option for gynecomastia, with hidden scars and high patient satisfaction. This approach should be promoted as a preferred treatment method.

Status quo of knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners on potentially inappropriate medication in the elderly in Shanxi Province and relevant factors / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners on potentially inappropriate medication(PIM)in the elders in Shanxi Province and to explore its relevant factors.Methods:A cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitudes and practice of general practitioners on PIM in the elders was conducted from January to February 2021. A self-designed questionnaire was used for the survey, which included the basic information of general practitioners and the knowledge, attitudes and practice of elderly PIM. The convenient sampling method was used to select 16 primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals from the general practice alliance units in Shanxi Province, and 257 general practitioners in the selected hospital were recruited as the research objects. The related factors were investigated by univariate regression and multiple stepwise linear regression analyses.Results:A total of 257 questionnaires were distributed, and 248 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective rate of 96.5%. The scores of elderly PIM knowledge, attitudes and behavior of 248 general practitioners were (31.4±9.2), (32.9±4.6) and (34.9±8.3), respectively, with the scoring rates of 62.8% (31.4/50.0), 82.3% (32.9/40.0) and 69.8% (34.9/50.0). The total score was (99.2±16.3), and the total score rate was 70.9% (99.2/140.0). There was a statistically significant difference in the total score of elderly PIM knowledge, attitudes and practice among general practitioners with different educational background, work units, professional title, awareness level of PIM and needs for PIM training( F=6.14,4.39 and 5.38, t=2.97 and 2.62, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that general practitioners with undergraduate and graduate education and higher professional titles had better knowledge, attitudes and practice of PIM ( t=2.69, 2.98 and 2.36, all P<0.05), and general practitioners without knowledge of PIM and no needs for PIM training had worse knowledge, attitudes and practice of PIM ( t=-2.96 and -2.09, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The knowledge, attitudes and behavior intervention of general practitioners on elderly PIM needs to be improved. It is necessary to strengthen the elderly PIM knowledge and skill training for general practitioners with low educational background, lower professional titles without awareness and training of PIM.

Clinical and genetic analysis of a child with Mental retardation autosomal dominant 51 / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of a child with Mental retardation autosomal dominant 51 (MRD51).@*METHODS@#A child with MRD51 who was hospitalized at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center on March 4, 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Peripheral blood samples of the child and her parents were collected and subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.@*RESULTS@#The child, a 5-year-and-3-month-old girl, had manifested autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mental retardation (MR), recurrent febrile convulsions and facial dysmorphism. WES revealed that she has harbored a novel heterozygous variant of c.142G>T (p.Glu48Ter) in the KMT5B gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that neither of her parents has carried the same variant. The variant has not been recorded in the ClinVar, OMIM and HGMD, ESP, ExAC and 1000 Genomes databases. Analysis with online software including Mutation Taster, GERP++ and CADD indicated it to be pathogenic. Prediction with SWISS-MODEL online software suggested that the variant may have a significant impact on the structure of KMT5B protein. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was predicted to be pathogenic.@*CONCLUSION@#The c.142G>T (p.Glu48Ter) variant of the KMT5B gene probably underlay the MRD51 in this child. Above finding has expanded the spectrum of KMT5B gene mutations and provided a reference for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling for this family.

Genetic analysis of a child with developmental disorder and epilepsy due to a homozygous variant of PIGW gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring global developmental disorder with epilepsy.@*METHODS@#A child who had presented at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center in July 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data was collected. Potential variant was detected by whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.@*RESULTS@#The child, a three-year-old ethnic Zhuang Chinese girl, had presented with global developmental disorder and epilepsy, for which rehabilitation therapy was ineffective. Genetic testing revealed that she has harbored a homozygous c.821T>C (p.Leu274Pro) missense variant of the PIGW gene, for which both of her parents and sister were heterozygous carriers. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as variant of uncertain significance.@*CONCLUSION@#The homozygous c.821T>C (p.Leu274Pro) variant of the PIGW gene probably underlay the onset of disease in this child. Above finding has enriched the mutational spectrum of the PIGW gene.

Contextual Fear Learning and Extinction in the Primary Visual Cortex of Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Fear memory contextualization is critical for selecting adaptive behavior to survive. Contextual fear conditioning (CFC) is a classical model for elucidating related underlying neuronal circuits. The primary visual cortex (V1) is the primary cortical region for contextual visual inputs, but its role in CFC is poorly understood. Here, our experiments demonstrated that bilateral inactivation of V1 in mice impaired CFC retrieval, and both CFC learning and extinction increased the turnover rate of axonal boutons in V1. The frequency of neuronal Ca2+ activity decreased after CFC learning, while CFC extinction reversed the decrease and raised it to the naïve level. Contrary to control mice, the frequency of neuronal Ca2+ activity increased after CFC learning in microglia-depleted mice and was maintained after CFC extinction, indicating that microglial depletion alters CFC learning and the frequency response pattern of extinction-induced Ca2+ activity. These findings reveal a critical role of microglia in neocortical information processing in V1, and suggest potential approaches for cellular-based manipulation of acquired fear memory.

An integration of hybrid MCDA framework to the statistical analysis of computer-based health monitoring applications.

The surge in computer-based health surveillance applications, leveraging technologies like big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, aims to provide personalized and streamlined medical services. These applications encompass diverse functionalities, from portable health trackers to remote patient monitoring systems, covering aspects such as heart rate tracking, task monitoring, glucose level checking, medication reminders, and sleep pattern assessment. Despite the anticipated benefits, concerns about performance, security, and alignment with healthcare professionals' needs arise with their widespread deployment. This study introduces a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) paradigm, combining the strengths of Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to address the intricate nature of decision-making processes. The method involves selecting and structuring criteria hierarchically, providing a detailed evaluation of application efficacy. Professional stakeholders quantify the relative importance of each criterion through pairwise comparisons, generating criteria weights using AHP. The ARAS methodology then ranks applications based on their performance concerning the weighted criteria. This approach delivers a comprehensive assessment, considering factors like real-time capabilities, surgical services, and other crucial aspects. The research results provide valuable insights for healthcare practitioners, legislators, and technologists, aiding in deciding the adoption and integration of computer-based health monitoring applications, ultimately enhancing medical services and healthcare outcomes.

International students' university choice to study abroad in higher education and influencing factors analysis.

With the development of China's higher education, China has become increasingly popular as an education destination for international students. To explore the rationale and the influencing factors for them to attend Chinese universities, this research adopted a questionnaire survey and interviews with international students from a top university in China. The data were analyzed from four aspects: home countries' push factors, China's pull factors, university attractiveness factors and personal choice factors. The findings show that university attractiveness factors are more significant than the China's pull factors and the home countries push factors; China's pull factors have significant influence on the university attractiveness factors; For students from different regions, the factors of China's pull, home country's push and university attractiveness play significantly different role in affecting their choice of university, with Asian students much more affected than those from other parts of the world. Besides, individual subjective norms and individual value choices also affect students' choices to study abroad.

The actuality and influences of undergraduates' participation in high impact educational practices in Chinese universities.

High Impact Educational Practices (HIPs) are effectively educational practices that have an important impact on student learning and development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of different types of high-impact educational activities on students' learning outcomes. The data comes from the 2019 "tracking research survey on learning and development of Chinese college students," in which undergraduates from 39 Chinese colleges and universities participated. This study first clarified the concept and classification of high-impact educational activities, and then used multiple linear regression analysis to analyze the impact of three types of high-impact educational activities, including extended learning activities, research-related activities, and social practice activities, on students' learning gains. It's found that most Chinese college students do not perform well on HIPs, while the "Double First-Class" university students engage more than other colleges. Participating in HIPs has a significant impact on students' knowledge, ability and values, especially on the latter two. This study provides valuable enlightenment for universities on how to promote students' participation in high impact educational activities and improve the quality of higher education.

Preparation and characterization of scutellarin loaded on ultradeformable nano-liposomes scutellarin EDTMP (S-UNL-E) and in vitro study of its osteogenesis.

The present research aimed to elucidate a convenient, safe and economic approach to induce the growth of endogenous bone tissue and bone regeneration. S-UNL-E was prepared using reverse-phase evaporation, and scutellarin encapsulation was subsequently compared. Meanwhile, the optimal preparation scheme was developed using an orthogonal method, and the particle size was determined using laser light scattering. In osteoblasts cultured in vitro, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining were used to detect the osteogenic effects of S-UNL-E. The results indicated that the optimal process conditions for S-UNL-E included mass ratios of phospholipid-cholesterol, phospholipid-breviscapine, phospholipid-sodium cholate, and phospholipid-stearamide were 2:1, 15:1, 7:1 and 7:1, respectively, and the mass of ethylenediamine tetramethylphosphonic acid (EDTMP) was 30 mg. The average particle size of S-UNL-E was 156.67 ± 1.76 nm, and Zeta potential was -28.77 ± 0.66 mv. S-UNL-E substantially increased the expression of ALP osteoblasts, elevated the content of osteocalcin protein and promoted the formation of mineralized nodules. Cells in the S-UNL-E group were densely distributed with integrated cell structure, and the actin filaments were clear and obvious. The findings demonstrated that S-UNL-E greatly promoted the differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts, and S-UNL-E (2.5 × 108) produced the most favorable effect in differentiation promotion. In conclusion, the present study successfully constructed an S-UNL-E material characterized by high encapsulation and high stability, which could effectively promote osteogenic differentiation and bone formation.

Study on absorbed components of Xiebai powder in rat blood / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To study the absorbed components of Xiebai powder in blood. METHODS UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was adopted. SD rats were randomly divided into blank group and administration group ，with 10 rats in each group. Blank group was given water intragastrically ，and administration groups were given 2 g/mL（by the amount of crude drug ）Xiebai powder solution intragastrically. Administration volume was 11.3 mL/kg，twice a day for 3 days. One point five hours after last administration，blood was taken from the abdominal aorta of each rat ，the serum was processed to obtain the supernatant for analysis；the relevant data in positive and negative ion mode were collected ，and the absorbed components of Xiebai powder in blood were analyzed and identified by using self-built secondary mass spectrometry database and consulting the relevant literature. RESULTS Totally 17 components from Xiebai powder were identified ，among which 6 components came from sovereign Moru salba，7 from minister Cortex Lycii ，12 from assistant Glycyrrhiza uralensis ，i.e. kukoamine A ，chlorogenic acid ，tachiogroside B，astringin，neoglycyrrhizin，glycyrrhizin，azelaic acid ，isoglycyrrhizin，glycyroside，anthocyanin，sebacic acid ，parthenolide， anthocyanin，18β-glycyrrhetinic acid ，6-gingerol，palmitoamide，erucamide. These compounds were mainly flavonoids ，alkaloids and organic acids. CONCLUSIONS In this study ，17 absorbed components of Xiebai powder in blood are preliminarily determined，which are consistent with the effect of Xiebai powder. They may be the pharmacodynamic substances of Xiebai powder.

Diagnosis of a child with mitochondrial myopathy and cerebellar atrophy with ataxia due to compound heterozygous variants of MSTO1 gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the genetic basis for a child with myopathy and cerebellar atrophy with ataxia.@*METHODS@#Clinical examinations and laboratory testing were carried out for the patient. The proband and the parents' genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to trio whole-exome sequencing. Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing.@*RESULTS@#The 1-year-and-8-month-old boy manifested motor developmental delay, ataxia, hypomyotonia, increased serum creatine kinase. Cranial MRI showed cerebellar atrophy with progressive aggravation. Genetic testing revealed that the patient has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the MSTO1 gene, namely c.13delG (p.Ala5ProfsTer68) and c.971C>T (p.Thr324Ile), which were respectively inherited from his mother and father. The former was unreported previously and was predicted to be likely pathogenic, whilst the latter has been reported previously and was predicted to be of uncertain significance.@*CONCLUSION@#The compound heterozygous c.13delG (p.Ala5ProfsTer68) and c.971C>T (p.Thr324Ile) variants probably underlay the disease in the proband. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of MSTO1 gene variants underlying mitochondrial myopathy and cerebellar atrophy with ataxia.

Factors influencing neurodevelopmental disorders in children with SCN8A-related early-onset epilepsy: a follow-up study of 21 cases / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To explore the influence factors of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with SCN8A-related early-onset epilepsy through analyzing their clinical characteristics and following up their neurodeve-lopmental status. Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out on 21 children (13 males and 8 females, the age ranged from 4 months to 8 years, average 31.6 months)with SCN8A-related early-onset epilepsy treated in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center and Kunming Children′s Hospital between January 2017 and February 2021.All patients underwent whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing.The pathogenicity was estimated according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.The clinical data of all patients were also collected, including the age of onset of the disease, forms of seizures, seizure frequency, neurological development at onset, electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Besides, the patients were followed up to acquire the effect of sodium channel blockers after the onset of seizures, the process or improvement of neurodeve-lopment, EEG evaluation and neurodevelopmental outcomes.Patients were grouped based on data analysis results.The Fisher′s exact test was conducted to measure the effect of various factors on the neurodevelopmental process and outcome, and corresponding coe-fficients were calculated. Results:The average onset age of 21 patients was 0-9 months.The follow-up duration was 4 months-8 years.Three cases died.Sixteen cases (76.2%) had early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE), 5 cases (23.8%) had epilepsy without encephalopathy, and 1 case had benign infantile epilepsy.Fourteen cases (66.7%) belonged to drug resistant epilepsy.Only one child showed normal neurodevelopment.Eleven children showed delayed neurodevelopment, but improvement was observed.Nine children were retrogressed and stagnated in terms of neurodevelopment.Small age at onset ( Fisher=9.517, P=0.020, r=0.571), high seizure frequency ( Fisher=10.512, P=0.003, r=0.572), EEG background ( Fisher=10.512, P=0.003, r=0.572), epileptic discharges ( Fisher=8.288, P=0.008, r=0.542), and EEG changes before and after treatment ( Fisher=10.437, P=0.009, r=0.586) were important factors affecting the neurodevelopmental process.Neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in only 1 case, 1 child belonged to mild mental retardation (MR), 7 children belonged to moderate MR, 3 children belonged to severe MR, and 9 children belonged to profound MR.Statistical analysis indicated that the clinical phenotype ( Fisher=10.059, P=0.004, r=0.739) and drug resistance ( Fisher=13.706, P=0.001, r=0.640) were significantly correlated with neurodevelopmental outcomes.However, the forms of seizures, EEG findings at onset and mutation sites were not related to neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusions:Most children with SCN8A-related early-onset epilepsy are accompanied with neurodevelopmental retardation of varying degrees.Epileptic encephalopathy and poor response to drug treatment will lead to severe neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research progress on signaling pathway of Traditional Chinese Medicine inhibiting leukemia cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis / 国际中医中药杂志

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells and induce apoptosis. The signaling pathways involved mainly include PI3K/Akt pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, JAK-STAT pathway, Wnt pathway and mitochondrial pathway. Among them, the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is affected by many key apoptotic pathways, which plays a terminal role in promoting apoptosis. At present, there is a great need for the systematic and comprehensive research on various signaling pathways and intermolecular interactions.

Research progress on antimalarial combination therapy based on artemisinin-based compounds / 中国药房

Malaria is a serio us and life-threatening infectious disease that has a profound impact on human life. Artemisinin is still the first-line drug for clinical antimalarial treatment recommended by the World Health Organization. The antimalarial activity of artemisinin is mainly reflected in the peroxide bridge structure. Artemisinin-based combination therapy （ACT）is the first-line treatment for malaria in many countries. ACT mainly include artemether-lumefantrine ，artesunate-amodiaquine and dihydroartemisinin- piperaquine，etc. Compared with artemisinin monotherapy ，ACT has the advantages of shortening the length of hospital stay ， speeding up parasite clearance ，and saving economic costs ，etc. However ，there are still problems such as drug resistance. This article reviews the application status ，advantages and disadvantages of ACT at home and abroad in recent years ，in order to provide ideas for the subsequent screening of long-acting adjuvant antimalarial drugs in ACT and to solve the problem of drug resistance.

Mannose Attenuates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Tumorigenesis by Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Mannose has recently drawn extensive attention for its substantial anti-cancer activities, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mannose on experimental colitis-associated colorectal tumorigenesis and underlying mechanisms. Data clearly showed that at plasma concentrations achieved after oral administration, mannose slightly affected malignancy of tumor cells or tumor promoter-induced transformation of pre-neoplastic cells, but substantially suppressed manifestation of the M2-like phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in a cancer cell and macrophage co-culture model. Mechanistically, mannose might greatly impair the production of tumor cell-derived lactate which has a critical role in the functional polarization of TAMs. Importantly, oral administration of mannose protected mice against colitis-associated colorectal tumorigenesis by normalizing TAM polarization. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of TAMs in colorectal tumorigenesis, and provide a rationale for introducing mannose supplementation to patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases.

Pig lung fibrosis is active in the subacute CdCl2 exposure model and exerts cumulative toxicity through the M1/M2 imbalance.

Environmental pollutant cadmium (Cd) can cause macrophage dysfunction, and the imbalance of M1/M2 is involved in the process of tissue fibrosis. In order to explore the effect of subacute CdCl2 exposure on pig lung tissue fibers and its mechanism, based on the establishment of this model, ICP-MS, H&E staining, Masson staining, Immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and Western Blot methods were used to detect related indicators. The results found that lung tissue fibrosis, Cd content significantly increased, lung tissue ion disturbance, miR-20a-3p down-regulation, M1/M2 imbalance, LXA4/FPR2 content decreased, MDA content increased, NF-κB/NLRP3, TGFß pathway, PPARγ/Wnt pathway activated, and the expression of fibrosis-related factors increased. The above results indicate that subacute CdCl2 exposure increase Cd content in the pig lungs, which leads to M1/M2 imbalance and down-regulates the content of LXA4/FPR2, further activates the oxidative stress/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, thereby activating the TGFß and PPARγ/Wnt pathways to induce fibrosis. This study aims to reveal the toxic effects of CdCl2 and will provide new insights into the toxicology of Cd.

Clinical study on Jiedu-Huaban Decoction combined with montelukast sodium chewable tablets in the treatment of children with Henoch Schonlein purpura and blood heat syndrome / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Jiedu-Huaban Decoction combined with montelukast sodium chewable tablets in the treatment of children with henoch schonlein purpura (HSP). Methods:A total of 80 children with HSP and blood heat syndrome who met the inclusion criteria, from January 2017 to December 2019, were randomly divided into two groups by random number table method, 40 in each group. The control group took montelukast sodium chewable tablets at night, and the study group took Jiedu-Huaban Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The disappearance time of gastrointestinal disease, skin purpura, kidney disease, joint swelling and pain were observed. The improvement score of skin purpura was evaluated before and after treatment. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-4, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and TNF-α were detected by ELISA, and the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. The T lymphocyte subsets (CD4 + and CD8 +) were measured by nephelometry, and the CD4 +/CD8 +values were calculated. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:The total effective rate was 87.5% (35/40) in the study group and 67.5% (27/40) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups ( χ2 =4.588, P=0.032). The disappearance time of gastrointestinal disease, skin purpura, kidney disease and joint swelling and pain in the study group were significantly earlier than those in the control group ( t=7.802, 12.167, 7.309, 9.365, all Ps<0.001). After treatment, the serum levels of IL-6, IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=9.319, 6.738, 8.221, 6.553, all Ps<0.001). The improvement score of skin purpura at 1 week after treatment (2.75 ± 0.69 vs. 3.92 ± 0.83, t=6.856) and 2 weeks after treatment (0.41 ± 0.15 vs. 1.55 ± 0.37, t=18.095) in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). After treatment, the level of IgG, CD4 +, CD4 +/CD8 + in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=5.160, 4.558, 3.442, all Ps<0.01), the level of IgA, IgM, CD8 + in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=2.614, 6.712, 5.468, all Ps< 0.05). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions in the control group was 17.5% (7/40), and that of the study group was 15.0% (6/40), wherer there was no statistical difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.092, P=0.762). Conclusion:Jiedu-Huaban Decoction combined with montelukast sodium chewable tablets can improve the clinical symptoms of children with HSP and blood heat syndrome, reduce the body inflammatory reaction, improve immunity, with good safety.

Analysis of a family with inherited generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus caused by the KCNT2 mutation and literature review / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of a family with inherited generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS + ) caused by the KCNT2 gene mutation and review the literature. Methods:Clinical data of a child with GEFS + and his family members who visited Department of Pediatric Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center in May 2019 were collected.DNA samples were collected from the peripheral blood of the proband, his parents, his elder brother, and his maternal grandparents, and genetic analysis and verification were performed using the next-generation sequencing technique.Using " KCNT2" as the key word, literature was retrieved from PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases (up to August 2019). Results:The proband was a 3-year-old boy who was admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center because of frequent epileptic seizures in the past 5 months.He presented with a binocular gaze and experienced 3 to 8 times of extremities myoclonic-spastic epileptic attacks every day.He had a history of 3 times of febrile seizures at the age of 2 years old.His seizures were refractory to Sodium valproate, Topiramate, Nitrazepam and Levetiracetam.His elder brother and mother had a history of childhood febrile seizures.Other members in the family had no history of convulsion.Ictal electroencephalogram showed general 1 Hz high voltage spike-slow waves.A heterozygous nonsense mutation of KCNT2 gene c. 574C>T(p.Q192X) that was never reported previously was detected in the proband, his brother, mother and maternal grandmother.Furthermore, no other family members carried the mutation at the c. 574 locus of the KCNT2 gene.No article in Chinese was found, and 2 articles in a language other than Chinese provided the complete data of 3 sporadic cases.Together with 4 cases in the family studied in this article, there were 7 cases and 4 mutation sites in KCNT2 gene.Of these mutations, there were 3 missense mutations and 1 nonsense mutation.Three sporadic patients presented with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy.The family of this study was characterized with febrile seizures and febrile seizures plus. Conclusions:A de novo mutation and phenotype of the KCNT2 gene is found in a family with GEFS + .It would expand the gene mutation spectrum and provide basis for family genetic counseling. KCNT2 mutation induced GEFS + is refractory to antiepileptic drugs.