Alleviating Pyroptosis of Intestinal Epithelial Cells to Restore Mucosal Integrity in Ulcerative Colitis by Targeting Delivery of 4-Octyl-Itaconate.

Current therapies primarily targeting inflammation often fail to address the root relationship between intestinal mucosal integrity and the resulting dysregulated cell death and ensuing inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). First, UC tissues from human and mice models in this article both emphasize the crucial role of Gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) as it contributes to colitis by releasing proinflammatory cytokines, thereby compromising the intestinal barrier. Then, 4-octyl-itaconate (4-OI), exhibiting potential for anti-inflammatory activity in inhibiting pyroptosis, was encapsulated by butyrate-modified liposome (4-OI/BLipo) to target delivery for IECs.

Combined role of ground cover management in altering orchard surface‒subsurface erosion and associated carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus loss.

The combined role of ground cover management in controlling soil erosion and nutrient loss from new orchards is still less understood. In this study, four ground cover management practices, orchard with grass cover (OG), orchard with interplant cover (OI), orchard with straw cover (OS), and orchard with bare ground (OB), were designed to identify their impacts on soil erosion and associated carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus loss in new orchards by rainfall simulation tests with rainfall intensities of 60, 90, and 120 mm h and 90 min rainfall duration. The results showed that OS had the lowest surface flow coefficient (6.

Erosion of Granite Red Soil Slope and Processes of Subsurface Flow Generation, Prediction, and Simulation.

A deeper understanding of the rainfall-flow processes can improve the knowledge of the rain-driven erosional processes in coarse-textured agricultural soil. In this study, on the red soil slope farmland developed from weathered granite, a simulated rainfall experiment was conducted to study the characteristics of rainfall redistribution, the processes of surface-subsurface flow generation and prediction, and sediment production. Rainfalls with three intensities of 45, 90, and 135 mm h with a duration of 90 min were applied to the weathered granite red soil with the slope gradient of 10°.

Soil nutrients shape the composition and function of fungal communities in abandoned ancient rice terraces.

In recent decades, terraces abandonment has been prevalent in the hilly areas of China. Soil fungi play an important role in clarifying soil ecosystematic feedback after ancient rice terraces abandonment, but how their community composition and function shift remains unclear. Soil profiles of 0-120 cm were excavated in ancient rice terraces, dry land, and forest land (formed from ancient rice terraces abandonment), respectively.

Variations in bovine milk oligosaccharides after calving using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester closed-ring labeling and negative ion electrospray LC/MS/MS.

A strategy was proposed to analyze bovine milk oligosaccharides using p-aminobenzoic ethyl ester (ABEE) closed-ring labeling and C18 capillary liquid chromatography negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Linkage specific fragment ions were used to identify oligosaccharide isomers. By constructing the mass chromatograms using linkage specific fragment ions, isomers were differentiated based on m/z values as well as temporal separation provided by liquid chromatography.

Precipitation and urban expansion caused jointly the spatiotemporal dislocation between supply and demand of water provision service.

A clear quantification and spatial mapping between supply and demand of water provision service in relation to climate change and urban expansion can provide some guidance to water resources management. Nevertheless, so far, most researches ignored the dynamic changes and influences of supply-demand coupling correlations. In this study, water yield and water demand were quantified and mapped in the Xiangjiang River Basin (XRB) from 2000 to 2018 by using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) and water-demand models, then the spatial distribution characteristics and their matching relationship were identified by using the univariate local autocorrelation analysis and the common logarithm of water supply-demand ratio (WSDR).

Time-trend analysis of prevalence, incidence and traditional Chinese medicine use among children with asthma: a population-based study.

Background: This study determined annual prevalence and incidence trends of asthma among children in Taiwan from 2002 to 2008. Risk factors and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use were examined.

Methods: A random sample was selected for a population-based study with a selection probability of 0.

Safe needling depths of upper back acupoints in children: a retrospective study.

Background: Acupuncture is applied for treating numerous conditions in children, but few studies have examined the safe needling depth of acupoints in the pediatric population. In this study, we investigated the depths to which acupuncture needles can be inserted safely in the upper back acupoints of children and the variations in safe depth according to sex, age, weight, and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: We retrospectively studied computed tomography (CT) images of patients aged 4 to 18 years who underwent chest CT at China Medical University Hospital between December 2004 and May 2013.

Traditional Chinese medicine therapy improves the survival of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: No previous studies have evaluated the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment on the survival of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Hence, in this study, we determined whether TCM treatment affects the survival of SLE patients.

Methods: This nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study assessed 23,084 patients newly diagnosed with SLE between 1999 and 2009, using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance program.

Time Trend Analysis of the Prevalence and Incidence of Diagnosed Asthma and Traditional Chinese Medicine Use among Adults in Taiwan from 2000 to 2011: A Population-Based Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the annual trends of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use for prevalent and incident asthmatic adults in Taiwan from 2000 to 2011. The annual prevalence and incidence of asthma in adults among subgroups of sociodemographic factors were also investigated.

Methods: A population-based study was conducted using a random sample with one million beneficiaries of all residents aged ≥18 years enrolled in the National Health Insurance program.

The Depths from Skin to the Major Organs at Chest Acupoints of Pediatric Patients.

Background. Acupuncture is applied to treat numerous diseases in pediatric patients. Few reports have been published on the depth to which it is safe to insert needle acupoints in pediatric patients.

Comparative study of sialyl glycoprotein with multiple glycosylation sites using isotope labeling and capillary liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Rationale: A comparative strategy has been demonstrated using RNase B, a single-site N-linked high-mannose glycoprotein. Glycoproteins are more common with multiple glycosylation sites and with complex glycans. A strategy capable of differentiating the changes caused by glycoprotein concentration, glycosylation site occupancy, and a glycoform profile of complex glycoproteins would be beneficial.

Estimation of the measurement uncertainty in quantitative determination of ketamine and norketamine in urine using a one-point calibration method.

An approach was proposed for the estimation of measurement uncertainty for analytical methods based on one-point calibration. The proposed approach is similar to the popular multiple-point calibration approach. However, the standard deviation of calibration was estimated externally.

A comparative study of glycoprotein concentration, glycoform profile and glycosylation site occupancy using isotope labeling and electrospray linear ion trap mass spectrometry.

A strategy is presented for comparative analysis of glycoproteins in which the variation of protein concentration, variation of glycosylation site occupancy and variation of glycoform profile can be determined. A comparative study was performed using stable isotope labeling of glycopeptides and peptides by formaldehyde-H(2) and formaldehyde-D(2) and analysis by ESI-MS analysis. The relative intensity of the nonglycosylated peptide provided information about protein concentration variation.

Prednisolone oral solution plus inhaled procaterol for acute asthma in children: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of prednisolone sodium phosphate oral solution plus inhaled procaterol in the treatment of acute asthma in children.

Methods: Forty-three patients aged 6 to 12 years with an acute exacerbation of asthma were double-blind randomized into one of two treatment groups in a 1:1 ratio:1) prednisolone oral solution +placebo tablets + procaterol MDI or 2) prednisolone tablets +placebo oral solution + procaterol MDI, all given three times daily for 7 days. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), 24-hour reflective asthma symptom scores, spirometry and pulmonary index score (PIS) were recorded before and after treatment.

X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome: molecular genetic study and long-time follow-up of three generations of a Chinese family.

Background: X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (IgM) syndrome (XHIGM) is a rare immunodeficiency disease caused by mutations of the CD40 ligand gene. Patients are subject to recurrent infections and have normal or elevated levels of IgM but markedly decreased serum IgG.

Objective: We describe molecular genetic studies and clinical manifestations in three generations of one family, as well as results of long-term treatment of 2 young men with the disorder.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome complicated by an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder: a case report.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked syndrome consisting of eczema, recurrent pyogenic infection, and thrombocytopenia with decreased platelet volume. Immunologic studies reveal normal immunoglobulin G (IgG), decreased IgM, elevated IgA and IgE levels, and decreased T-cell function. Patients with WAS often have increased susceptibility to lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs).

Hyper-IgM1 syndrome with interstitial pneumonia and diarrhea caused by coxsackievirus B4 in a 3-month-old infant.

Background: Hyper-IgM1 syndrome is a rare genetic primary immunodeficiency disease caused by mutations of the CD40 ligand gene. It is characterized by normal or elevated levels of IgM and markedly decreased serum IgG, IgA, and IgE levels. Patients with this syndrome often easily develop infections.

Recurrent acalculous cholecystitis and sclerosing cholangitis in a patient with X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome.

X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (IgM) syndrome (XHIGM) is a rare genetic primary immunodeficiency disease caused by mutations of the CD40 ligand (CD40L) gene with normal or elevated levels of IgM and markedly decreased serum IgG, IgA, and IgE. Liver disease may occur as a clinical manifestation in XHIGM. This complication appears to increase with age.

Focal seizures as an unusual presentation of neonatal lupus erythematosus.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an uncommon passive autoimmune disease in which there is a transplacental passage of anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB maternal autoantibodies. Common clinical manifestations include cardiac disease, notably congenital heart block, cutaneous lupus lesions, hematologic disorders, and hepatobiliary disease. During the past decade, however, it has become clear that central nervous disease may also be a manifestation of neonatal lupus.

De novo mutation causing X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome: a family study in Taiwan.

X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIM) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by mutations of the gene encoding the CD40 ligand (CD40L). It is characterized by recurrent infections with markedly decreased serum IgG, IgA and IgE levels but normal or elevated IgM levels. We report the clinical manifestations and complete immune studies in the first family with molecularly proven XHIM in Taiwan.

Hyper-IgM syndrome: report of one case.

The hyper-IgM syndrome (HIM) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by defects in the CD40 ligand (CD40L)/CD40-signaling pathway. It is characterized by recurrent infections with markedly decreased IgG, IgA and IgE levels but normal or elevated serum IgM levels. A 5-month-old boy presented with rapidly progressive pneumonia which responded poorly to antibiotics.