BACKGROUND: Compared to adult studies, studies which involve the treatment of pediatric congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) are limited and no universal treatment regimen is available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)/human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy for treating male adolescents with CHH. METHODS: Male adolescent CHH patients were treated with hCG/hMG (n = 20) or a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pump (n = 21). The treatment was divided into a study phase (0-3 months) and a follow-up phase (3-12 months). The testicular volume (TV), penile length (PL), penis diameter (PD), and sex hormone levels were compared between the two groups. The TV and other indicators between the groups were analyzed using a t-test (equal variance) or a rank sum test (unequal variance). RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the biochemistry, hormones, and other demographic indicators. After 3 months of treatment, the TV of the hCG/hMG and GnRH groups increased to 5.1 ± 2.3 mL and 4.1 ± 1.8 mL, respectively; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05, t = 1.394). The PL reached 6.9 ± 1.8 cm and 5.1 ± 1.6 cm (P < 0.05, t = 3.083), the PD reached 2.4 ± 0.5 cm and 2.0 ± 0.6 cm (P < 0.05, t = 2.224), respectively, in the two groups. At the end of 6 months of treatment, biomarkers were in normal range in the two groups. Compared with the GnRH group, the testosterone (T) level and growth of PL and PD were significantly greater in the hCG/hMG group (all P < 0.05). While the TV of both groups increased, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05, t = 0.314). After 9 to 12 months of treatment, the T level was higher in the hCG/hMG group. Other parameters did not exhibit a statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: The hCG/hMG regimen is feasible and effective for treating male adolescents with CHH. The initial 3 months of treatment may be a window to optimally observe the strongest effects of therapy. Furthermore, results from the extended time-period showed positive outcomes at the 1-year mark; however, the long-term effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of the hCG/hMG regimen require further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02880280; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02880280.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/therapeutic use* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hypogonadism/drug therapy* ; Male ; Menotropins/therapeutic use* ; Spermatogenesis ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVE: The design and development of split memory alloy sternum bone plate are discussed, and the effect of split memory alloy sternum bone plate internal fixation in the treatment of sternal fractures are analysed. METHODS: The structure of the product is designed according to the anatomy and physiological characteristics of human bones, and the cross section shape of the product is designed according to the cross section shape of human bones. Internal fixation is effective in the treatment of sternal fracture. RESULTS: The split memory alloy sternal plate was successfully designed and developed, and all the patients with sternal fractures treated by internal fixation were clinically healed, the hospitalization and fracture healing time were significantly shortened, and no obvious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS The application of split memory alloy sternal plate internal fixation in the treatment of sternal fracture has the advantages of small trauma, simple operation, safety, reliable fixation, good histocompatibility and less complications, and is conducive to promoting fracture healing and respiratory function improvement.
Alloys ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Sternum/surgery*

Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa, which affect human and animal health worldwide, can be transmitted by vectors like ticks. To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ticks in Chengmai county of Hainan province, China, 285 adult hard ticks belonging to two species [
Anaplasmataceae/isolation & purification* ; Animals ; Chaperonin 60/genetics* ; China ; Citrate (si)-Synthase/genetics* ; Coccidia/isolation & purification* ; Coxiellaceae/isolation & purification* ; Insect Vectors/microbiology* ; Islands ; Ixodidae/microbiology* ; Phylogeny ; Piroplasmia/isolation & purification* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics*

[Abstract] Objective: To explore whether gambogic acid can enhance the sensitivity of glioma U251 cells to temozolomide and further explore its mechanism. Methods: U251 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group, gambogic acid treatment group, temozolomide alone treatment group and combined treatment group. The cells survival rates of cells in each group was detected by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and changes in ROS level. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in protein expressions. Results: CCK-8 results showed that the cells survival rates of the four groups after treatment for 24 h were (98.65±3.68)%, (93.58±2.47)%, (66.81±2.39)% and (38.65±4.13)%, respectively. It can be seen that the combined treatment could significantly increase the inhibitory effect of temozolomide on U251 cells. The proportion of apoptotic U251 cells in the combined treatment group was (61.43±2.58)%, which was significantly higher than that of (26.68±1.82)% in the temozolomide-treated group. Combined treatment of gambogic acid and temozolomide could up-regulate ROS level in U251 cells, reduce the expressions of GLUT-3 and p-AKT, and inhibit the GLUT-3/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusion: Gambogic acid combined with temozolomide can enhance the sensitivity of U251 cells to temozolomide by up-regulating ROS level and inhibiting GLUT-3/AKT signaling pathway in U251 cells, and provides a theoretical basis for the application of gambogic acid in the treatment of glioma.

The abnormality of mitochondrial morphology and function is closely related to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Mitochondrial fusion-fission dynamics are critical to maintain normal morphology, distribution and quantity of mitochondria, and ensure the normal activity of cells. In addition, mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial quality by degrading aging or damaged mitochondria. Many previous studies showed that mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy can regulate each other to sustain mitochondrial network homeostasis. Clarifying regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy is of great significance for revealing the molecular mechanism of various diseases and for the development of new drugs targeting mitochondrial dynamics proteins or mitophagy regulatory proteins. This review focuses on the role of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in mitochondrial quality control, regulatory mechanism, the interplay between those two processes, and their roles in human-related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; Mitophagy

Objective:To analyze the research hotspot of advance care planning (ACP) at home and abroad, understand the research status and development trend of this field, and provide reference for the development of ACP in China.Methods:The recently literature of ACP through PubMed and Wan Fang database was searched, then bibliographic information data mining system and graph clustering tool kit cluster analysis were used.Results:A total of 2 717 articles were retrieved, extracted high frequency keywords that account for more than 50% of the total, including 35 domestic subject words and 89 foreign "main subject words+ sub-subject words" . Domestic research hotspots included: culture and value of ACP and advance directives, implementation and implementation status of ACP, research progress of ACP, research of ACP acceptance, attitudes and status of medical staff about ACP and advance directives. Foreign research hotspots included: the role of advance directives in ACP and its evaluation and application, influencing factors of ACP selection preference in terminal patients, status and methods of agency decision making, ACP and hospice care, the impact of end-of-life choices on care and quality of life, auxiliary decision-making mode of ACP.Conclusions:Although relevant research on ACP in China has been in the exploratory stage, there is still a gap in the breadth and depth of research at home and abroad. Research forms, objects and contents of ACP need to be deepened. In the future, the research should actively explore the new mode of ACP development in combination with China′s policy and cultural background.

Mixed reality (MR), characterized by the ability to integrate digital data into human real feeling, is a new technique in medical imaging and surgical navigation. MR has tremendous value in surgery, but its application in oromaxillofacial head and neck oncology surgery is not yet reported. This paper reports the application of MR in oromaxillofacial head and neck oncology surgery. The merits, demerits, and present research situations and prospects of MR are further discussed.
Augmented Reality ; Humans ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted

BACKGROUND: The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) causing an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei province of China was isolated in January 2020. This study aims to investigate its epidemiologic history, and analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and prognosis of patients infected with 2019-nCoV during this outbreak. METHODS: Clinical data from 137 2019-nCoV-infected patients admitted to the respiratory departments of nine tertiary hospitals in Hubei province from December 30, 2019 to January 24, 2020 were retrospectively collected, including general status, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, imaging characteristics, and treatment regimens. RESULTS: None of the 137 patients (61 males, 76 females, aged 20-83 years, median age 57 years) had a definite history of exposure to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Major initial symptoms included fever (112/137, 81.8%), coughing (66/137, 48.2%), and muscle pain or fatigue (44/137, 32.1%), with other, less typical initial symptoms observed at low frequency, including heart palpitations, diarrhea, and headache. Nearly 80% of the patients had normal or decreased white blood cell counts, and 72.3% (99/137) had lymphocytopenia. Lung involvement was present in all cases, with most chest computed tomography scans showing lesions in multiple lung lobes, some of which were dense; ground-glass opacity co-existed with consolidation shadows or cord-like shadows. Given the lack of effective drugs, treatment focused on symptomatic and respiratory support. Immunoglobulin G was delivered to some critically ill patients according to their conditions. Systemic corticosteroid treatment did not show significant benefits. Notably, early respiratory support facilitated disease recovery and improved prognosis. The risk of death was primarily associated with age, underlying chronic diseases, and median interval from the appearance of initial symptoms to dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients with 2019-nCoV pneumonia present with fever as the first symptom, and most of them still showed typical manifestations of viral pneumonia on chest imaging. Middle-aged and elderly patients with underlying comorbidities are susceptible to respiratory failure and may have a poorer prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Betacoronavirus ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum by various chromatographic techniques, including column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques as S-3'-hydroxy-7,2',4'-trimethoxyisoxane(1), 2-(2',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzofuran(2), 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxybenzofuran(3), 7,2',4'-trimethoxydihydroisoflavone(4), sativanone(5), 3,9-dimethoxy-6H-benzofuro[3,2-c]chromen-6-one(6),(6 aS,11 aS)-homopterocarpin(7),(6 aS,11 aS)-8-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxypterocarpan(8),(6 aS,11 aS)-3,8,9-trimethoxypterocarpan(9), isodalbergin(10), isoliquiritigenin(11), butein(12), butin(13) and 3,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone(14). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, while 2 and 3 were new natural products, 6, 8, 9 and 14 were isolated for the first time from Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum. Compounds 1-14 were tested for their cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402, human gastric cancer cell line SCG-7901, human lung cancer cell line A549, human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 and HeLa human cervical cancer cellline by MTT method. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity with IC_(50) values ranging from 2.85 to 11.62 μg·mL~(-1). In addition, 2, 11 and 12 showed weak cytotoxic activities.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; HeLa Cells ; Humans