Clinical trial is the most direct and the most effective way to test the performance of medical equipments.The Belmont Report is the statement of the basic moral principles and guidelines,used to help solve the moral problems produced in scientific researches involving human subjects.This apaper examines the ethical issues in clinical trials for medical equipments from the perspective of the Belmont report.It first introduces the background and basic concepts of Belmont report,background concept and the concept and the basic process of medical equipment clinical trials.Then the three principles of the Belmont Report is presented and how to apply the Report to solve ethical problems arising in medical equipment trials.Application of informed consent risk and benefits assessment,and selection of subjects participants and the distribution of research results to address the ethical issues arising in clinical trials.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Chinese herbal drug-containing serum, prepared by administration of Chinese herbal medicine for activating blood (Xiongshao Capsule, XS) or for activating blood and detoxifying (Xiongshao Capsule plus Huanglian Capsule, XSHL) in rats, on cell viability, oxidative damage and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Methods: Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, positive control group (simvastatin 1.8 mg/kg), activating blood (XS, 0.135 g/kg) group, and activating blood and detoxifying (XS Capsule 0.135 g/kg and Huanglian Capsule 0.135 g/kg, XSHL) group. Corresponding drugs were continuously administered to the rats for 7 days and then drug-containing serum was harvested 1 hour after the last administration. HUVECs isolated from newborn children by collagenase digestion were stimulated by ox-LDL (100 μg/L) and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum for 24 hours. Untreated HUVECs were also used as a normal control. The morphology and structure of HUVECs were observed by an inverted microscope. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method, and cell membrane damage was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was examined by spectrophotometry, and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cell lysate was examined by thiobarbituric acid assay. HUVECs were stained with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide and analyzed on a flow cytometry to determine apoptosis. Results: Compared with the normal HUVECs, the cell viability and the activity of SOD were significantly decreased while the content of MDA and apoptosis rate were significantly increased after 24-hour ox-LDL stimulation (P<0.01, P<0.05). Simvastatin-, XS-, and XSHL-containing serum significantly promoted the ox-LDL-stimulated HUVEC viability and inhibited early apoptosis (P<0.01, P<0.05), while had no significant effect on LDH leakage. Simvastatin-containing serum and XS-containing serum also showed significant decrease in MDA content and increase in SOD activity, while XSHL-containing serum showed no significant effects. There was no significant difference between the XS-containing serum group and the XSHL-containing serum group. Conclusion: Both sera containing XSHL and XS show protective action against the oxidative damage and apoptosis of HUVECs induced by ox-LDL.

The glymphatic system, as "waste" clearance pathway in the brain, plays a critical role in maintaining the homeostasis of the brain cell microenvironment. It has been found that changes in the glymphatic system are common in many neurological diseases. MRI is currently the only technology that can achieve human glymphatic imaging, and has the advantages of high soft tissue resolution and sensitivity to tracers. Quantitative MRI can objectively evaluate the changes of inflow and outflow of glymphatic system. Therefore, in this review, we introduce the application of quantitative MRI technology in the glymphatic system in detail, aiming to provide help for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to glymphatic system.

BACKGROUND:The key to preventing the recurrence of intrauterine adhesions is to reconstruct the endometrium with normal function.The latest breakthrough in the treatment of recurrent intrauterine adhesions in and outside China is the use of degradable materials to prepare hydrogels to prevent the recurrence of adhesions. OBJECTIVE:To review the research advance in hydrogel-promoted endometrial repair in intrauterine adhesions. METHODS:PubMed,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and WanFang databases were searched systematically,with the keywords"intrauterine adhesions,endometrial injury,endometrium regeneration,hydrogel"in Chinese and English.Relevant articles published in each database from January 1990 to March 2023 were collected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In recent years,research on hydrogel-promoted endometrial repair in uterine adhesions in and outside China has made some progress and plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of intrauterine adhesions and the promotion of endometrial repair:(1)As an important carrier in tissue engineering,hydrogel itself has excellent biocompatibility,biodegradability and three-dimensional network structure,which can be better applied in the treatment of intrauterine adhesions.(2)The hydrogel-based carrier system can promote the proliferation and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells by transporting drugs/biologics/stem cells,and restore normal uterine morphology to prevent adhesion recurrence.(3)Hyaluronic acid hydrogels can not only meet good biocompatibility,but also promote the proliferation and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells,and will be hydrolyzed by corresponding enzymes in utero,without affecting the normal metabolism of the body.They are currently commonly used uterine anti-adhesion agents in the clinic and are also the most commonly used hydrogel carriers in tissue engineering research.(4)Poloxamer hydrogel with excellent temperature-sensitive properties can rapidly gelate into the body,quickly form a physical barrier,and can play a slow-release effect on carrying substances and provide a platform for cell growth/adhesion.(5)There are broad prospects for the preparation of therapeutic hydrogels using materials with different characteristics,such as temperature-sensitive hydrogels,pH-responsive hydrogels and photosensitive hydrogels,but there are still many problems to be solved,such as the safety of the hydrogel system,whether the degradation products cause immune reactions,and whether they have an impact on the normal body's menstrual period.A large number of animal experiments and clinical trials are needed to verify its safety and efficacy,and continuously improve the treatment strategy.

Objective To explore the path relationship of working stress , self-esteem and the sense of achievement for acute critical care nurses .Methods Using the method of convenient sampling , a questionnaire survey was conducted on 265 emergency nurses and ICU nurses . The questionnaire included general information , nurse burnout scale , self-esteem scale and nurse stress scale .Results Totals of 265 questionnaires were distributed, and 255 questionnaires were returned , with an effective rate of 96.2%.The scores of stress scale for nurses who worked for one year , two-five years and over five years were (3.03 ±0.40), (3.12 ± 0.54) and (3.06 ±0.39), respectively.There was a significant difference among groups (F=23.534,P=0.00).The scores of self-esteem for nurses who worked for one year , two-five years and over five years were (19.87 ±2.17), (20.19 ±1.98) and (18.93 ±2.87), with a statistically significant difference (F=21.391, P=0.00) .The scores of working achievement for nurses who worked for one year , two-five years and over five years were (4.18 ±1.64), (4.25 ±1.43) and (4.20 ±1.63), and the difference was significant (F =18.733, P=0.00).There was a negative correlation between the critical nurses'working achievement and working stress (r=-0.317, -0.271, -0.211, -0.231, -0.356, respectively;P <0.05), and the working achievement and the self -esteem was positively related (r=0.357,P<0.01).The self-esteem was not completely intermediary between working stress and working achievement , and the indexes of model fitting were χ2/df=1.244,P=0.305, RMSEA=0.019, NFI=0.977, RFI=0.984, IFI=0.987, TLI=0.960, CFI=0.937.Conclusions Self-esteem plays a significant intermediary role between working stress and working achievement for acute and critical care nurses .

Objective To explore the relationship between functioning mechanisms of self-efficacy and perceived social support in stress and maladjustment among intensive nurses .Methods A total of 446 intensive nurses were assessed by general information questionnaire , General Self-efficacy Scale(GSES), Perceived Social Support Scale ( PSSS ) , General Maladjustment Scale ( Gm ) , and Chinese Nurse Stressor Scale ( CNSS ) . Results The scores of Gm were positively correlated with the scores of CNSS (r =0.466,P <0.05), and negatively correlated with the scores of GSES and PSSS ( r=-0.205,-0.333,respectively;P<0.05).Self-efficacy had an obvious effect on mediating between stress and maladjustment ( P <0.05).Perceived social support had an obvious effect on mediating and moderating between stress and maladjustment ( P <0.05). Conclusions Self-efficacy among intensive nurses can mediate the effects of stress on maladjustment .Perceived social support can mediate and adjust the effects of stress on maladjustment .

Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) infections affect domestic dogs, cats, and various wild mammals with increasing incidence in temperate and tropical areas. More sensitive antibody detection methodologies are required to diagnose asymptomatic dirofilariasis with low worm burdens. Applying current transcriptomic technologies would be useful to discover potential diagnostic markers for D. immitis infection. A filarial homologue of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was initially identified by screening the assembled transcriptome of D. immitis (DiTCTP). A BLAST analysis suggested that the DiTCTP gene shared the highest similarity with TCTP from Loa loa at protein level (97%). A histidine-tagged recombinant DiTCTP protein (rDiTCTP) of 40 kDa expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) showed immunoreactivity with serum from a dog experimentally infected with heartworms. Localization studies illustrated the ubiquitous presence of rDiTCTP protein in the lateral hypodermal chords, dorsal hypodermal chord, muscle, intestine, and uterus in female adult worms. Further studies on D. immitis-derived TCTP are warranted to assess whether this filarial protein could be used for a diagnostic purpose.
Animal Structures/chemistry ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Antigens, Helminth/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dirofilaria immitis/chemistry/*genetics/immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tumor Markers, Biological/chemistry/*genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification

Baylisascaris schroederi,a roundworm(ascaridoid)parasite specific to the bamboo-feeding giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca),represents a leading cause of mortality in wild giant panda populations.Here,we present a 293-megabase chromosome-level genome assembly of B.schroederi to infer its biology,including host adaptations.Comparative genomics revealed an evolutionary trajectory accompanied by host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages after host separations,suggesting their potential for transmission and rapid adaptation to new hosts.Genomic and anatomical lines of evidence,including expansion and positive selection of genes related to the cuticle and basal metabolisms,indicate that B.schroederi undergoes specific adaptations to survive in the sharp-edged bamboo-enriched gut of giant pandas by structurally increasing its cuticle thickness and efficiently utilizing host nutrients through gut parasitism.Additionally,we characterized the secretome of B.schroederi and predicted potential drug and vaccine targets for new control strategies.Overall,this genome resource provides new insights into the host adaptation of B.schroederi to the giant panda as well as the host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages.Our findings on the unique biology of B.schroederi will also aid in the development of prevention and treatment measures to protect giant panda populations from roundworm parasitism.

Objective:To understand the current status of pubertal sexual characteristics development of girls aged 6-18 years in Tongzhou District of Beijing and to compare the differences in sexual characteristics development among girls characterized as thin, normal, overweight, and obese.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2 844 girls aged 6-18 years in Tongzhou District of Beijing from September 2022 to July 2023. The developmental stages of breast and pubic hair were assessed on site, and menarche status was inquired. Weight and height were measured. The girls were subsequently characterized into thin, normal, overweight and obese groups. Basic information (including family and personal history) was obtained through questionnaires. Probit probability unit regression was applied to calculate the age of each Tanner stage of sexual characteristics development and the age of menarche. The χ 2 test was applied to compare the counting data between two or multiple groups. Results:A total of 2 844 girls were surveyed and 2 704 girls met the inclusion criteria, resulting in a valid response rate of 95.1%. Among these girls, 1 105 (40.9%) were aged 6-9 years, 1 053 (38.9%) were aged 10-13 years, and 546 (20.2%) were aged 14-18 years. The of height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), and body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were 0.46(-0.23,1.16), 0.69(-0.16,1.67), and 0.67(-0.27,1.73) respectively. The prevalences of thin, overweight, and obesity were respectively 1.7% (45/2 704), 17.3% (467/2 704), and 19.9% (538/2 704), respectively. There were 45 girls in the thin group, 1 654 girls in the normal weight group, 1 005 girls in the overweight and obesity group. The age of Tanner stage breast 2 (B2), Tanner stage pubic hair 2 (P2), and menarche was 9.0 (95% CI 8.9-9.1), 10.5 (95% CI 10.4-10.6), and 11.4 (95% CI 11.3-1.5) years, respectively. The current status of breast and pubic hair maturity in girls with pubertal development shows that 64.6% (1 211/1 874) of these girls had breast development preceding pubic hair development, 32.4% (607/1 874) had concurrent breast and pubic hair development, and 3.0% (56/1 874) had pubic hairs development preceding breast development. The interval age between B2 and B5 was 4.7 (95% CI 4.6-4.8) years, between P2 and P5 was 4.5 (95% CI 4.4-4.6) years, and between B2 and menarche was 2.4 (95% CI 2.3-2.5) years. The ages of sexual characteristics development in overweight and obese groups were earlier than that in normal and thin groups. The ages of B2 in thin, normal, overweight, and obese groups were 10.0 (95% CI 9.5-10.6), 9.3 (95% CI 9.2-9.4), and 8.6 (95% CI 8.4-8.7) years, respectively. The age of menarche in thin, normal, overweight, and obese groups were 13.1 (95% CI 12.4-13.7), 11.6 (95% CI 11.4-11.7), and 11.1 (95% CI 11.0-11.2) years, respectively. The interval ages between B2 and B5 and between P2 and P5 was 4.5 and 4.1 years, respectively in the overweight and obese groups, and those in normal group and thin group was 4.7 and 4.5 years, 4.6 and 4.7 years, respectively. Conclusions:The ages of sexual characteristics development and menarche tend in Tongzhou District of Beijing to be earlier than that being reported of Beijing's survey 20 years ago. Girls characterized as overweight and obese not only start puberty at an earlier age than girls of normal weight, but also have a shorter developmental process.

OBJECTIVE: Immunotherapy has brought significant clinical benefits to a subset of patients, but has thus far been disappointing in the treatment of immunologically "cold" tumors. Existing biomarkers that can precisely identify these populations are insufficient. In this context, a potential cold tumor microenvironment (TME) marker FARSB was investigated to reveal its impact on TME and patients' response to immunotherapy across pan-cancer. METHODS: The expression levels and mutational landscape of FARSB in pan-cancer were investigated. Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox regression analyses were applied to analyze the prognostic significance of FARSB. Pathways affected by FARSB were investigated by gene set enrichment and variation analysis. The relationship between FARSB expression and immune infiltration was examined using the TIMER2 and R packages. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of several cancer types from GSE72056, GSE131907, GSE132465, GSE125449 and PMID32561858 were analyzed to validate the impact of FARSB on the TME. The predictive effect of FARSB on immunotherapy efficacy was explored in 3 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)- treated cohorts (PMID32472114, GSE176307, and Riaz2017). RESULTS: FARSB expression was significantly higher in 25 tumor tissues than in normal tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in almost all tumor types. FARSB expression exhibited a strong association with several DNA damage repair pathways and was significantly associated with TP53 mutation in lung adenocarcinoma (P < 0.0001, OR=2.25). FARSB characterized a typical immune desert TME and correlated with impaired expression of chemokines and chemokines receptors. Large-scale scRNA-seq analysis confirmed the immunosuppressive role of FARSB and revealed that FARSB potentially shapes the cold TME by impeding intercellular interactions. In 3 ICI-treated cohorts, FARSB demonstrated predictive value for immunotherapy. CONCLUSION This study provides a pan-cancer landscape of the FARSB gene by integrated single-cell and bulk DNA sequencing analysis and elucidates its biological function to promote DNA damage repair and construct the immune desert TME, suggesting the potential value of FARSB as a novel marker for stratifying patients with poor immunotherapeutic benefits and "cold" TME.
Humans ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Prognosis ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA