OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic causal relationship of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Using LTL as the exposure factor and prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis as outcome factors, we mined the Database of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Then, we analyzed the causal relationship of LTL with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by Mendelian randomization using inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the main method and weighted median and MR-Egger regression as auxiliary methods, determined the horizontal multiplicity by MR-Egger intercept test, and conducted sensitivity analysis using the leaving-one-out method. RESULTS: A total of 121 related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in this study. IVW showed LTL to be a risk factor for prostatitis (OR = 1.383, 95% CI: 1.044－1.832, P = 0.024), and for orchitis and epididymitis as well (OR = 1.770, 95% CI: 1.275－2.456, P = 0.000 6). CONCLUSION Genetic evidence from Mendelian randomized analysis indicates that shortening of LTL reduces the risk of prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis.
Humans ; Male ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Epididymitis/genetics* ; Prostatitis/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Leukocytes ; Orchitis/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Telomere ; Risk Factors

The biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from sick carrier pigeons in Gansu province were explored by morphological observations,biochemical testing,16S rRNA PCR analysis,and RNA sequencing.The drug resistance and pathogenicity of the isolated strains were studied by histopathological observation,drug susceptibility testing,and pathogenicity analysis.The livers,lungs,hearts,and other organs of the sick pigeons were bleeding.In addition,the livers were yellow and brittle,and the lungs were purulent.A Gram-negative,short,rod-shaped bacterium was successfully isolated from the sick pigeon.Pink,smooth,moist,and round colonies grew on MacConkey's agar.The result of the indigo matrix test was positive.The homology between the amplified 16S rRNA sequence and MN330093.1 was 100.00％,indicating that the sick pigeon was infected with K.oxytoca.The strain was named GS-BY-GG.K.Oxytoca GS-BY-GG was resistant to 10 drugs,including penicillin,ampicillin,and furazolidone,and sensitive to 5 others,which included florfenicol,meropenem,and gentamicin.Histopathological observation showed bleeding in multiple organs.The liver cells were irregu-larly arranged with brown-yellow pigmentation.Extensive cell necrosis and exfoliation were observed in the trachea and mucosal epithelium,with inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosal layer.The isolates were highly pathogenic in specific pathogen-free chickens.These findings provide support for the clinical diagnosis and control of K.oxytoca GS-BY-GG.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between staged acupuncture based on "thoroughfare vessel is the sea of blood" theory combined with routine hormone replacement cycle treatment and routine hormone replacement cycle treatment for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of thin endometrium. METHODS: A total of 72 RIF patients with thin endometrium were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with routine hormone replacement cycle treatment. Based on the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with staged acupuncture based on "thoroughfare vessel is the sea of blood" theory. The main acupoints were Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongsun (SP 4), and the supplementary acupoints were selected according to the menstrual cycle and syndrome differentiation; the acupuncture was given once every other day, 3 times a week, for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. The thickness and shape of endometrium, and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score were observed at implantation window before and after treatment; the clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate and cycle cancellation rate were compared between the two groups; the correlation between endometrial thickness and HAMA score was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the endometrial thickness in the two groups and the proportion of type A+B endometrium in the observation group were increased (P<0.05), and the HAMA scores in the two groups were decreased (P<0.05) after treatment. The above indexes in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the cycle cancellation rate was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between endometrial thickness and HAMA score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Based on the routine hormone replacement cycle treatment, the addition use of staged acupuncture based on "thoroughfare vessel is the sea of blood" theory could improve the thickness and shape of endometrium, relieve anxiety, increase the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, and reduce the cycle cancellation rate in RIF patients with thin endometrium. The curative effect is superior to the routine hormone replacement cycle treatment alone.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Endometrium ; Hormones

To investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction on diabetic nephropathy(DN) mice of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome based on the Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase(ROCK)/IκB kinase(IKK)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) pathway. Ninety-five 7-week-old db/db male mice and 25 7-week-old db/m male mice were fed adaptively for one week. The DN model of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome was induced by Dahuang Decoction combined with hydrocortisone by gavage, and then the model was evaluated. After modeling, they were randomly divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose Zhenwu Decoction groups(33.8, 16.9, and 8.45 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and an irbesartan group(25 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), with at least 15 animals in each group. The intervention lasted for eight weeks. After the intervention, body weight and food intake were measured. Serum crea-tinine(Scr), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), fasting blood glucose(FBG), urinary albumin(uALb), and urine creatinine(Ucr) were determined. The uALb/Ucr ratio(ACR) and 24 h urinary protein(UTP) were calculated. Renal pathological morphology was evaluated by HE staining and Masson staining. The levels of key molecular proteins in the ROCK/IKK/NF-κB pathway were detected by Western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), interleukin-10(IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Compared with the blank group, the model group showed increased content of BUN, uALb, and SCr, increased values of 24 h UTP and ACR, decreased content of Ucr(P<0.05), enlarged glomeruli, thickened basement membrane, mesangial matrix proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition. The protein expression of ROCK1, ROCK2, IKK, NF-κB, phosphorylated IKK(p-IKK), phosphorylated NF-κB(p-NF-κB), and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB(p-IκB) increased(P<0.05), while the protein expression of inhibitor of NF-κB(IκB) decreased(P<0.05). The levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α increased(P<0.05), while the level of IL-10 decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the groups with drug treatment showed decreased levels of BUN, uALb, SCr, 24 h UTP, and ACR, increased level of Ucr(P<0.05), and improved renal pathological status to varying degrees. The high-and medium-dose Zhenwu Decoction groups and the irbesartan group showed reduced protein expression of ROCK1, ROCK2, IKK, NF-κB, p-IKK, p-NF-κB, and p-IκB in the kidneys(P<0.05), increased protein expression of IκB(P<0.05), decreased levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α(P<0.05), and increased level of IL-10(P<0.05). Zhenwu Decoction can significantly improve renal function and renal pathological damage in DN mice of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of inflammatory response by down-regulating the expression of key molecules in the ROCK/IKK/NF-κB pathway in the kidney.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukin-10 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6 ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Spleen ; Irbesartan ; Uridine Triphosphate ; Yang Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Kidney/pathology*

Objective: To investigate the predictive factors for bronchitis obliterans in refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). Methods: A restrospective case summary was conducted 230 patients with RMPP admitted to the Department of No.2 Respiratory Medicine of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2013 to June 2017 were recruited. Clinical data, laboratory results, imaging results and follow-up data were collected. Based on bronchoscopy and imaging findings 1 year after discharge, all patients were divided into two groups: one group had sequelae of bronchitis obliterans (sequelae group) and the other group had not bronchitis obliterans (control group), independent sample t-test and nonparametric test were used to compare the differences in clinical features between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to explore the predictive value of Bronchitis Obliterans in RMPP. Results: Among 230 RMPP children, there were 115 males and 115 females, 95 cases had sequelae group, the age of disease onset was (7.1±2.8) years;135 cases had control group, the age of disease onset was (6.8±2.7) years. The duration of fever, C-reative protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, the proportion of ≥2/3 lobe consolidation, pleural effusion and the proportion of airway mucus plug and mucosal necrosis were longer or higher in the sequelae group than those in the control group ((17±9) vs. (12±3) d, (193±59) vs. (98±42) mg/L,730 (660, 814) vs. 486 (452, 522) U/L, 89 cases (93.7%) vs. 73 cases (54.1%), 73 cases (76.8%) vs.59 cases (43.7%), 81 cases (85.3%) vs. 20 cases (14.8%), 67 cases (70.5%) vs. 9 cases (6.7%), t=5.76, 13.35, Z=-6.41, χ²=14.64, 25.04, 22.85, 102.78, all P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of fever ≥10 days (OR=1.200, 95%CI 1.014-1.419), CRP levels increased (OR=1.033, 95%CI 1.022-1.044) and LDH levels increased (OR=1.001, 95%CI 1.000-1.003) were the risk factors for sequelae of bronchitis obliterans in RMPP. ROC curve analysis showed that CRP 137 mg/L had a sensitivity of 82.1% and a specificity of 80.1%; LDH 471 U/L had a sensitivity of 62.7% and a specificity of 60.3% for predicting the development of bronchitis obliterans. Conclusions: The long duration of fever (≥10 d), CRP increase (≥137 mg/L) may be used to predict the occurrence of sequelae of bronchitis obliterans in RMPP. It is helpful for early recognition of risk children.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Retrospective Studies ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/complications* ; Disease Progression ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Fever

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical and imaging characteristics of post-primary tuberculosis in children, so as to improve the early identification and diagnosis of post-primary tuberculosis. Methods: This was a retrospective study which enrolled children who were admitted to the Department No.2 of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University between January 2015 to December 2020 and with a diagnosis of post-primary tuberculosis. Results: A total of 30 patients were enrolled, including 10 males and 20 females. The age on admission were 13.0 (12.0, 13.3) years. Their common symptoms were cough and fever, there were 26 cases (87%) with cough and 23 cases (77%) with fever, but only 4 cases (13%) had other toxic symptoms (night sweat, weakness or weight loss) of tuberculosis other than fever. Blood examination showed that the white blood cell count was (10±3)×10⁹/L, accompanied by elevated proportion of neutrophils (0.69±0.11) and increased level of C-reactive protein (31 (15,81) mg/L). The common radiographic findings of CT were nodular or mass shadow with cavitation (19 cases (63%)), consolidation (13 cases (43%)), bronchogenic spread (12 cases (40%)), hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy (5 cases (17%)) in this cohort. The affected locations included the right upper lobe (21 cases (70%)), the left lower lobe (17 cases (57%)) and the right lower lobe (15 cases (50%)). Acid-fast bacillus smears and mycobacterial cultures were attempted for all cases, resulting in 33% (10/30) with smear positivity and 50% (15/30) with culture positivity. Conclusions: Post-primary tuberculosis in children has no specific clinical manifestations. Imaging of chest CT is mainly manifested as nodular shadow with cavitation, consolidation or bronchogenic spread. Accurate identification of post-primary tuberculosis is crucial for preventing the spread and early treatment of tuberculosis.
Child ; Cough/etiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis*

Physical attributes of Chinese herbal extracts are determined by their chemical components, and the physical and chemical attributes jointly affect the preparation process performance and the final product quality. Therefore, in order to improve the quality control of Chinese herbal extracts, we should comprehensively study the batch-to-batch consistency of physical and chemical attributes as well as the correlations between them. This paper first explored the physical attributes affecting the preparation process performance of the compound Danshen extract and developed a method for characterizing the texture attributes. With such main chemical components as water, phenolic acids, saponins, and saccharides and texture, rheology, and other physical attributes taken into consideration, the batch-to-batch quality fluctuation of products from different production lines and time was analyzed by principal components analysis(PCA). Finally, the correlation and partial least squares(PLS) analysis was conducted, and the regression equation was established. The fitting result of the PLS model for dynamic viscosity was satisfying(R~2Y=0.857, Q~2=0.793), suggesting that the chemical components could be adjusted by the component transfer rate in the extraction process, the impurity removal rate in the alcohol precipitation process, and the water retention rate of the concentration process to meet the control of the extract dynamic viscosity. This study clarified the correlations between physical and chemical attributes of the compound Danshen extract and established a method for controlling its physical attributes based on process regulation, which would provide reference for improving the quality control of Chinese herbal extracts.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza/chemistry* ; Water

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic disease with biological characteristics similar to malignant tumor. It has no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stage. Most patients have complications such as jaundice, ascites and gastrointestinal bleeding when they see a doctor. At this time, the course of disease is at an advanced stage. In addition, the incomplete resection of the AE lesion(s) leads to a high postoperative recurrence rate, which has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Based on the summary of the latest research at home and abroad and the analysis of blood supply, microvascular invasion and vascular growth factor expression in the "infiltrating zone" adjacent to the lesions of hepatic AE, this article has a deep understanding of the occurrence and development process of hepatic AE, aiming to better guide clinical practice and improve the quality of life of patients.
Humans ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Physical Examination

Background/Aims: Accumulating evidence indicates that L-carnitine (LC) protects against multiorgan damage through its antioxidant properties and preservation of the mitochondria. Little information is available about the effects of LC on renal fibrosis. This study examined whether LC treatment would provide renoprotection in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in vitro. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent UUO were treated daily with LC for 7 or 14 days. The influence of LC on renal injury caused by UUO was evaluated by histopathology, and analysis of gene expression, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, programmed cell death, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ AKT/forkhead box protein O 1a (FoxO1a) signaling. In addition, H2O2-exposed human kidney cells (HK-2) were treated with LC. Results: LC treatment inhibited expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokines, and was followed by a significant attenuation of tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis. The increased oxidative stress caused by UUO was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive apoptosis and autophagy via PI3K/AKT/FoxO1a-dependent signaling, and this was abrogated by administration of LC. In H2O2-exposed HK-2 cells, LC decreased intracellular production of reactive oxygen species, and suppressed expression of profibrotic cytokines and reduced the number of apoptotic cells. Conclusions LC protects against the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in an obstructed kidney.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect of scutellarin on colitis-associated cancer (CAC) and its underlying mechanism based on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS The mouse model of CAC was estab?lished by azomethane oxide (AOM) and sodium dextran sulfate (DSS), followed by scutellarin treatment, with recording the body weight, diarrhea and hematochezia. After sacrificing the mice, the colorectal length and colorectal tumor were assessed. The levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in mice's sera were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The colorectal lesions were appraised by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Theβ-catenin level in CAC tissues was probed by immunofluorescent analysis. The apoptosis-related genes Bax and Bcl-2, and Wnt signaling pathway-related genes β-catenin, GSK-3β, TCF4, c-Myc and cyclin D1 were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Finally, Western blotting analysis (WB) was employed to examine the expressions of the apoptosis and Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins. RESULTS Scutellarin significantly improved AOM/DSS-caused weight loss, colorectal length shortening, and tumor growth in mice (P<0.01). Meanwhile, colorectal lesions could be substantially alleviated by scutellarin. ELISA results showed that the levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-αand IL-6 were drastically lessened (P<0.01). Scutellarin also sharply inhibited the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, as evidenced by the reduction in the nuclear level ofβ-catenin protein. In addition, scutellarin attenuated the mRNA expres?sion of Wnt signaling pathway-relatedβ-catenin, TCF4, c-Myc and cyclin D1, whereas it heightened GSK-3βmRNA level. These results were consolidated by WB analysis, which indicated that scutellarin could mitigate the protein levels of phospho-GSK-3β,β-catenin, TCF4, c-Myc and cyclin D1, with the increase in GSK-3β protein in CAC tissue. Moreover, scutellarin could induce the apoptosis of CAC, demonstrated by enhanced expression of Bax and diminished expression of Bcl-2 in both mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION Scutellarin may ameliorate colitis-associated colorectal cancer by weakening Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade.