Objective To explore the level and its clinical significance of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in cerebrospinal fluid of glioma patients.Methods The level of miR-21 in cerebrospinal fluid were measured by real-time RT-PCR in 40 patients with glioma (glioma group) and 40 normal controls(control group).The relationship between miR-21 and pathological grade were analyzed.Results The level of miR-21 in glioma group was significantly higher than that in control group (0.70 + 0.12 vs.0.43 + 0.09,t =11.3840,P ＜ 0.01).The level of miR-21 in glioma group with Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ pathological grade was 0.66 +0.11,0.71 + 0.12,0.74 ± 0.13,there was no significant difference (F =1.5083,P =0.2345).Conclusions The level of miR-21 in cerebrospinal fluid of glioma patients elevates significantly.It may participate in the occurrence and development of glioma.

OBJECTIVETo prepare a phospholipid-coated microbubble loaded with hydrogen sulfide (HSMB) and evaluate its physicochemical and acoustic properties.

METHODSHydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane were mixed at the ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, and 0:4 to prepare hydrogen sulfide-loaded microbubbles (termed HSMB4:0, HSMB3:1, HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3, and HSMB0:4, respectively). The microbubble concentration and diameter were investigated and their stability were evaluated. The optimal ratio of hydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane was determined according to the changes of microbubble concentration. The changes of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and concentration of the microbubbles were investigated after exposure to ultrasound, and their acoustic enhancement effects in the myocardium and kidney were observed after intravenous injection in rats.

RESULTSHSMBs were milky in color and spherical in shape without aggregations. The concentrations of HSMB4:0 and HSMB3:1 were lower than that of HSMB2:2 and decreased with time. HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3 and HSMB0:4 showed comparable concentrations and were stable within 72 h. After exposure to ultrasound, the concentration of HSMB2:2 decreased while the dissolved hydrogen sulfide increased significantly. Intravenous injection of HSMB2:2 produced a satisfactory contrast-enhancing effect in the myocardium and kidney of rats.

CONCLUSIONHSMB prepared with the hydrogen sulfide to perfluoropropane ratio of 2:2 has excellent contrast-enhancing effect and is capable of carrying and releasing hydrogen sulfide upon ultrasound exposure to potentially allow visual site-specific delivery of hydrogen sulfide.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; chemistry ; Fluorocarbons ; chemistry ; Heart ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; chemistry ; Kidney ; Microbubbles ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Rats ; Ultrasonics

Objective To prepare a phospholipid-coated microbubble loaded with hydrogen sulfide (HSMB) and evaluate its physicochemical and acoustic properties. Methods Hydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane were mixed at the ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, and 0:4 to prepare hydrogen sulfide-loaded microbubbles (termed HSMB4:0, HSMB3:1, HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3, and HSMB0:4, respectively). The microbubble concentration and diameter were investigated and their stability were evaluated. The optimal ratio of hydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane was determined according to the changes of microbubble concentration. The changes of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and concentration of the microbubbles were investigated after exposure to ultrasound, and their acoustic enhancement effects in the myocardium and kidney were observed after intravenous injection in rats. Results HSMBs were milky in color and spherical in shape without aggregations. The concentrations of HSMB4:0 and HSMB3:1 were lower than that of HSMB2:2 and decreased with time. HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3 and HSMB0:4 showed comparable concentrations and were stable within 72 h. After exposure to ultrasound, the concentration of HSMB2:2 decreased while the dissolved hydrogen sulfide increased significantly. Intravenous injection of HSMB2:2 produced a satisfactory contrast-enhancing effect in the myocardium and kidney of rats. Conclusion HSMB prepared with the hydrogen sulfide to perfluoropropane ratio of 2:2 has excellent contrast-enhancing effect and is capable of carrying and releasing hydrogen sulfide upon ultrasound exposure to potentially allow visual site-specific delivery of hydrogen sulfide.

Objective To prepare a phospholipid-coated microbubble loaded with hydrogen sulfide (HSMB) and evaluate its physicochemical and acoustic properties. Methods Hydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane were mixed at the ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, and 0:4 to prepare hydrogen sulfide-loaded microbubbles (termed HSMB4:0, HSMB3:1, HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3, and HSMB0:4, respectively). The microbubble concentration and diameter were investigated and their stability were evaluated. The optimal ratio of hydrogen sulfide and perfluoropropane was determined according to the changes of microbubble concentration. The changes of dissolved hydrogen sulfide and concentration of the microbubbles were investigated after exposure to ultrasound, and their acoustic enhancement effects in the myocardium and kidney were observed after intravenous injection in rats. Results HSMBs were milky in color and spherical in shape without aggregations. The concentrations of HSMB4:0 and HSMB3:1 were lower than that of HSMB2:2 and decreased with time. HSMB2:2, HSMB1:3 and HSMB0:4 showed comparable concentrations and were stable within 72 h. After exposure to ultrasound, the concentration of HSMB2:2 decreased while the dissolved hydrogen sulfide increased significantly. Intravenous injection of HSMB2:2 produced a satisfactory contrast-enhancing effect in the myocardium and kidney of rats. Conclusion HSMB prepared with the hydrogen sulfide to perfluoropropane ratio of 2:2 has excellent contrast-enhancing effect and is capable of carrying and releasing hydrogen sulfide upon ultrasound exposure to potentially allow visual site-specific delivery of hydrogen sulfide.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for liver cancer after splenectomy in patients with cirrhosis.Methods:The clinical data of 150 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B associated cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and hypersplenism who underwent splenectomy at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2000 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were a total of 150 patients included, 114 males and 36 females, aged (44±10) years old. General information, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative complications of the patients were documented. The postoperative progress of patients was monitored by telephone or outpatient follow-up. Based on the follow-up results regarding liver cancer presence, all patients were categorized into two groups: liver cancer group ( n=42) and non-liver cancer group ( n=108). Multivariate analysis was employed to identify factors influencing the liver cancer occurrence after splenectomy. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis along with log-rank test was utilized to assess overall survival and survival rate comparison. Results:Compared to the non-liver cancer group, the liver cancer group exhibited an increased prevalence of hypertension, direct bilirubin levels, prothrombin time, maximum spleen diameter, and postoperative thrombosis (all P<0.05). However, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients receiving long-term regular antiviral therapy and postoperative bleeding (all P<0.05). The multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative hypertension ( OR=6.310, 95% CI: 1.729-23.024, P=0.005), spleen diameter exceeding 12 cm ( OR=5.338, 95% CI: 1.234-23.094, P=0.025), and occurrence of postoperative thrombosis ( OR=8.652, 95% CI: 2.700-27.729, P<0.001) in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension were associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer following splenectomy. Patients who receive long-term regular antiviral treatment after surgery ( OR=0.143, 95% CI: 0.038-0.545, P=0.004) have a lower risk of developing liver cancer. There was no statistically significant difference observed in the cumulative survival rate between the liver cancer group and the non-liver cancer group ( χ2=1.74, P=0.187). Conclusion:Preoperative hypertension, spleen diameter exceeding 12 cm, and postoperative thrombosis are independent risk factors for liver cancer in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and portal hypertension after splenectomy. Additionally, postoperative long-term antiviral therapy serves as an independent protective factor.

Objective To explore the mediating effect of coping styles of newly graduated nurses between personality traits and transitional shock,aiming to provide references for managers to help new nurses reduce the level of transitional shock and smoothly go through the role transition period.Methods By convenience sampling,580 new nurses from 13 tertiary A hospitals in Guangzhou,Changsha,and Zhuzhou were surveyed from May to October 2023.A general information questionnaire,Eysenck Personality Questionnaire short form,Transition Shock of Newly Graduated Nurses Scale,and Brief Coping Style Scale were used for the survey.Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the mediating effect of newly graduated nurses'coping styles between personality traits and transitional shock.Results A total of 537 new nurses participated in the survey.Psychoticism and neuroticism were positively correlated with transformational shock and negative coping styles(P＜0.01),but negatively correlated with positive coping styles(P＜0.01).Extroversion was negatively correlated with transformational shock and negative coping style(P＜0.0 1),but positively correlated with positive coping style(P＜0.01).The results of the mediation effect analysis show that coping styles play a partial mediating role between personality traits and transformational shock.The mediating effects of coping styles on psychoticism,extraversion,and neuroticism are 0.095,-0.051,and 0.134,respectively,accounting for 43.18％,30.36％,and 32.29％of the total effect.Conclusion Coping styles of newly graduated nurses act as mediating variables between personality traits and transitional shock.Nursing managers should pay attention to cultivating good individual personality traits and establishing a supportive work environment to enhance new nurses'positive coping and reduce the level of transitional impact.

Objective:To investigate the complex Calculus Bovis-target-keratitis network and to explore the molecular mechanism of Calculus Bovis treating keratitis through network pharmacology. Methods:Genes related to keratitis were searched in the online DisGeNET database and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of keratitis-associated proteins was constructed.The components isolated and identified in Calculus Bovis were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP, https: //tcmsp-e.com/tcmsp.php), Chemistry Database by Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of CAS (http: //www.organchem.csdb.cn), and published literature.The canonical SMILES information of the collected components was exported, which were submitted to the SwissTargetPrediction platform to predict potential targets of the components.The active component-predicted target network of Calculus Bovis was constructed and merged with the PPI network of keratitis-associated proteins to build the active component-potential target network of Calculus Bovis and systemically investigate the potential targets and signal pathways of Calculus Bovis in treatment of keratitis.The component-target-pathway network was established to analyze the mechanism of Calculus Bovis treating keratitis. Results:Thirty-nine components isolated and identified in Calculus Bovis were searched and 65 target genes related to keratitis were screened.Of the 28 potential targets involved in Calculus Bovis treating keratitis, there were 7 direct targets, including tumor necrosis factor, caspase 1, Toll-like receptor 9, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8, interleukin-6, mitogen-activated protein kinase 8, neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1.The 28 potential targets were annotated to 12 entries for biological process, 18 for cellular components and 13 for molecular function.In the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis, 10 signal pathways were identified as enriched categories, which were mainly related to human cytomegalovirus infection, amoebiasis, antifolate resistance, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritis, apoptosis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, malaria, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, interleukin-17 signaling pathway. Conclusions:Calculus Bovis may play an adjuvant therapeutic effect on keratitis through anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, immune regulation, inflammatory regulation and other functions.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of Group A Streptococcal(GAS) toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in children. Methods:The clinical data of 10 STSS children hospitalized in Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from January 2015 to March 2022 were downloaded from the electronic medical record system.The clinical manifestations were analyzed and treatment experience was summarized respectively.Results:There were 5 males and 5 females, with an average age of (5.29±2.87) years.All the patients were healthy in the past.The diagnoses were confirmed by blood culture in 2 cases, pus culture in 5 cases, and blood metagenomics next generation sequencing in 3 cases.The rapid detection of GAS antigen was positive in 7 cases.All cases had fever, and 9 cases of them developed fever after viral infection, including pneumonia in 7 cases, skin and soft tissue infections in 6 cases, necrotizing fasciitis in 3 cases, and purulent meningitis in 1 case.All cases also presented with shock.Six cases had liver function injury, and 4 cases suffered from acute kindey injury.Four cases had infection-related encephalopathy, and 7 cases were afflicted with disseminated intravascular coagulation.Two cases had respiratory failure, and 2 cases had rhabdomyolysis.There were 3 cases with a decreased white blood cell (WBC) count and 7 cases with an increased WBC count on admission.Seven cases were found to have thrombocytopenia, but their platelet levels were all elevated after recovery.C-reactive protein and procalcitonin and the proportion of neutrophils were markedly increased in all cases.All cases suffered from hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia and hypocalcemia.All the 10 positive strains were sensitive to Penicillin, Ceftriaxone/Cefotaxime and Vancomycin.Eight cases were treated with combined antibiotics after admission.Eight patients received intravenous immunoglobulin.All cases were cured and discharged.Conclusions:The STSS progresses rapidly in children, so pediatricians should pay great attention to the disease.Early identification, diagnosis of infection sources, infusion of antibiotics and surgical treatment are the keys to disease management.

OBJECTIVES: As a remedy for the failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF), rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (R-ICSI) has been widely carried out, but it has failed to significantly improve the fertilization rate and clinical pregnancy rate. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was highly correlated with pregnancy outcome of artificial assisted reproduction. This study aims to investigate the effect of the sperm DFI on the outcome of R-ICSI and the clinical value of R-ICSI. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was conducted among 140 infertile couples receiving R-ICSI in from January 2014 to December 2019. The subjects were assigned into a total fertilization failure (TFF)+low DFI group (R-ICSI after TFF and DFI<30%) (n=63), a TFF+high DFI group (R-ICSI after TFF and DFI≥30%) (n=16), a partial fertilization failure (PFF)+low DFI group (R-ICSI after PFF and DFI<30%) (n=52), a PFF+high DFI group (R-ICSI after PFF and DFI≥30%) (n=9). All transferred embryos were come from R-ICSI. The general clinical data [infertility duration, male age, female age, basal serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), basal serum level of luteinizing hormone (LH), antral follicle count, endometrial thickness of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) day, and eggs] and R-ICSI cycle outcomes (fertilization rate, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good embryo rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate) were analyzed. In addition, the effect of R-ICSI on the fertilization outcome of conventional IVF total fertilization failure and partial fertilization failure was explored. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the general clinical data and R-ICSI cycle outcome between the TFF+low DFI group and the TFF+high DFI group (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the general clinical data between the PFF+low DFI group and the PFF+high DFI group (all P>0.05). The fertilization rate and normal fertilization rate in the PFF+low DFI group were significantly higher than those in the PFF+high DFI group (85.40% vs 72.41%, 71.90% vs 58.62%, respectively; both P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in cleavage rate, good embryo rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). The R-ICSI cycle of TFF: A total of 79 fresh cycles, 57 fresh transplant cycles, a total of 761 unfertilized oocytes, and 584 M II oocytes were treated with R-ICSI, the fertilization rate was 83.22%, the normal fertilization rate was 75.51%, the cleavage rate was 98.15%, the good embryo rate was 40.74%, the implantation rate was 30.56%, and the clinical pregnancy rate was 43.86%; 29 live births were obtained. The R-ICSI cycle of PFF: A total of 61 fresh cycles, 31 fresh transplant cycles, a total of 721 unfertilized oocytes, and 546 M II oocytes were treated with R-ICSI; the fertilization rate was 83.33%, the normal fertilization rate was 69.78%, the cleavage rate was 97.36%, the good embryo rate was 44.39%, the implantation rate was 25.42%, and the clinical pregnancy rate was 45.16%; 12 live births were obtained. CONCLUSIONS In the case of partial fertilization failure of IVF, the sperm DFI affects the fertilization rate and normal fertilization rate of R-ICSI; whether it is a TFF of IVF or PFF of IVF, ICSI can be used as an effective remedy way.
DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa