Objective To study the effect of Bushen Tiaojing Chinese herbs on the expressions of endometrial integrin ?3 in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receiving ovulation induction therapies. Methods Thirty-six PCOS related infertility patients were divided into 2 groups at random, receiving different ovulation induction therapies:17 patients of group A were given clomephine citrate (CC)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) therapies, and 19 patients of group B were given CC/ hCG combined with Chinese herbs therapies. 22 infertile women with fallopian tubal or male infactors were chosen as controls. The mRNA expressions of integrin ?3 in midluteal endometrium were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with controls, the expressions of endometrial integrin ?3 were weaker in group A (P0.05). Conclusion CC/hCG ovulation induction therapies may induce the decline of endometrium receptivity during midluteal phase, which Chinese herbs may promote.

Objective To analyze the rules for acupoint selection of warming acupuncture and moxibustion in clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis based on data mining technology. Methods CNKI, Wanfang Data, CBM, VIP, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant literature about warming acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Database was built according to the search results. Association rules were used to analyze the rules for acupoint selection. Results Totally 189 papers were included, involving 189 prescriptions of acupuncture and moxibustion, 46 acupoints, 1270 times of acupoint selection. There were 1119 times of neighboring acupoint selection (88.1%), 151 times of distant acupoint selection (11.9%), 654 times of acupoint selection in yang meridian (51.5%) and 283 times of acupoint selection in yin meridian (22.3%). Conclusion Warming acupuncture and moxibustion in clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis focuses on acupoints in Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin; the neighboring acupoint selection is the main method, combined with evidence-based distant acupoint selection; acupoint selection from yang meridian was emphasized.

Objective To explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on apoptosis of cardiomyocytes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in rat models.Methods Forty-five male SD rats were randomly into sham group (n =15),CPR group (n =15) and NaHS group (n =15).Rats of CPR group and NaHS group were operated to induce cardiac arrest by transcutaneous electrical stimulation to epicardium.In NaHS group,NaHS (5 mg/kg) was administrated via the femoral venous line 1 min before CPR.Hemodynamic variables were monitored and obtained continuously.Survival rats were sacrificed at 24 h after restoration of spontaneous circulation and the hearts were removed for analysis by RT-PCR and TUNEL assays.Blood samples were collected and plasma content of cTnT was detected.Results Compared with the CPR group,animals treated with NaHS had improved left ventricular function (P ＜0.01),lower plasma cTnT levels (P ＜0.05) and decreased apoptosis index (P ＜ 0.01) 24 h after ROSC.The expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA,Bax mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA in CPR group and NaHS group were higher compared with the control group (P ＜0.01).The NaHS group had lower expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax mRNA (P ＜0.01),but higher expression of Bcl-2 mRNA (P ＜0.05) compared with the CPR group.Conclusions Exogenous (H2S) regulated the expressions of Caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA,thereby preventing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes,inhibiting cTnT release and improving left ventricular function 24 h after CPR.

Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on injury of rat hippocampus neurons induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R) and explore its mechanism.Methods Hippocampus neurons were isolated from embryonic day 16-18 (E16-18) rat embryos.Hippocampus was immediately removed and digested with 0.25％ trypsin.The neurons were isolated and cultured at 37 ℃ for 7 days and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected by immunohistochemical staining method to identify neurons.At 8th day,the neurons were placed in deoxygenated glucose-free medium and exposed to 95％ N2-5％ CO2 in an air tight chamber for 1 hour,and then replaced the glucose-free medium with original medium,and returned the cultures to a standard incubator in 5％ CO2 at 37 ℃ and incubated for another 24 h.The neurons were divided into 3 groups:group Ⅰ control; group Ⅱ OGD/R,and group ⅢOGD + NaHS,the latter was further divided into 5 subgroups:groups Ⅲ1-5 with 25,50,100,200,400 μmol/L NaHS added,respectively.Then cell viability was quantified by MTT method,the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected,apoptosis was measured by Annexin V FITC/PI Apoptosis Kits,and RT-PCR was used to assay HIF-1 α mRNA in neurons in all groups.Results Compared with control group,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1α mRNA in group Ⅱ were significantly increased,the cell viability was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1 α mRNA and the cell viability between group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ1 (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group Ⅱ,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1α mRNA in group Ⅲ2-4 were significantly increased,the cell viability was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with group Ⅱ,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1 α mRNA in the group Ⅲ 5 were significantly decreased,the cell viability was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions H2S of low concentration has no significant effects on injury of rat hippocampus neurons induced by OGD/R.H2S of moderate doses can protect rat hippocampus neurons from OGD/R injury and H2S of high concentration can aggravate injury.The expression of HIF-1α mRNA in rat hippocampus neurons was increased after OGD/R,and the protective role of H2S is associated with increase in the expression of HIF-1α mRNA.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(UC-MSCs) infusion in treating refractory rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Four cases of refractory RA and invalid by improving disease condition and anti-rheumatic drugs in this hospital from December 2014 to November 2015 underwent once UC-MSCs suspension intravenous infusion after signing the informed consent.The cells number was 1 × 106 per kg.We evaluated the tender and swollen joints number,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),28-joint disease activity score(DAS28),visual analog scale(VAS)pain score and related safety indices were compared between before and after infusion.Results After infusion treatment in 3 cases,the tender and swollen joints number,ESR and DAS28(4) score were significantly improved,but another case was ineffective.No anaphylaxis,rejection reaction or adverse events occurred in all cases and no abnormal change was found in routine blood,liver and kidney function.Conclusion The UC-MSCs infusion is has good safe for treating refractory RA and improves the disease condition to some extent.

Objective:To investigate methods of molecular diagnosis and clinical features of 46, XY disorders of sexual development(DSD).Methods:A total of 206 cases of 46, XY DSD patients, who visited the Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, from July 2009 to June 2021, underwent AA chip based on multiplex PCR and probe-capture-targeted next-generation sequencing. Clinical features of patients with genetic diagnosis were analyzed.Results:Among 206 patients, the diagnostic rate of patients with micropenis, hypospadias and cryptorchidism was the highest, up to 75.28%. Almost all patients had different degrees of undermasculinized external genitalia. The most frequent phenotype was micropenis with hypospadias(87.25%). Only one gene variant was detected in 81 patients(39.32%), multiple genetic variants were detected in 104 patients(50.49%), and no gene variant was identified in 21 patients(10.19%). 107 patients had definite genetic diagnosis, with a diagnostic rate of 51.94% by adding the pathogenic and likely pathogenic ratios following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics(ACMG) guidelines, including 40 patients of steroid 5α-reductase type 2(SRD5A2) variants(37.38%), 36 patients of androgen receptor(AR) variants(33.64%), 13 patients of steroidogenic factor 1(NR5A1) variants(16.82%), 6 patients of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 3(HSD17B3) variants(5.61%), 2 patients of 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase enzyme(CYP17A1), Wilms′ tumor 1(WT1) and GATA binding protein 4(GATA4) variants(1.87%), and one patient of luteinizing hormone receptor(LHCGR) variant(0.93%). Gynecomastia was found in 29 of 81 postpubertal patients, of which 25(86.21%) had AR variants.Conclusions:46, XY DSD presents complex clinical manifestations and molecular etiologies. Targeted nextgeneration sequencing has the advantages of high throughput, high efficiency and low cost, which has a high value especially in etiological diagnosis of 46, XY DSD with large genetic heterogeneity.

ObjectiveTo explore the imbalance of paravertebral muscle group for patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation. MethodsFrom January, 2022 to January, 2023, 30 patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation (observation group) and 30 healthy people matching in general data (control group) were measured the tension and stiffness of multifidus and erector spinae with MyotonPRO, while the observation group was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the time of disease was also recorded. ResultsThe mean of bilateral tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae was more in the observation group than in the control group (|t| > 5.407, P < 0.001), and the tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side were more than those of the unaffected side in the observation group (|t| > 11.219, P < 0.001). The tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side were positively correlated with VAS score (r > 0.942, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with JOA score (|r| > 0.886, P < 0.001). ConclusionThe tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side increase after unilateral lumbar disc herniation, resulting in asymmetry.

ObjectiveTo test the inter-tester reliability and test-retest reliability of MyotonPRO for evaluating neck and shoulder muscle performance parameters in patients with unilateral chronic neck pain, observe the difference of muscle performance between the healthy and affected sides of patients with chronic neck pain, and analyze the factors that cause the imbalance of muscle performance in patients with chronic neck pain. MethodsFrom January to June, 2023, 32 patients with unilateral chronic neck pain in Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital were selected. Two testers used the same MyotonPRO equipment to measure the muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity on both sides of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper trapezius muscle in the relaxed position. Tester 1 repeated the measurement after an interval of 30 minutes, and Tester 2 was measured within the time interval between the two measurements of Tester 1. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of mean (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated simultaneously. The measurement results were plotted into Bland-Altman diagram and systematic bias analysis was performed. The difference in muscle characteristics between the affected side and the healthy side was compared. At the same time, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were collected for correlation analysis. ResultsExcept the sternocleidomastoid muscle elasticity of the affected side (ICC = 0.697), the inter-tester reliability of all other parameters was high to very high (ICC = 0.719 to 0.952, SEM = 0.04 to 6.53, MDC = 0.12 to 18.11). The test-retest reliability of all parameters was high (ICC = 0.883 to 0.981, SEM = 0.03 to 5.72, MDC = 0.09 to 15.84). Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that the scatter distribution was consistent. The muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius muscle were higher on the affected side than on the healthy side (t > 2.846, P < 0.05). The asymmetry index of tension, hardness and elasticity of upper trapezius muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle was significantly positively correlated with VAS score and BMI (r > 0.385, P < 0.05). ConclusionMyotonPRO has good inter-tester reliability and retest reliability in evaluating the muscle performance of both sides of patients with chronic neck pain. The muscle tone, muscle hardness and muscle elasticity of sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius muscle on the affected side were higher than on the healthy side, and the difference of muscle performance was positively correlated with pain and BMI.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of echo intensity of ultrasound image for quality of quadriceps femoris in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsFrom March to December, 2021, 33 patients with unilateral KOA in Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included. Ultrasound was used to observe the cross sections of rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL), and the images were saved. Two independent raters analyzed the average gray value of the picture with the Image J. One of the raters repeated the measurement. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change (MDC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated and the Bland-Altman charts were drawn. ResultsThe gray value was higher in the RF, VM and VL in the affected side than in the healthy side (t > 2.262, P < 0.05). The inter-rater reliability was excellent, with ICC 0.982 to 0.995, SEM 1.60 to 3.82, CV 1.49% to 5.90%, and MDC value 4.43 to 10.59. The test-retest reliability of the rater was excellent, with ICC 0.969 to 0.990, SEM 2.37 to 5.41, CV 2.22% to 4.84%, and MDC value 6.57 to 15.00. Bland-Altman charts analysis showed that the consistency was good. ConclusionThe quadriceps femoris muscle quality is different between the affected and the healthy sides in patients with unilateral KOA. It is reliable to evaluate muscle echo intensity by Image J.