BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a complex pathological condition that lacks a cure. Certain Chinese medicines, such as melittin, a major component in bee venom, have shown efficacy in treating CRF patients. On the other hand, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of melittin are unclear.MATERIALS/METHODS: A 5/6 nephrectomy model (5/6 Nx) of renal failure was established on rats for in vivo assays, and mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC5) mouse podocyte cells were treated with angiotensin II (AngII) to establish an in vitro podocyte damage model. The 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels were evaluated after one, 2, and 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to examine the pathological changes in kidney tissues. A cell counting kit 8 assay was used to assess the cell viability. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein levels in the cells, respectively. RESULTS: In the rat 5/6 Nx, melittin reduced the 24-h urinary protein excretion and the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Furthermore, the renal pathology was improved in the melittin-treated 5/6 Nx rats. Melittin promoted podocin, nephrin, Beclin 1, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio and inhibited phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR in 5/6 Nx-induced rats and AngII-induced MPC5 mouse podocyte cells. Moreover, inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA weakened the effects of melittin on podocin, nephrin, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio in podocytes. CONCLUSION Melittin may offer protection against kidney injury, probably by regulating podocyte autophagy. These results provide the theoretical basis for applying melittin in CRF therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a complex pathological condition that lacks a cure. Certain Chinese medicines, such as melittin, a major component in bee venom, have shown efficacy in treating CRF patients. On the other hand, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of melittin are unclear.MATERIALS/METHODS: A 5/6 nephrectomy model (5/6 Nx) of renal failure was established on rats for in vivo assays, and mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC5) mouse podocyte cells were treated with angiotensin II (AngII) to establish an in vitro podocyte damage model. The 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels were evaluated after one, 2, and 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to examine the pathological changes in kidney tissues. A cell counting kit 8 assay was used to assess the cell viability. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein levels in the cells, respectively. RESULTS: In the rat 5/6 Nx, melittin reduced the 24-h urinary protein excretion and the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Furthermore, the renal pathology was improved in the melittin-treated 5/6 Nx rats. Melittin promoted podocin, nephrin, Beclin 1, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio and inhibited phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR in 5/6 Nx-induced rats and AngII-induced MPC5 mouse podocyte cells. Moreover, inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA weakened the effects of melittin on podocin, nephrin, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio in podocytes. CONCLUSION Melittin may offer protection against kidney injury, probably by regulating podocyte autophagy. These results provide the theoretical basis for applying melittin in CRF therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a complex pathological condition that lacks a cure. Certain Chinese medicines, such as melittin, a major component in bee venom, have shown efficacy in treating CRF patients. On the other hand, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of melittin are unclear.MATERIALS/METHODS: A 5/6 nephrectomy model (5/6 Nx) of renal failure was established on rats for in vivo assays, and mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC5) mouse podocyte cells were treated with angiotensin II (AngII) to establish an in vitro podocyte damage model. The 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels were evaluated after one, 2, and 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to examine the pathological changes in kidney tissues. A cell counting kit 8 assay was used to assess the cell viability. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein levels in the cells, respectively. RESULTS: In the rat 5/6 Nx, melittin reduced the 24-h urinary protein excretion and the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Furthermore, the renal pathology was improved in the melittin-treated 5/6 Nx rats. Melittin promoted podocin, nephrin, Beclin 1, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio and inhibited phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR in 5/6 Nx-induced rats and AngII-induced MPC5 mouse podocyte cells. Moreover, inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA weakened the effects of melittin on podocin, nephrin, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio in podocytes. CONCLUSION Melittin may offer protection against kidney injury, probably by regulating podocyte autophagy. These results provide the theoretical basis for applying melittin in CRF therapy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a complex pathological condition that lacks a cure. Certain Chinese medicines, such as melittin, a major component in bee venom, have shown efficacy in treating CRF patients. On the other hand, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of melittin are unclear.MATERIALS/METHODS: A 5/6 nephrectomy model (5/6 Nx) of renal failure was established on rats for in vivo assays, and mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC5) mouse podocyte cells were treated with angiotensin II (AngII) to establish an in vitro podocyte damage model. The 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels were evaluated after one, 2, and 4 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to examine the pathological changes in kidney tissues. A cell counting kit 8 assay was used to assess the cell viability. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein levels in the cells, respectively. RESULTS: In the rat 5/6 Nx, melittin reduced the 24-h urinary protein excretion and the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Furthermore, the renal pathology was improved in the melittin-treated 5/6 Nx rats. Melittin promoted podocin, nephrin, Beclin 1, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio and inhibited phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR in 5/6 Nx-induced rats and AngII-induced MPC5 mouse podocyte cells. Moreover, inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA weakened the effects of melittin on podocin, nephrin, and the LC3II/ LC3I ratio in podocytes. CONCLUSION Melittin may offer protection against kidney injury, probably by regulating podocyte autophagy. These results provide the theoretical basis for applying melittin in CRF therapy.

Objective: To investigate the expression of SMARCA4 (BRG1) and SMARCB1 (INI-1) protein in endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma (DDC) and undifferentiated carcinoma (UDC), and their correlation with clinicopathologic features. Methods: Clinicopathological information was gathered for 26 cases of DDC and UDC and consulting hospitals from January, 2006 to December, 2018 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, including 10 cases of DDC and 16 cases of UDC. Morphologic features and diagnosis were reviewed by two pathologists. Immunohistochemistry for expression of BRG1 and INI1 protein was performed. The correlations with clinicopathologic features were analyzed. Results: BRG1 and INI1 loss were present in 14 of 26 cases of DDC/UDC, including 12 BRG1-deficient cases and 2 INI1-deficient cases, respectively. Six cases demonstrated variable amounts of rhabdoid cells in 14 BRG1/INI1-deficient cases, and only 1 case showed rhabdoid cells in the 12 intact expression cases. However, there was no significantly statistical difference (P=0.060). Age, invasive depth, lymph node status and FIGO stage were not associated with the expression of the BRG1 and INI1 (P=0.437, P=0.672, P=0.242, P=0.348). Remarkably, the BGR1/INI1-deficient patients had worse survival than those with intact expression (4.7 vs. 22.9, P=0.033). Conclusion BRG1/INI1-deficient is observed in approximately half of DDC and UDC. Identification of these tumors is clinically relevant due to their more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Hence, BRG1 and INI1 immunohistochemical stains should be performed for DDC and UDC in order to help the pathologists to distinguish these tumors from other carcinomas, and to predict the clinical prognosis.

Objective To investigate the positive practice environments ( PPE ) of nurses and influencing factors at public hospitals , for reference of building a better PPE .Methods A national cross-sectional survey was performed at 77 public hospitals across seven provinces/metropolises, involving 5374 nurses.PPE included organizational management (internal) and nurses-patient relationship (external). Results The scoring of positive practice environment was 18.51 ±4.69 (total score of 40).The scoring of organizational management and nurses-patient relationship was 9.87 ±3.11 and 8.64 ±2.51 respectively. The scoring of PPE of nurses of general hospital ( GH) was higher than that of traditional Chinese medicine hospital(TCMH) (18.68 ±4.68 versus 18.08 ±4.67, P<0.01).Multivariable analysis showed that , compared with nurses who had not very much pressure about performance assessment , the scores of those who had were declined (βGH =-1.15, 95％CI: -1.55 to -0.76;βTCMH =-1.29, 95％CI: -1.92 to-0.66 ) );compared with nurses who paid less efforts in communicating with their patients , the scoring of those with greater efforts was higher (βGH =2.43, 95％CI:2.00 to 2.86;βTCMH =2.84, 95％CI:2.19 to 3.49).Conclusions PPE of nurses is poor in general in China , and the externally stressful nurse-patient relationship deserves greater attention and efforts than inefficient organization management internally .To improve PPE of nurses , hospitals need to moderate nurses′performance assessment and the nurses need to pay more attention to patient communication .

Objective:To retrospectively identify the risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)in the obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG).Methods:The medical records from the obese patients who underwent elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from January 2018 to July 2022 were retrospectively collected. PONV was defined according to the use of remedial antiemetics in the nursing record sheet, and the patients were divided into PONV group and non-PONV group according to the occurrence of PONV that required treatment. The logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for PONV after LSG.Results:A total of 1 264 obese patients were included in this study, and there were 263 patients in PONV group, and the incidence of PONV was 20.81%. According to the results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis, female( OR=1.533, 95% CI 1.007-2.334, P=0.046), higher level of serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations ( OR=1.006, 95% CI 1.002-1.009, P=0.001), higher level of C-reactive protein ( OR=1.013, 95% CI 1.005-1.022, P=0.001), general anesthesia combined with nerve block (general anesthesia combined with TAPB: OR=2.737, 95% CI 1.817-4.121, P<0.001; general anesthesia combined with other nerve block: OR=1.899, 95% CI 1.249-2.889, P=0.003) and intraoperative use of sufentanil ( OR=2.114, 95% CI 1.308-3.415, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for PONV( P<0.05). However, the higher level of serum follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations ( OR=0.941, 95% CI 0.895-0.988, P=0.015), intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine ( OR=0.640, 95% CI 0.417-0.982, P=0.041), and administration of prophylactic antiemetic medication (antiemetic drugs during operation OR=0.669, 95% CI 0.469-0.955, P=0.027; antiemetic drugs after operation OR=0.303, 95% CI 0.182-0.503, P<0.001; antiemetic drugs during and after operation OR=0.215, 95% CI 0.107-0.434, P<0.001) were protective factors for PONV. Conclusions:Female, higher levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and C-reactive protein, general anesthesia combined with nerve block and intraoperative use of sufentanil are independent risk factors for PONV, while higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, intraoperative use of dexmedetomidine and administration of prophylactic antiemetic medication are protective factors for PONV among obese patients undergoing LSG.

Objective To investigate the expression of SMARCA4 (BRG1) and SMARCB1 (INI?1) protein in endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma (DDC) and undifferentiated carcinoma (UDC), and their correlation with clinicopathologic features. Methods Clinicopathological information was gathered for 26 cases of DDC and UDC and consulting hospitals from January, 2006 to December, 2018 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, including 10 cases of DDC and 16 cases of UDC. Morphologic features and diagnosis were reviewed by two pathologists. Immunohistochemistry for expression of BRG1 and INI1 protein was performed. The correlations with clinicopathologic features were analyzed. Results BRG1 and INI1 loss were present in 14 of 26 cases of DDC/UDC, including 12 BRG1?deficient cases and 2 INI1?deficient cases, respectively. Six cases demonstrated variable amounts of rhabdoid cells in 14 BRG1/INI1?deficient cases, and only 1 case showed rhabdoid cells in the 12 intact expression cases. However, there was no significantly statistical difference (P=0.060). Age, invasive depth, lymph node status and FIGO stage were not associated with the expression of the BRG1 and INI1 (P=0.437,P=0.672,P=0.242,P=0.348). Remarkably, the BGR1/INI1?deficient patients had worse survival than those with intact expression (4.7 vs. 22.9, P=0.033). Conclusion BRG1/INI1?deficient is observed in approximately half of DDC and UDC. Identification of these tumors is clinically relevant due to their more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Hence, BRG1 and INI1 immunohistochemical stains should be performed for DDC and UDC in order to help the pathologists to distinguish these tumors from other carcinomas, and to predict the clinical prognosis.

Objective·To analyze the anatomical and macroscopic characteristics of the pterygopalatine suture(PPS)in Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT)technology,and to preliminarily investigate its developmental pattern and its association with the correction of maxillary underdevelopment.Methods·A total of 134 CBCT images,taken from July to August 2023 at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,were categorized into six age groups.The PPS landmarks were utilized to determine the overall transverse position(XPPS),sagittal position(YPPS),insertion angle(IAP),insertion width of the pyramidal process(IWP),and insertion depth of the pyramidal process(IDP).The pterygomaxillary junction was identified through multiplanar observations.Regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation of these parameters with age and gender,and pairwise comparisons were made to determine the stable age range for parameter changes.Paired t-tests and paired chi-squared tests were conducted to analyze the bilateral parameter differences.Results·Results showed that YPPS and IDP did not exhibit significant correlation with age,whereas XPPS,IAP,IWP,and the incidence of pterygomaxillary fusion were significantly positively correlated with age(P<0.01).Gender differences were only significant for XPPS,with males demonstrating greater values than females(P<0.01).Analysis of age-related trends indicated significant differences in XPPS between group 1(6 years≤age<9 years)and group 2(9 years≤age<12 years)(female:P=0.006,male:P=0.004);significant differences in IAP were observed between group 2 and group 3(12 years≤age<15 years)(P=0.042),with 98.5%of samples having an IAP greater than 45 degrees;IWP differences were significant between group 1 and group 3(P=0.016),and the pterygomaxillary fusion incidence was significantly different among group 1,2,and 3(group 1 vs.2:P<0.001,group 2 vs 3:P=0.037,group 1 vs 3:P<0.001),with an incidence rate exceeding 90%in adults.No significant bilateral differences were found for all parameters.Conclusion·No significant changes were observed in YPPS and IDP after the age of 6,indicating a trend towards fusion of the maxilla with the pterygoid process.The overall transverse position of the PPS tends to stabilize around 12 years of age,while the IAP and IWP continue to increase and reach stability around 15 years of age,with a sagittal insertion orientation of the pyramidal process into the pterygoid notch.