Objectiye To optimize the depth of the microchannel and the time point for sperm collection,and improve the efficiency of sperm screening on a microfluidic device. Methods Microchannels with four different depths of 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm were tested. Mice sperm were added to the inlet of the microchannel. The relative quantity and motility of sperm in the outlet were recorded at different collection times, i.e. ,5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Statistical method one-way ANOVA and appropriate post-hoc testing were applied to analyze differences between different groups, and further to select the best-fit depth of the microchannel and the time point for collection. Results In microchannels with depths of 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm, the sperm motilities measured in each outlet were (85.4 ± 2.3)%, (85.8 ± 5.8)%,( 87. 2 ± 2. 8 ) %, (76. 5 ± 2. 8 ) % respectively with statistical significance ( F = 5.8, P ＜ 0. 05 ). No obvious differences were found among 25-100 μm channels, however the motility dramatically decreased in the 200 μm group. The relative sperm quantities were (5.2 ±2.0)%, (7.2 ±2.5)%,(12.3 ±2.0)%,(7. 7 ± 1.1 ) % respectively with statistical significance ( F = 6. 9, P ＜ 0. 05), which increased with channel depth from 25 to 100 μm,while it decreased in the 200 μm channel Taking 2 indexes into account, 100 μmwas the most fit channel depth for sperm motility screening. The sperm motility in the outlet gradually decreased with time. At the time points of 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after adding sperm, the sperm motilities were (99. 6 ±0. 7)%, (87.2 ±2. 8)%, (79. 3 ±2. 2)% and (62. 6 ±8.0)% respectively with statistical significance ( F = 37. 3, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Yet the relative quantities of sperm in the outlet increased almost three times in this process. At the time points mentioned above, the relative quantities of sperm were (5.8±1.1)%, (10.6 ± 0.9)%, (12.1 ± 1.7)%, (17.9 ± 3.4)% respectively with statistical significance ( F = 17.8, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Thus 15-30 min was the ideal screening time. Conclusion An effective microdevice for sperm screening with optimized depth and collection time period is developed,which may contribute significantly for the screening of healthy sperm on microfluidic chips.

Objective:To investigate the changes of serum miR-33 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and analyze the relationship between miR-33 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:From July 2019 to January 2020, 25 healthy subjects (control group), 25 NAFLD patients (NAFLD group), 25 T2DM patients hospitalized in the department of endocrinology (T2DM group) and 25 T2DM patients with NAFLD (NAFLD combined with T2DM group) were selected. The basic data of the subjects were collected, and the levels of miR-33 and other biochemical indexes in the serum of the four groups were detected. The risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were analyzed.Results:There was no significant difference between T2DM group and T2DM group with NAFLD in course of disease, medication history and incidence of complications ( P<0.05). The levels of serum miR-33 in T2DM group, NAFLD group and T2DM combined with NAFLD group were higher than those in healthy people, and the level of serum miR-33 in the combined group was the highest ( P<0.05). The differences in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin, triglycerides (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), uric acid (UA), serum creatinine (Scr), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the four groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The level of miR-33 was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, FPG, HbA1c, TG, UA and GGT ( P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the level of HDL-C ( P<0.05). MiR-33, systolic blood pressure and FPG increased the risk of NAFLD in T2DM patients ( OR=8.999, 1.083, 2.071, P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum miR-33 is the influencing factor of T2DM and NAFLD diseases and the risk factor of T2DM patients with NAFLD. It may affect the occurrence and development of metabolic diseases by participating in the regulation of glycolipid metabolism.

Objective     To investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods     We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy (ETS) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients were divided into a day surgery group and a conventional group according to their perioperative management methods. The patients in the day surgery group underwent an optimized perioperative procedure under the guidance of ERAS, and were ventilated with a laryngeal or face mask during the operation. The patients in the conventional group completed the preoperative examination, operation and postoperative observation according to the conventional procedures, and were intubated with a single-lumen endotracheal tube. The demographic characteristics, operation time, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. Results     Finally 172 patients were collected, including 90 males and 82 females, with an average age of 25.97±7.43 years. There were 86 patients in each group. All patients ceased suffering from palmar sweating after surgery. No patient experienced massive bleeding or conversion to thoracotomy. There was no statistical difference in operation time between the two groups (P=0.534). Patients in the day surgery group were discharged within 24 hours. The average hospital stay in the conventional group was 2.09±0.41 days. Incidence of postoperative respiratory complications, and the hospitalization cost of the day surgery group were significantly lower than those of the conventional group (P<0.001). The satisfaction rate in both groups was greater than 95%. Conclusion     Day surgery for patients with palmar hyperhidrosis based on the principles of ERAS is safe and feasible, which can reduce postoperative complications, shorten the length of hospital stay and save the cost of hospitalization.