【Objective】 To investigate the efficacy of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). 【Methods】 A total of 121 ED patients treated during June 2020 and June 2022 were selected as the research objects. According to the International Erectile Index Score (IIEF-EF), the patients were divided into three subgroups:mild (17-25 points), moderate (11-16 points), and severe (0-10 points). The total effective rate, erectile hardness scale (EHS), sex life log questions (SEP), general assessment questionnaire (GAQ), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and adverse reactions of the three groups before treatment, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment were analyzed. 【Results】 A total of 119 patients completed the follow-up. There were significant increases in IIEF-EF and EHS at week 4 and 12 (P<0.05), and the total effective rate was 69.75% and 76.47%, respectively. The total effective rate was significantly higher in the mild and moderate groups than in the severe group at week 4 and 12 (P<0.05). The patients who answered "yes" to SEP2 and SEP3 accounted for 91.60% and 71.43%, respectively at week 4, and 92.44% and 78.15% at week 12, both significantly higher than the rates before treatment (52.10% and 27.73%, P<0.05). The proportion of patients who answered "yes" to GAQl and GAQ2 at week 4 were 84.87% and 71.43%, respectively, and were 82.35% and 70.59% respectively at week 12, with no significant difference. The PSV level significantly increased at week 12 compared to that before treatment [(48.85±14.11) cm/s vs. (41.42±14.90) cm/s] (P<0.05), while the EDV level significantly decreased [(-0.57±7.01) cm/s vs. (2.25± 5.68)cm/s] (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 LIPUS can improve erectile function in ED patients without obvious adverse reactions.

Objective:To explore the relationship between integrin ɑ3(ITGA3)expression and immune cell infiltration in colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods:Bioinformatic methods were used to analyze ITGA3 mRNA expression in pan-cancer and CRC tissues,as well as its associ-ation with CRC prognosis.The correlation between ITGA3 and tumor-infiltrating immune cells was also investigated.In total,233 cases of CRC diagnosed at Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital between January and December 2021 were included,and ITGA3,CD8,CD163,FOXP3,PD-L1,CTLA-4,and PD-1 expression in CRC tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry(IHC)to analyze the relationship between ITGA3 and infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoints.Results:Bioinformatics analysis showed elevated ITGA3 mRNA levels in CRC.High ITGA3 expression was associated with PFS(P＜0.05).Univariate and multifactorial analyses showed that age and stage were significantly cor-related with prognosis(P＜0.05).In addition,ITGA3 upregulation was closely correlated with multiple immune cell infiltration levels in CRC.Furthermore,IHC results showed that ITGA3 expression in CRC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues(P＜0.05).ITGA3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05)and correlated with the expression of immune markers,such as CD8+T-cells,PD-L1,and CTLA-4(P＜0.05).Conclusions:ITGA3 is highly expressed in CRC,which is closely related to immune cell infiltration and may regulate the tumor immune microenvironment,which provides a new idea for clinical treatment and a potential new independent predictive marker.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a destructive pest native to America and has recently become an invasive insect pest in China. Because of its rapid spread and great risks in China, understanding of FAW genetic background and pesticide resistance is urgent and essential to develop effective management strategies. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of a male FAW (SFynMstLFR) and compared re-sequencing results of the populations from America, Africa, and China. Strain identification of 163 individuals collected from America, Africa and China showed that both C and R strains were found in the American populations, while only C strain was found in the Chinese and African populations. Moreover, population genomics analysis showed that populations from Africa and China have close relationship with significantly genetic differentiation from American populations. Taken together, FAWs invaded into China were most likely originated from Africa. Comparative genomics analysis displayed that the cytochrome p450 gene family is extremely expanded to 425 members in FAW, of which 283 genes are specific to FAW. Treatments of Chinese populations with twenty-three pesticides showed the variant patterns of transcriptome profiles, and several detoxification genes such as AOX, UGT and GST specially responded to the pesticides. These findings will be useful in developing effective strategies for management of FAW in China and other invaded areas.
Animals ; China ; Genomics ; Humans ; Male ; Pesticides ; Spodoptera/genetics* ; Transcriptome

Objective:To make a new simple respirator and observe the oxygen therapy effect of the respirator on patients with severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:Based on the infectivity and hospital requirements of COVID-19, a new simple respirator was designed by the medical staff of the Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, which was applied on the 22 patients with severe and critical COVID-19 who needed oxygen therapy admitted to the Cancer Center of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from February 15th to March 15th in 2020. The new simple respirator contained two National Utility Model Patents (a respirator: ZL 2015 2 0410623.6, a fluid switch and oxygen suction device: ZL 2017 2 0873509.6), which was mainly composed of anesthesia mask and filter, L-shaped connecting tube, soft breathing bladder, connecting tube and elastic fixing belt. When in use, the anesthesia mask was fixed to the patient's mouth and nose with elastic straps, the connecting tube was inserted into the oxygen meter interface, the oxygen flow was adjusted to 6-10 L/min, and the L-shaped connecting tube was opened immediately after the soft breathing bag was full. The carbon dioxide and excess oxygen in the body was discharged from exhaust port. The oxygen flow was lowered to 2-3 L/min, the patient's respiratory rate (RR) was observed through the soft breathing bag fluctuations, and the oxygen flow was adjusted at any time. The changes of pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2), RR and heart rate (HR) before and after application of new simple respirator were observed, and the blood gas test results of part of the patients were collected. Results:Twenty-two patients with severe and critical COVID-19 had significantly higher SpO 2 at 10 minutes after application of the new simple ventilator than before application (0.994±0.007 vs. 0.952±0.017, P < 0.01), and RR was significantly lower than that before application (times/min: 27.59±3.63 vs. 29.64±3.81, P < 0.01); after 1 day of application, each index was further improved. All 13 patients who received blood gas analysis indicated no carbon dioxide accumulation. Conclusions:The new simple respirator can significantly improve the oxygen therapy effect of patients with severe and critical COVID-19. At the same time, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) can be filtered through the filter to reduce the formation of aerosol and protect the medical staff and patients.

Objective To evaluate the role of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway in endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Ninety-six clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 4 weeks,weighing 160-180 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=24 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),ALI group,ALI + SIRT1 agonist SRT1720 group (group SRT),and ALI + SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 group (group EX).ALI was induced by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 5 mg/kg (diluted to 0.5 ml with 0.9％ normal saline) in ALI,SRT and EX groups.SRT1720 10 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein,and 30 min later ALI model was established in group SRT.EX527 1 μg/kg was injected via the tail vein,and 30 min later ALI model was established in group EX.Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta at 6,24 and 48 h after LPS injection for blood gas analysis,rats were then sacrificed and lungs were removed for determination of wet to dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) and expression of SIRT1,nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β protein and mRNA (by Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction) and for examination of pathological changes of lung tissues (with a light microscope).Results Compared with groups C,PaO2 was significantly decreased,and PaCO2 and W/D ratio were increased at each time point after LPS injection in ALI,SRT and EX groups,the expression of SIRT1 protein and mRNA was significantly down-regulated,and the expression of NF-κB p65,IL-6 and IL-1β protein and mRNA was upregulated at each time point after LPS injection in ALI and EX groups,and the expression of SIRT1,NFκB p65,IL-6 and IL-1β was significantly up-regulated at each time point after LPS injection in group SRT (P＜0.05).Compared with group ALI,PaO2 was significantly increased,PaCO2 and W/D ratio were decreased,the expression of SIRT1 protein and mRNA was up-regulated,the expression of NF-κB p65,IL-6 and IL-1β protein and mRNA was down-regulated at each time point after LPS injection (P＜0.05),and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group SRT,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above at each time point after LPS injection in group EX (P＞0.05).Conclusion Inhibited SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in endotoxin-induced ALI in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in rats.Methods Forty SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 4-6 weeks,weighing 200-220 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table method:sham operation group (group Sham),VCI group,right SGB group (group R) and left SGB group (groupL).VCI was induced by permanently ligating bilateral common carotid arteries of anesthetized rats.SGB model was established by transection of the left and right cervical sympathetic trunk while establishing the VCI model in group L and group R,respectively.At 8 weeks after establishing VCI model,Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory abilities,serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100β protein concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the hippocampal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured using microplate method,and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator1α (PGC-1α),NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1),zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1),and claudin-5 was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with group Sham,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the time of staying at the target quadrant was shortened,the hippocampal MDA content and concentration of serum S100β protein and NSE were increased,hippocampal SOD activity was decreased,the expression of PGC-1α,ZO-1 and claudin-5 was down-regulated,and the expression of NOX1 was up-regulated in group VCI (P＜0.05).Compared with group VCI,the escape latency was significantly shortened,the time of staying at the target quadrant was prolonged,the hippocampal MDA content and concentration of serum S100β protein and NSE were decreased,hippocampal SOD activity was increased,the expression of PGC-1α,ZO-1 and claudin-5 was up-regulated,and the expression of NOX1 was down-regulated in group R,and the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the hippocampal SOD activity was increased,the MDA content was decreased,and the expression of NOX1 was down-regulated in group L (P＜0.05).Compared with group R,the escape latency was significantly prolonged,the time of staying at the target quadrant was shortened,the hippocampal MDA content and serum NSE concentration were increased,the hippocampal SOD activity was decreased,the expression of PGC-1α and claudin-5 was down-regulated,and the expression of NOX1 was up-regulated in group L (P＜0.05).Conclusion SGB can alleviate VCI,and left SGB produces better efficacy than right SGB,and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the oxidative stress responses and reducing the damage to blood brain barrier in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative sleep deprivation on hippocampal Tolllike receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in aged mice with postoperative cognitive dysfunction.Methods Sixty clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6J mice,aged 16 months,weighing 28-36 g,were divided into 4 groups (n=15 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C),surgery group (group S),sleep deprivation group (group SD) and sleep deprivation plus surgery group (group SD+S).Mice were fed a common diet in group C.Mice were sleep-deprived for 24 h in group SD.Tibial fracture internal fixation was performed in group S.Tibial fracture internal fixation was performed after 24-h sleep deprivation in group SD+S.Cognitive function was assessed using the contextual fear conditioning test at days 3 and 7 after operation.The animals were sacrificed at day 7 after operation,brains were removed and hippocampi were isolated for determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) content (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 (by Western blot).Results Compared with group C,the percentage of time spent freezing induced by condition and percentage of time spent freezing induced by context were significantly decreased at days 3 and 7 after operation,the content of TNF-α was increased,and the expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in S,SD and SD+S groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group S and group SD,the percentage of time spent freezing induced by condition and percentage of time spent freezing induced by context were significantly decreased at days 3 and 7 after operation,the content of TNF-α was increased,and the expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB p65 was up-regulated in group SD+S (P＜0.05).Conclusion Preoperative sleep deprivation further accentuates postoperative cognitive dysfunction,and the mechanism is related to activating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and inducing inflammatory responses of aged mice.

Objective To investigate the effects of dorsal hippocampal lesions (DH) or fimbria-fornix transection (FF) on the learning and memory of conditioned fear and the heart rate and blood pressure in rats.Methods Nineteen male adult Wistar rats were used in this experiment.They were implanted telemetry sensors in their abdominal aortas.Two week later,six of the rats were subjected to permanent NMDA-induced neurotoxic lesions to the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and seven for the fimbria-fornix transection (FF)through stereotactic brain surgery,the left six were treated with saline as the control (Sham).All rats were subjected to a conditioned fear experiment.Meanwhile,changes in heart rate and blood pressure were measured.Results There was no significant difference in heart rate and blood pressure among the rats with the hippocampal operation or fimbria-fornix transection.In the acquisition of conditioned fear,there were significant difference in freezing time among the three group in both inter-trial-interval (ITI) and conditioned stimulus (CS) process (all P＜0.05).The freezing time of the FF group showed significantly lower than that of the Sham group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in heart rate and blood pressure among the three group(P＞0.05).In the test of conditioned contextual fear memory,the freezing time percentage in the FF group ((0.31±0.16) ％) significantly lower than that in the Sham group ((2.78± 1.23) ％) (P＜0.05)at the first 3 min of the test.There was a significant difference in heart rate among the three group.The heart rate of FF group ((436.42± 10.16) times/min) was significantly lower than that of the Sham group ((472.48±4.43) times/min,P＜0.01) and the DH group ((469.94 ±7.36)times/min,P＜0.01).In the test of conditioned tone fear memory.The freezing time percentage in FF group ((18.78±6.29) ％) was significantly lower than that in the Sham ((51.77±9.33)％,P＜0.01) and DH group ((59.19±8.13)％,P＜0.01),but the freezing time percentage between the later two groups had no difference (P=0.52).The synchronous telemetry measurement showed there was no significant difference both in the heart rate and the blood pressure among the groups (all P＞0.05) during the conditioned tone test.Conclusion The dorsal hippocampal lesions and fimbria-fornix transection in rats can significantly reduce the learning and memory ability in conditioned fear and scene fear in rats,and the effect of fimbria-fornix transection is more obvious.The decrease in,fear memory is not synchronously reflected in heart rate and blood pressure in rats.

Objective To evaluate the role of sirtuin 1 ( SIRT1)∕nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB) signaling pathway in oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration ( OGD∕R) injury to hippocampal neurons of mice. Methods The HT22 hippocampal neurons were seeded in a culture plate ( 96-well plate, 100 μl∕well; 6-well plate, 2 ml∕well) at the density of 5×104 cells∕ml or in a culture dish (6 cm in diameter), and then divided into 4 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group ( group C) , OGD∕R group ( group OGD) , SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527 preconditioning group ( group EX) and SIRT1 agonist SRT1720 preconditioning group ( group SRT) . Neurons were cultured in normal culture atmosphere at 37 ℃ in group C. In OGD, EX and SRT groups, the culture medium was replaced with oxygen-poor flu-id, and neurons were exposed to 5％ CO2-95％ N2 for 12 h in an incubator at 37℃, oxygen-poor fluid was replaced with the culture medium, and neurons were cultured for 24 h in normal culture atmosphere at 37℃. SIRT1 inhibitor EX-5271 μmol∕L and SIRT1 agonist SRT172010 μmol∕L were added at 12 h beforeOGD in EX and SRT groups, respectively. The cell viability was measured by CCK8 assay, the activity of LDH was detected by chemical colorimetry, cell apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry, the ex-pression of SIRT1, NF-κB, IκBα, Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blot, and the Bcl-2∕Bax ratio was calculated. Results Compared with group C, the cell viability was significantly decreased, LDH ac-tivity and cell apoptosis rate were increased, the expression of SIRT1, IκBα and Bcl-2 was down-regula-ted, the expression of NF-κB and Bax was up-regulated, and the Bcl-2∕Bax ratio was decreased in OGD, EX and SRT groups ( P<0. 05) . Compared with group OGD, the cell viability was significantly increased, the LDH activity and cell apoptosis rate were decreased, the expression of SIRT1, IκBαand Bcl-2 was up-regulated, the expression of NF-κB and Bax was down-regulated, and the Bcl-2∕Bax ratio was increased in group SRT, and the cell viability was significantly decreased, LDH activity and cell apoptosis rate were in-creased, the expression of SIRT1, IκBαand Bcl-2 was down-regulated, the expression of NF-κB and Bax was up-regulated, and the Bcl-2∕Bax ratio was decreased in group EX (P<0. 05). Conclusion SIRT1∕NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition is involved in OGD∕R injury to hippocampal neurons of mice.