Objective: To investigate the differences in enolase and laminin levels in vaginal epithelial tissues between mice successfully infected withGardnerellaand mice not infected with Gardnerella, providing information for further exploration of the correlation between enolase and laminin levels and the incidence of bacterial vaginosis. Methods: Gardnerella strains isolated, purified, and identified from vaginal secretions of patients with bacterial vaginosis were used to infect the vagina of mice and establish a mouse model of bacterial vaginosis. Successful and failed mice was defined as successful and failed groups, respectively. Differential expression of enolase and laminin in the vaginal epithelial tissue of two groups of mice was detected by Western blot. Modeling success rate was statistically analyzed, and the expression differences of enolase and laminin was compared between two groups. Results: One strain of Gardnerella vaginalis infected 10 SPF grade KM mice, 7 mice met the diagnostic criteria for bacterial vaginosis, and 3 mice failed to model, with a success rate of 70%. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels, and the levels of laminin and enolase in the successfully modeled mouse vaginal epithelial tissue were significantly higher than those in the failed modeling group, with statistical differences between the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Enolase and laminin may be involved in the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis, however, further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which they trigger the occurrence and development of the disease.

Objective To screen and verify the genes that play key role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer by u-sing bioinformatics and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)methods to find new markers for diagnosis of esophageal cancer(ESCA).Methods Using the TCGA database and Wayne plot analysis,the cross genes between the differentially expressed genes of ESCA and the genes which have the most significant impacts on disease-free survival(DFS)rate in esophageal cancer patients were preliminarily identified.Following conducting protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis on the overlapping genes,GO and KEGG functional analysis was performed to screen the potential key genes as the diagnostic markers of esophageal cancer.qRT-PCR was used to quantitatively analyze the expression of mRNA of the key gene in peripheral blood.Statistical analysis was con-ducted based on the clinico-pathological characteristics of the patients to determine its potential value as a new diagnostic marker for e-sophageal cancer.Results After overlapping of differentially expressed genes of ESCA and disease-free survival genes in the TCGA database,39 upregulated genes and 20 downregulated genes were found to be differentially expressed,all of which affected disease-free survival rate.After conducting PPI network analysis,15 upregulated genes with core interactions were identified,and the downregulat-ed genes did not form any interaction network.Further enrichment analysis of these 15 core interacting genes through GO and KEGG,revealed that fibronectin 1(FN1)may be a potential biomarker for ESCA diagnosis.The qRT-PCR results showed that compared with the healthy control group,the mRNA expression level of FN1 in the peripheral blood of esophageal cancer patients was significantly ele-vated.After analyzing the clinical characteristics of patients,it was found that the patients with poor differentiation and high clinico-pathological staging had significantly increased peripheral blood FN1 mRNA levels.The model with FN1 mRNA expression levels can distinguish esophageal cancer patients from healthy individuals.Conclusion FN1 mRNA may be a potential non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for esophageal cancer.

Objective:To explore the intolerable uncertainty level and its related factors in female patients re-ceiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.Methods:A total of 503 female patients receiving in vitro fertiliza-tion and embryo transfer in a tertiary reproductive hospital in Shandong province were selected.Theywere assessed with a self-designed general information questionnaire,the Intolerance of Uncertainty scale-12(IUS-12),Fertility Problem Inventory(FPI,including social concern,sexual concern,relationship concern,need for parenthood,and re-jection of childfree lifestyle),and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS).Results:The score of IUS-12 was 28(13,60).Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that having children,having anxiety symptoms,the scores of social concern,sexual concern and need for parenthood were positively associated with IUS-12 scores(β=0.11,0.19,0.21,0.13,0.25),and rejection of childfree lifestyle was negatively associated with IUS-12 scores(β=-0.18).Conclusion:It suggests that the unbearable uncertainty of women receiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer is related to whether they have children,social concerns,sexual concerns,need for parenthood,and rejection of childfree lifestyle.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) reportedly function as important modulators of gene regulation and malignant processes in the development of human cancers. The lncRNA JPX is a novel molecular switch for X chromosome inactivation and differentially expressed JPX has exhibited certain clinical correlations in several cancers. Notably, JPX participates in cancer growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance, by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA, interacting with proteins, and regulating some specific signaling pathways. Moreover, JPX may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. The present article summarizes our current understanding of the structure, expression, and function of JPX in malignant cancer processes and discusses its molecular mechanisms and potential applications in cancer biology and medicine.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; X Chromosome Inactivation

Objective:To preliminarily develop a fertility motivation scale for infertile women (FMS-IW) and test its reliability and validity.Methods:The FMS-IW was developed according to the theory of self-determination and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and the original item pool was established through clinical psychological counseling practice experience, literature review, consulting clinical psychotherapists, interviewing with infertile women and open-ended questionnaires. The original scale was constructed on item analysis and exploratory factor analysis in 257 infertile women. The formal version of FMS-IW was further adapted by Delphi method and tested in another 392 women to conduct confirmatory factor analysis and reliability test. Furthermore, 56 participants of 392 women were randomly retested with FMS-IW after two weeks.SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 software were used for Spearman analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.Results:Exploratory factor analysis showed that the FMS-IW was composed of 16 items consisting of two factors: autonomous fertility motivation and controlled fertility motivation. The cumulative variance contribution rate was 64.18%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model fitted well ( χ2/ df=3.292, RMSEA=0.077, SRMR=0.055, GFI=0.902, AGFI=0.871, IFI=0.938, CFI=0.938, TLI=0.928). The Cronbach's α coefficient of the FMS-IW was 0.908. The Cronbach's α coefficient for autonomous and controlled fertility motivation was 0.911 and 0.928, respectively. The parity split-half coefficient of the formal version of FMS-IW was 0.870. The test-retest reliability of the formal version of FMS-IW was 0.823. Conclusion:The FMS-IW has good reliability and validity, and can be used as an effective tool to measure fertility motivation in infertile women.

Objective:To analyze the vaginal microecological status of vaginitis population and non-vaginitis population of gynecological female outpatients.Methods:A total of 30 265 women who visited the gynecological outpatient clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 completed vaginal microecological examination. After removing the follow-up patients, 23 181 women were divided into group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (6 697 cases) and group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16 484 cases), according to whether the women with symptoms and signs of vaginitis or not. And the vaginal microecological status of the two groups was compared and analyzed.Results:(1) The total detection rate of vaginitis in the initial women was 34.87% (8 083/23 181), of which 46.10% (3 087/6 697) in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis and 30.31% (4 996/16 484) in group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis, nearly 1/3 of the gynecological outpatients without signs and symptoms of vaginitis had vaginitis. (2) Among the types of simple vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) was the most frequent in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16.01%, 1 072/6 697), followed by aerobic vaginitis (AV; 12.83%, 859/6 697), with significant differences compared with group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (all P<0.001). There were no statistical differences between the two groups of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomonal vaginitis (TV), indicating that BV and TV were more likely to be neglected (all P>0.05). (3) The proportion of various combinations of vaginitis among 2 632 cases of mixed vaginitis were, in descending order: BV+AV, VVC+AV, BV+AV+VVC, AV+TV, AV+TV+BV, BV+VVC. (4) Microecological analysis of 15 098 cases diagnosed with non-vaginitis had normal flora (including those with normal flora and those with normal flora but decreased function) in 14 013 cases (92.81%, 14 013/15 098), abnormal flora in 429 cases (2.84%, 429/15 098) and the BV intermediate in 656 cases (4.34%, 656/15 098); this indicated that the vast majority of the microecological tests were normal in the vaginal microbiota of those without vaginitis. Conclusions:Microecological examination could diagnose multiple pathogenic infections at once, and is especially important as a guide for the definitive diagnosis of mixed vaginitis and vaginitis with atypical clinical symptoms. Vaginal infections such as BV and TV that are easily overlooked should be concerned.

Objective : To select and obtain vaginal Lactobacillus strains with inhibitory effect on Gardnerella vagi⁃ nalis , and to explore the possible mechanism of inhibition of Gardnerella vaginalis by Lactobacillus vaginalis strains , so as to provide a prerequisite for the development of dominant strains for human disease treatment. Methods : Gardnerella vaginalis and vaginal Lactobacillus strains were isolated from vaginal secretions of patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and healthy women , respectively. The Lactobacillus strains with the ability to inhibit the proliferation of Gardnerella vaginalis were screened by spot on lawn. Double agar diffusion method was used to compare the inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus solutions , cell⁃free culture supernatants (CFCs) and bacteria on Gardnerella vaginalis. Results : Sixty⁃two strains of vaginal Lactobacillus strains were isolated and purified from vaginal vaginal secretions of 10 patients with bacterial vaginosis. Among the 62 strains of vaginal Lactobacillus , 18 strains could inhibit the proliferation of Gardnerella vaginalis. The vaginal Lactobacillus solutions , the CFCs , and bacteria all had inhibitory effect on Gardnerella vaginalis. The inhibitory effects of vaginal Lactobacillus solutions were higher than those of the CFCs. After the CFCs were treated with proteinase K , the inhibitory effect of eight samples disappeared , and that of 10 samples weakened obviously. Conclusion In this paper, 62 vaginal Lactobacillus strains are purified and identified , of which 18 strains can inhibit the proliferation of Gardnerella vaginalis. The production of antimicrobial protein may be involved in the mechanism that vaginal Lactobacillus inhibits the proliferation of Gardnerella vaginalis.

Objective:To investigate the dynamic changes of vaginal microbiota in different phases of menstrual cycle in healthy Chinese women of childbearing age.Methods:A total of 11 healthy women of childbearing age with regular menstruation, who had physical examination in the Gynecology Clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from September to December 2020 were randomly selected as research subjects. Vaginal secretions were collected during menstrual phase (2nd-3rd day), mid-follicular phase (7th-8th day), and mid-luteal phase (21st-22nd day) for microbiota analysis through metagenomic sequencing.Results:(1) Vaginal microbiota species were the most diverse in menstrual phase and the least in follicular phase, observing dominant vaginal bacteria gradually changing to Lactobacillus from menstrual phase to follicular phase and then to luteal phase. (2) The dynamic evolution of vaginal microbiota from menstrual phase to follicular phase and then to luteal phase was divided into: no change in dominant bacteria, replacement of dominant bacteria, changes in the proportion of dominant bacteria, and recurrence of dominant bacteria (non-Lactobacillus-dominance appeared again in luteal phase after returning to normal Lactobacillus-dominance in follicular phase). (3) Prevotella, especially Prevotella_bivia, was significantly higher during menstrual phase.Conclusions:Healthy vaginal microbiota should be relatively stable, but also have the ability of dynamic change and self-recovery. Prevotella plays a central role among opportunistic pathogens in the vagina, whose function remains to be investigated.

Objective:To test the antibiotic susceptibility of vulvovaginal candidiasis pathogenic strains to 5 antifungal drugs commonly used in clinic.Methods:A total of 1 200 vulvovaginal candida patients from 23 gynecological and family planning outpatient departments in China were enrolled. Their vaginal secretions were collected for candida strain isolation and species identification. According to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-S3, the sensitivity of 1 200 strains to clotrimazole, fluconazole, miconazole, itraconazole and nystatin was tested.Results:(1) The sensitivity and resistance of 1 200 vulvovaginal candidiasis pathogens to 5 antifungal drugs were statistically different ( χ2=3 513.201, P<0.01). (2) All strains had higher sensitivity to nystatin [99.92% (1 199/1 200)], followed by miconazole [92.25% (1 107/1 200)] and clotrimazole [87.17% (1 046/1 200)]. All strains had higher resistance to fluconazole [69.17% (830/1 200)], while itraconazole was 50.83% (610/1 200). (3) There was no significant difference between candida albicans and non-candida albicans in drug sensitivity to nystatin ( P=0.315) and miconazole ( P=0.425). (4) Candida albicans and non-candida albicans showed different sensitivity to clotrimazole, fluconazole and itraconazole, respectively. Compared with non-candida albicans, candida albicans showed higher sensitivity to clotrimazole [susceptibility rate: 73.01% (165/226) vs 90.45% (881/974); P<0.001] and higher resistance to fluconazole [resistance rate: 50.88% (115/226) vs 73.41% (715/974); P<0.001]. Although the drug sensitivity of itraconazole was not high, the susceptibility rate of candida albicans to itraconazole was slightly higher than that of non-candida albicans [37.68% (367/974) vs 23.89% (54/226)], and the drug resistance rate was lower [49.28% (480/974) vs 57.52% (130/226)]. Conclusions:The sensitivity of 1 200 strains of candida to 5 antifungal drugs is significantly different, the sensitivity rate of nystatin, miconazole and clotrimazole are higher, but the resistance rate of fluconazole and itraconazole are higher. The sensitivity of candida albicans and non-candida albicans to the same drug is also significantly different. It is suggested that in clinical diagnosis and treatment, we should pay attention to the identification of candida and drug sensitivity test, so as to select antifungal drugs rationally.

Objective:To investigate the microbiota distribution and drug resistance in gravidas with suspected infection to provide a reference for the treatment of maternal infectious diseases.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the distribution and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from obstetric patients in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital) from January 1, 2016. to December 31, 2019. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to identify pathogenic microorganisms. The susceptibility of isolated pathogenic bacteria to common antimicrobial agents was detected using bioMerieux VITEK-2 (France). Descriptive statistical methods was used. Results:A total of 4 086 strains were isolated from 3 781 samples of 3 225 gravidas and 44.17% (1 670) of the strains were from secretion specimens, including 767 cervical, 423 vulvovaginal, 318 perineum wound and 117 uterine secretion specimens. The most common bacterium was Escherichia coli (1 728, 42.29%), followed by Saccharomyces (901, 22.05%), Streptococcus (429, 10.50%), Enterococcus (377, 9.23%), and Staphylococcus (300, 7.34%). The proportion of Enterococcus among all the positive bacteria increased during the study period with its ranking rising from the 5th in 2016 to the 3rd in 2019, while the ranking of the proportion of Staphylococcus fell from the 4th in 2016 to the 5th in 2019. More than 90% of Escherichia coli were sensitive to carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin, nitrofurantoin and ceftazidime, but only 35% or less to ampicillin and cefazolin. More than 98% of Candida strains were sensitive to amphotericin, but less than 56% to itraconazole. From 2016 to 2019, the sensitivity of Escherichia coli to cefuroxime sodium and ceftriaxone remained around 65%. The sensitive rate of Candida albicans to voriconazole and fluconazole gradually decreased from about 90% to 56%. The most common Enterococcus was Enterococcus faecalis and its susceptibility to vancomycin, ampicillin, penicillin, linezolid, nitrofurantoin and levofloxacin were all over 90%. Conclusions:Escherichia coli is the most common pathogenic microorganism in gravidas with suspected clinical infection and its susceptibility to cefuroxime sodium and ceftriaxone is stable. Candida albicans shows a gradually decreased susceptibility to voriconazole and fluconazole, which needs close attention. The proportion of Enterococcus in all pathogenic bacteria increases significantly over time, while that of Staphylococcus decreases.