Objective:To investigate the influence of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cytoplasmic strings during blastocyst expan-sion on embryonic development and pregnancy outcome.Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis was performed for the clinical data of patients who received pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy(PGT-A)and underwent single blastocyst transplantation in our hospital from June 2019 to December 2021.A total of 530 patients were enrolled,and genetic testing was performed for 2132 blasto-cysts.According to the presence or absence of cytoplasmic strings during blastocyst expansion,the blastocysts were divided into cyto-plasmic strings(+)group with 534 blastocysts and cytoplasmic strings(-)group with 1598 blastocysts,and quality and PGT-A results were compared between the two groups.After the transfer of euploid blastocysts,pregnancy outcome was compared between the 115 blastocysts with cytoplasmic strings and the 415 blastocysts without cytoplasmic strings.Results:The rates of cytoplasmic strings(+)in the high-,average-,and low-quality blastocyst groups were 30.19%,24.62%,and 12.63%,respectively.The correlation analysis showed a correlation coefficient of-0.115(P<0.001)between embryo quality and the rate of cytoplasmic strings(+).There was no sig-nificant difference in euploidy rate between the two groups(45.3%vs.44.6%).There were no significant differences between the euploid blastocysts with cytoplasmic strings and those without cytoplasmic strings in implantation rate(72.17%vs.66.02%,P=0.213),miscarriage rate(14.46%vs.12.77%,P=0.691),and live birth rate(61.74%vs.57.59%,P=0.424).Conclusion:The presence of cyto-plasmic strings is associated with the morphological quality of blas-tocysts,while it has no impact on embryo ploidy or clinical outcome after euploid embryo transfer.Further research is needed to confirm the impact of cytoplasmic strings on embryonic development.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a globally life-threatening disease. Presently, few therapeutic medicines are available for treating IS, and rt-PA is the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. In fact, many agents showing excellent neuroprotection but no blood flow-improving activity in animals have not achieved ideal clinical efficacy, while thrombolytic drugs only improving blood flow without neuroprotection have limited their wider application. To address these challenges and meet the huge unmet clinical need, we have designed and identified a novel compound AAPB with dual effects of neuroprotection and cerebral blood flow improvement. AAPB significantly reduced cerebral infarction and neural function deficit in tMCAO rats, pMCAO rats, and IS rhesus monkeys, as well as displayed exceptional safety profiles and excellent pharmacokinetic properties in rats and dogs. AAPB has now entered phase I of clinical trials fighting IS in China.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of puerarin for alleviating synovitis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of puerarin at low, moderate and high doses (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, respectively) for 3 weeks, with tripterygium glycosides (GTW, 10 mg/kg) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb joints regions evaluated by arthritis index scoring. Mass fraction of the liver of the rats was calculated, and pathologies in joint synovial membrane were observed with HE staining. The expressions of transforming growth factor β‑activated kinase-1 (TAK1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor kappa-Bp65 (NF‑κB p65) at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using Real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with those in the model group, the rats in GTW group and high-dose puerarin group showed significantly reduced mass fraction of the liver. Treatment with GTW and puerarin at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, and improved synovitis in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of puerarin showed an obvious dose dependence. Both GTW and puerarin treatments significantly lowered TAK1, TLR4, and NF‑κB p65 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovium of CIA rats. CONCLUSIONS Puerarin alleviates synovium damages in CIA rats possibly by suppressing the TLR4/NF‑κB signaling pathway via downregulating TAK1 expression.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Isoflavones/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism* ; Synovial Membrane/metabolism*

With the continuous deepening of medical insurance payment reform, the implementation of the ambulatory patient groups(APG) based point system for payment has posed new challenges to the quality management of outpatient electronic medical record writing, as well as the supervision and operation management of outpatient costs in hospitals. A certain hospital began information technology construction in July 2021. By introducing diagnostic grouping functions into the outpatient electronic medical record system, the hospital strengthened the standardization of medical record writing. It also established an intelligent audit system for medical insurance costs to conduct full-process supervision of outpatient medical expenses and developed an intelligent operation analysis system for outpatient APG to provide a basis for hospital operation management decisions and performance distribution. These measures effectively improved the quality of outpatient medical record, reduced outpatient medical costs, and optimized their structure. The application of the intelligent medical insurance audit system also effectively prevented certain non-compliant issues in medical insurance payments, which can provide a reference for other medical institutions.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Ditan Decoction(DTD)on ischemic stroke.METHODS A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model was used to induce cerebral ischemia and assess the role of DTD in post-stroke NVU injury.DTD was gavaged once a day for 3 days after MCAO.Transwell neutrophil chemotaxis assay was used to explore the role of DTD in the neutrophil chemotaxis.RESULTS In the MCAO model,DTD treatment significantly reduced infarct volume(P<0.01)and attenuated blood-brain barrier disruption,as evidenced by decreased IgG leakage and preserved laminin expression(P<0.05).Furthermore,DTD suppressed neutrophil infiltration into ischemic brain tissue,as demonstrated by reduced neutrophil elastase(P<0.01)and myeloperoxidase(P<0.05)levels.Mechanistically,DTD inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated phosphodiesterase 4B(PDE4B),a key regulator of neutrophil migration(P<0.05).Molecular docking analysis i-dentified four active DTD components-apigenin,vitexin,chlorogenic acid,and orientin-with strong binding affinities to PDE4B(bind-ing energies<-5 kcal·mol-1),suggesting their potential role in mediating DTD's therapeutic effects.CONCLUSION These find-ings highlight DTD as a promising intervention for ischemic stroke,targeting NVU preservation and PDE4B-dependent neutrophil mod-ulation.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply depart-ment based on the iceberg model and test its reliability and validity.METHODS A pool of items was constructed based on literature research and semi-structured interviews.The scale was further refined through expert meetings and a pilot survey.A convenience sampling method was used to select 362 managers from central sterile supply de-partments in medical institutions at various levels in Hunan Province in Jan.2024 as survey subjects.Question-naires were administered,and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested.RESULTS The final version of the scale encompassed five dimensions:personal traits,management abilities,professional abilities,other abili-ties,professional knowledge and skills,with a total of 39 items.The item-level validity coefficients of the scale ranged from 0.83 to 1.00,and the content validity index was 0.93.Exploratory factor analysis revealed a Bartlett's test value of 4 723.828(P＜0.001),a KMO test coefficient of 0.937 and a cumulative variance explanation rate of 74.34％for the five common factors.Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the root mean square error of approximation(RSEMA)was＜0.08,the root mean square residual(RMR)was＜0.05,and both the incre-mental fit index(IFI)and comparative fit index(CFI)were＞0.9.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.977,the split-half reliability was 0.955,and the test-retest reliability was 0.952.CONCLUSIONS The manager post competency evaluation scale in central sterile supply departments developed in this study demonstrates rela-tively good reliability and validity.It can effectively evaluate manager post competency and provide references for improving related evaluation systems and optimizing training programs.

Objective:To investigate the dose-effect relationship between sedentary time and sarcopenia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and to inform decision-making to improve muscle health in MHD patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. MHD patients undergoing dialysis in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected by convenience sampling method. Data on general information, prevalence of sarcopenia and sedentary time, etc. were collected. Based on the quartile of sedentary time, MHD patients were categorized into group Q1 (sedentary time<3.40 h), group Q2 (3.40 h≤sedentary time<5.20 h), group Q3 (5.20 h≤sedentary time<9.33 h) and group Q4 (sedentary time≥9.33 h). Restricted cubic spline plots were used to analyze the dose-effect relationship between sedentary time and the risk of sarcopenia. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between sedentary time and the risk of sarcopenia with trend analysis. Subgroups were grouped according to age, gender, and age on dialysis, and subgroup analyses were performed using the interaction test.Results:A total of 576 MHD patients were enrolled, 272 males and 304 females, age (59.69 ± 11.38) years, the sedentary time was 5.20 (3.40, 9.33) h, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was 31.60% (182/576). Restricted cubic spline plots analysis showed that there was a trend of linear association between sedentary time and the risk of sarcopenia ( Pnon-linear=0.226), with a positive correlation ( Poverall<0.01). Logistic analysis showed that when correcting for all confounding factors, compared with group Q1, the risk of sarcopenia increased 1.557 times in group Q3 ( OR=2.557, 95% CI 1.255-5.334, P<0.01) and 7.721 times in group Q4 ( OR=8.721, 95% CI 4.328-18.323, P<0.01). And the OR values of sarcopenia in sedentary time of group Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 showed an increasing trend ( Ptrend<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between the risk of sarcopenia and sedentary time was basically the same in MHD patients of different age, gender, and dialysis age subgroups ( OR values were 1.807-3.090, all P<0.05), and there was no interaction between sedentary time and age, gender, and dialysis age (all Pinteraction>0.05). Conclusions:The longer the sedentary time, the higher the risk of sarcopenia in MHD patients. And the risk of sarcopenia was higher for sedentary time ≥ 5.20 h. Medical staffs should encourage MHD patients to improve their living habits, especially those who sit for more than 5.20 h a day, to prevent sarcopenia.

AIM:To establish methods for the isolation,identification,primary culture and evaluation of gas-tric smooth muscle cells(GSMC)from rat and mouse.METHODS:Thirty SD rats and thirty C57BL/6 mice were random-ly assigned into three groups,with 10 rats or mice in each group.Three parallel experiments were conducted to isolate pri-mary GSMC under aseptic conditions.The isolated cells were identified through morphological observation,immunofluo-rescence and Western blot.Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the purity of the cells.Additionally,trypan blue ex-clusion test was utilized to evaluate the viability of the cells after resuscitation.RESULTS:Isolated rat and mouse GSMC exhibited a fusiform or polygonal morphology.Immunofluorescence and Western blot results demonstrated the expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA).Flow cytometry showed that the positive expression rate of α-SMA was 99.6%in rat GSMC and 97.4%in mouse GSMC.Moreover,the viability rates of rat and mouse GSMC after cryopreservation were found to be greater than 97%.CONCLUSION:A stable and reliable method for the isolation,culture and evaluation of primary GSMC from rat and mouse has been established.

Objective To study the dynamic changes in the secretion of neurotransmitters glutamic acid(Glu)and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in the central auditory brain area,in order to explore the effects of sodium salicy-late on different locations of the auditory pathway.Methods A total of 126 SD rats were injected intraperitoneally with salicylate,and were divided into 10 groups including injection groups for 1,2,4,8,and 24 hours,chronic in-jection groups for 3,7,and 14 days,and chronic recovery groups for 21 and 28 days with 6 rats in each group,as well as their corresponding blank control groups.Rats in each group were anesthetized and materials were collected for further use.High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was performed to detect and compare the dynam-ic changes in the levels of Glu and GABA in the auditory cortex,inferior colliculus,cochlear nucleus,and hippocam-pus of the auditory center of rats in each group at different time points.Results Compared with the control group,within 24 hours of acute injection of salicylate,the Glu content in the auditory cortex reached the peak in 1 hour,and the hippocampus reached the peak at the 4th hour after injection,and then decreased slowly.The GABA con-tent in the four brain regions showed a slow upward trend in the chronic injection period,reached the peak on the 7th day,decreased and approached normal level on the 14th day,and basically returned to the normal level in the re-covery period.Conclusion These findings indicate that salicylate has a certain short-term excitatory and stimulating effect on the central auditory system.Under the mechanism of central plasticity,after long-term injection of salicy-late,the release of neurotransmitters reaches a new excitation/inhibition balance in the central area.Glu and GABA may each play a different role that may ultimately lead to the development of tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Ditan Decoction(DTD)on ischemic stroke.METHODS A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model was used to induce cerebral ischemia and assess the role of DTD in post-stroke NVU injury.DTD was gavaged once a day for 3 days after MCAO.Transwell neutrophil chemotaxis assay was used to explore the role of DTD in the neutrophil chemotaxis.RESULTS In the MCAO model,DTD treatment significantly reduced infarct volume(P<0.01)and attenuated blood-brain barrier disruption,as evidenced by decreased IgG leakage and preserved laminin expression(P<0.05).Furthermore,DTD suppressed neutrophil infiltration into ischemic brain tissue,as demonstrated by reduced neutrophil elastase(P<0.01)and myeloperoxidase(P<0.05)levels.Mechanistically,DTD inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated phosphodiesterase 4B(PDE4B),a key regulator of neutrophil migration(P<0.05).Molecular docking analysis i-dentified four active DTD components-apigenin,vitexin,chlorogenic acid,and orientin-with strong binding affinities to PDE4B(bind-ing energies<-5 kcal·mol-1),suggesting their potential role in mediating DTD's therapeutic effects.CONCLUSION These find-ings highlight DTD as a promising intervention for ischemic stroke,targeting NVU preservation and PDE4B-dependent neutrophil mod-ulation.