Objective:To explore the effectiveness, safety, and cost among urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (u-FSH), recombinant FSH (r-FSH)α, and r-FSHβ in the early follicular phase prolonged protocol for patients under 35 years old with normal ovarian function.Methods:It was a retrospective cohort study. Patients under 35 years old with normal ovarian function who underwent early follicular phase prolonged protocol for ovulation stimulation and using in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for fertilization in Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2023 were recruited, including the fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Patients were divided into u-FSH group, r-FSHα group, and r-FSHβ group. A total of 1 048 ovarian stimulation cycles were included, with 150 cycles, 490 cycles and 408 cycles in the three groups respectively. A total of 710 FET cycles with fresh cycle cancellation were included, with 95 cycles, 320 cycles and 295 cycles in the three groups respectively. The baseline data, pregnancy outcomes, safety, and cost were compared among the three groups. The main observation indicators were cumulative pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR). A binary logistic regression model was used to control confounding factors, and to analyze the relationship between three ovulation inducing medicine and CLBR. Results:The difference in the number of oocytes retrieved among the u-FSH group, r-FSHα group, and r-FSHβ group was statistically significant [13.0 (10.0, 16.0), 14.0 (11.0, 18.0), 15.0 (11.0, 19.0), respectively, P=0.012], and the difference in the number of 2PN embryos was statistically significant [9.0 (6.0, 12.0), 10.0 (7.0, 13.0), 10.0 (7.0, 13.0), respectively, P=0.046]. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of available embryos, available embryo rate, the number of high-quality embryos, high-quality embryo rate, available blastocyst formation rate, fresh cycle clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate in fresh cycle, cumulative pregnancy rate of frozen embryos with fresh cycle cancellation, CLBR of frozen embryos with fresh cycle cancellation, cumulative clinical pregnancy rate, CLBR, moderate to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome incidence, ectopic pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate and neonatal malformation rate among the three groups (all P>0.05). In terms of economy, the u-FSH group had the lowest total gonadotropin cost for each patient, while the r-FSHα group had the highest. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant [u-FSH group 4 429.08 (3 198.78, 5 044.23) yuan, r-FSHα group 6 023.72 (5 433.75, 7 529.65) yuan, r-FSHβ group 5 480.00 (4 550.90, 6 437.86) yuan, P<0.001]. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted, using u-FSH as a control. The CLBR of the r-FSHα group and r-FSHβ group showed no statistically significant difference compared with the u-FSH group (a OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.57-1.58, P=0.838; a OR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.54-1.48, P=0.654). Conclusion:For patients under 35 years old with normal ovarian function undergoing long protocol ovarian stimulation, the effectiveness and safety of the three ovarian-stimulating medicine are similar, but u-FSH has economic advantages.

Objective:To investigate the clinicohistologic and molecular pathological characteristics of invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma(ISMC).Methods:The clinicopathological data,immunohistochemistry,alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff(AB/PAS)staining,molecular detection and PD-L1 expressions of 11 cases of ISMC and 4 cases of stratified mucin-producing intraepithelial lesion(SMILE)in the pathological database of Anqing Medical Center of Anhui Medical University/Anqing Municipal Hospital and the first Affiliated hospital of Wannan Medical School/Yijishan Hostital between January of 2018 and March of 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:ISMC patients often presented with irregular vaginal bleeding.Morphologically,the cells containing mucus in the cytoplasm were arranged in stratified layers,surrounded by a palisade,and the tumor cells might be signet ring-shaped or have clear cytoplasm.ISMC might occur in both pure and mixed forms.ISMC had highly invasive biological characteristics.CK7,p16,p40 and(or)p63 were expressed focally or positively in the form of palisades around the cancer nests.AB-PAS staining was positive.HPV test results:HPV16/18 was positive in ISMC(1/4);HPV16/18 was positive before surgery(4/6);no HPV was detected in SMILE;all ISMC cases expressed PD-L1.Eight ISMC patients were successfully followed up for 4-39 months(average 20.50 months),and four SMILE patients for 1-25 months(average 8.25 months).All followed-up patients survived;however,one ISMC patient developed multi-organ metastases post-surgery.Conclusion:ISMC has unique morphological characteristics and immunophenotypes,indicated by high invasiveness and poor prognosis.All ISMC are PD-L1 positive,suggesting that these patients may benefit from PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Objective To evaluate postoperative recovery and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing robotic,laparoscopic,or open total hysterectomy.Methods A total of 152 patients who underwent total hysterectomy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from May 2022 to May 2024 were enrolled and assigned to robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery group(robotic surgery group,44 cases),traditional laparoscopic surgery group(laparoscopic surgery group,62 cases),or open surgery group(46 cases)based on the surgical approach.General information,perioperative indexes,and discomfort symptoms 1 month after discharge were collected.Health-related quality of life was evaluated using 36-item short-form health survey(SF-36)at 1-month postoperative follow-up.Results There were no significant differences in age,body mass index,education level,work status,or diagnosis of benign or malignant diseases(all P＞0.05).The postoperative hospital stay,time of first ambulation,time of first oral intake,and 24-h pain score in the robotic surgery group were significantly lower than those in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups(all P＜0.01).The incidence of urinary system and digestive system discomfort within 1 month after discharge was significantly lower in the robotic surgery group than in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups,and the incidence of lower abdominal pain was significantly lower in the robotic surgery group than in the open surgery group(all P＜0.01).The scores of SF-36 in each dimension were significantly higher in the robotic surgery group than those in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups 1 month after discharge(all P＜0.01).Conclusion Compared with those undergoing traditional laparoscopic or open total hysterectomy,patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic total hysterectomy demonstrate faster postoperative recovery and better health-related quality of life.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of belimumab combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of children with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods A total of 64 children with SLE were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 32 cases in each group.The control group was treated with oral prednisone tablets combined with hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets,while the observation group was treated with belimumab on the basis of treatment in the control group.After 6 months of treatment,the clinical efficacy,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI)scores and laboratory indicators[complement C3,complement C4,immunoglobulin IgG(IgG),B lymphocytes,white blood cell count(WBC),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),serum C-reactive protein(CRP),24-hour urine protein quantification(24 h UP),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)]were compared between the two groups.Results After 6 months of treatment,the total effective rate was higher in the observation group than that of the control group(93.8%vs.75.0%,P＜0.05).Compared with before treatment,both groups showed lower SLEDAI scores,IgG,B lymphocytes,ESR,CRP,SCr,24 h UP and BUN after treatment,while C3,C4 levels and WBC were higher.Moreover,the improvement of all indicators was better in the observation group than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Belimumab combined with glucocorticoids can improve the clinical efficacy,control disease activity and enhance immune function in children with SLE.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the anorectal region among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shenzhen, and explore the differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM populations, providing scientific evidence for HPV screening, vaccination, and related disease prevention.Methods:A total of 100 MSM recruited from the Department of Dermatovenerology of the Third People′s Hospital of Shenzhen between 2023 and 2024 were included. Questionnaire collected sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Anorectal exfoliated cells were analyzed for HPV genotyping, and blood samples were tested for HIV antibodies and T lymphocyte subsets. Chi-square test was used to assess associations between qualitative variables. Results:Among 100 MSM, 58 were HIV-positive and 42 HIV-negative. The overall HPV infection rate was 93.10% (54/58) in HIV-positive MSM, with high-risk HPV at 79.31% (46/58) and low-risk HPV at 75.86% (44/58). The predominant genotypes were HPV6, 11, 16, 52, 18, 59, and 68. In HIV-negative MSM, HPV infection rate was 95.24% (40/42), with high-risk HPV at 57.14% (24/42) and low-risk HPV at 92.50% (37/40), dominated by HPV6, 11, 16, 51 and 52. HIV-positive MSM showed significantly higher infection rates of high-risk HPV16/18 ( P=0.032), HPV58 ( P=0.020), HPV59 ( P=0.031), and HPV68 ( P=0.007) compared to HIV-negative MSM. The maximum number of concurrent HPV infections was 12 in HIV-positive MSM versus 4 in HIV-negative MSM. Multivariate analysis revealed that HIV-positive MSM with CD4/CD8 ratio≤0.9 had significantly higher HPV positivity ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HIV-positive MSM exhibit elevated rates of high-risk and multiple HPV infections, closely associated with immune dysfunction. Strengthened HPV screening, vaccination, and immune status management are critical for preventing HPV-related malignancies in the population.

Objective To explore the experiences of children with Crohn's disease and their parents regarding the exclusion diet,and to provide a basis for formulating personalized dietary guidance programs.Methods A total of 12 children with Crohn's disease and their parents,hospitalized in the Department of Gastroenterology at a tertiary children's hospital in Guangzhou from June to December 2023,were selected as research subjects using objective sampling.Semi-structured interviews were conducted,and the data were analyzed and refined using Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method.Results Totally 3 themes and 14 sub-themes were extracted.①Lack of cognition and trust in Crohn's disease exclusion diet(unfamiliarity with the contents of the diet,misunderstanding of the diet's preparation,inadequate response to daily exclusion diet practices,parents' distrust in the exclusion diet).②The practical challenges of the Crohn's disease exclusion diet(the challenge of personal dietary preferences,the challenge of family meal preparation,the challenge of school feeding,food intolerance,feelings of monotony and weariness following the exclusion diet).③Innovations in practicing the Crohn's disease exclusion diet(managing taste fatigue,managing visual fatigue,innovative cooking methods,prioritizing exclusive enteral nutrition followed by the exclusion diet,overcoming the desire for universal food).Conclusion Children with Crohn's disease and their parents exhibit insufficient cognition and trust in the exclusion diet and face various challenges in practice.Clinical medical staff should adopt personalized coping strategies tailored to the specific circumstances of each child.

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortening, a biomarker of telomere attrition, has been linked to multiple diseases. However, the relationship between LTL and digestive diseases remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between LTL and the risk of digestive diseases. METHODS: A cohort analysis of over 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank (UKB) between 2006 and 2021 was conducted to estimate the associations of LTL with more than 90 common digestive diseases. LTL was quantified using multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and cases of each disease were determined according to inpatient and primary care data. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of LTL with the risk of digestive diseases. Furthermore, such associations were also evaluated after stratification by sex and ethnicity. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 11.8 years, over 20 International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision ( ICD-10 ) codes were showed to be associated with telomere attrition. LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of several digestive diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (K21: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.19-1.42), esophageal ulcer (K221: HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22-2.71), Barrett's esophagus (K227: HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.14-2.17), gastritis (K29: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26-1.52), duodenal ulcer (K26: HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14-2.12), functional dyspepsia (K30X: HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (K760: HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.78), liver cirrhosis (K74: HR = 4.73, 95% CI: 3.27-6.85), cholangitis (K830: HR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.30-5.00), and hernia (K43: HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17-1.94; K44: HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17-1.42). The risk of rectal polyps (K621: HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.92) decreased per unit shortening of LTL. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that LTL shortening is associated with an increased risk of most digestive diseases except for rectal polyps. These findings may provide some clues for understanding the pathogenesis of digestive diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Leukocytes/metabolism* ; Telomere/genetics* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Adult ; Digestive System Diseases/genetics* ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Telomere Shortening

Objective To explore the effects of combined exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and high-fat diet on liver lipid metabolism and hepatocyte senescence in mice, and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of the onset and development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Specific pathogen free C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups, with 10 mice with equal numbers of each sex in each group. The mice in the control group and the simple BPA group were fed with regular diet, while others four groups of mice were fed with high-fat diet. At the same time, the mice in the simple BPA group were intragastric administered with BPA at a dose of 50 μg/kg body weight, while the mice in the low-, medium- and high-dose BPA+high-fat groups were intragastric administered with BPA at doses of 5, 50 and 500 μg/kg body weight respectively. The mice in the control group and the high-fat group were intragastric administered with the same volume of corn oil once per day for 90 consecutive days. Liver tissues were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Oil Red O staining. Liver coefficients and lipid-stained area ratios were calculated. Serum level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative expression of cholesterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, P16, and phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) in liver tissues was detected using Western blotting. The interaction effect of the combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet was observed based on the result of mice in the control group, the simple high-fat group, the simple BPA group, and the medium-dose BPA group+high-fat group (the combined exposure group) using a 2×2 factorial design. The results of mice in the simple high-fat group and the low-, medium-, and high-dose BPA+high-fat groups were used to observe the effect of BPA exposure dose under high-fat diet conditions. Results i) The interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high fat. The HE and Oil Red O staining results indicated that the combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet successfully established NAFLD in mice. The interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet on serum ALT activity and the relative expression of P16 in the liver tissue of female mice, as well as the serum ALT and AST activities and the relative expression of SREBP1 in the liver tissue of male mice was significant (all P<0.05). Specifically, the serum ALT activity of male mice in the combined exposure group was higher than that in the simple high-fat group (P<0.05), while the ALT activity in the serum of female mice in the combined exposure group was lower than that in the simple BPA group (P<0.05). The relative expression of SREBP1 protein in the liver tissue of male mice in the combined exposure group was higher than that in the control group, the simple high-fat group, and the simple BPA group (all P<0.05). For the other indicators, there were no significant differences in the interactive effect of combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet (all P>0.05). ii) Dose effects of BPA exposure. The HE and Oil Red O staining result showed that the degree of vacuolar steatosis in the liver of female and male mice of medium- and high-dose BPA + high-fat groups was aggravated, and the range of inflammatory cell infiltration was expanded when compared with same-sex mice in the simple high-fat group. The serum ALT activity and the fat stained area ratio, as well as the relative expression of P16 in liver tissue of female mice in high-dose BPA + high-fat group increased (all P<0.05), while the level of IL-10 in liver tissue decreased (P<0.05), compared with the female mice in simple high-fat group. The serum ALT activity, the TNF-α level in liver tissue, and the relative expression of SREBP1, P16 and γ-H2AX proteins in liver tissue of male mice in high-dose BPA + high-fat group increased (all P<0.05), while the IL-6 level in liver tissue decreased (P<0.05), compared with the male mice in simple high-fat group. For the female or male mice in the low- and medium-dose BPA + high-fat groups, only some of the above indicators showed significant changes (all P<0.05). Conclusion The combined exposure to BPA and high-fat diet has a synergistic effect on the onset and development of NAFLD. The mechanism may be related to inducing cellular senescence and modulation of lipid synthesis pathways, thereby affecting liver steatosis. The exposure dose of BPA may affect the synergistic effect.

The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.