Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of artesunate(AS)on polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)in mice and explore the potential mechanism primarily.Methods Twenty-five female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into Control group,model group(PCOS group),low-and high-dose AS groups(AS15 and AS30 groups)and metformin group(Met group).In addition to the Control group,the mouse model of PCOS was established by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA,60 mg/kg)following by a high-fat diet for 21 d.After modeling,AS of 15 and 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected into the mice of the AS 15 and AS30 groups,respectively,and 200 mg/kg Met was given to those of the Met group by gavage,once per day,for 6 weeks.ELISA was used to detect serum testosterone(T),fasting insulin(FINS),luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),and the LH/FSH ratio was calculated.The levels of fasting blood glucose(FBG),triglyceride(TG)and total cholesterol(TC)were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer,and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)was calculated.The estrous cycle was observed,and HE staining was performed for pathological changes in the ovary and uterus.Immunofluorescence assay was employed to measure the expression of p-eIF2α,ATF4 and CHOP in the ovarian tissue.After steroidogenic human granulosa-like tumor cell line KGN were exposed to 100 μmol/L DHEA to simulate the hyperandrogen environment of PCOS,and then treated with 5 and 10 μg/mL AS for 24 h,the protein levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the Control group,the PCOS mice had disturbed estrous cycle,polycystic changes in the ovaries,and significantly increased serum T level and LH/FSH ratio(P＜0.05),and obviously elevated HOMA-IR,TC and TG levels in terms of metabolism(P＜0.01).The expression levels of p-eIF2α,ATF4 and CHOP were notably up-regulated in the ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS mice and KGN cells after DHEA exposure(P＜0.05).Additionally,AS treatment attenuated the pathological changes of ovary and uterine expression,decreased the serum T level and the LH/FSH ratio(P＜0.05),and reduced HOMA-IR,TC and TG levels(P＜0.05)when compared with the PCOS mice.Moreover,the expression levels of p-eIF2α,ATF4 and CHOP were significantly down-regulated after AS treatment in both ovarian granulosa cells of PCOS mice and KGN cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion AS significantly improves glycolipid metabolic disorder and reproductive dysfunction in PCOS mice,which may be associated with its suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress by inhibiting the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway.

Objective To investigate the distribution of B cells in both tumor and non-tumor tissues of gastric cancer patients,analyze their phenotypic characteristics and explore the impact on T cell proliferation.Methods Immunohistochemical staining was utilized to detect the expression of B cell surface marker CD 19 in tumor and non-tumor tissues from 33 gastric cancer patients.The expression levels of chemokine receptors and immunoglobulin molecules on B cells in both tumor and non-tumor tissues were measured using flow cytometry.Chemotaxis experiments were conducted to examine the role of the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis in B cell chemotaxis.B cells isolated and purified from both tissue types were co-cultured with autologous peripheral T cells to assess their effect on T cell proliferation.Results There were significantly more B cells infiltrated in tumor tissues than those infitrated in the non-tumor tissues of gastric cancer patients(P＜0.01),and CXCR4 was highly expressed on tumor-infiltrating B cells compared with B cells derived from non-tumor tissues(P＜0.05).The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)analysis indicated that the expression level of CXCL12 in tumor tissues was positively correlated with the expression level of CD19 in gastric cancer patients(r=0.15,P＜0.01).And the expression level of CXCL12 in tumor tissues of the gastric cancer patients was also positively correlated with the number of B cells infiltrated in tumor tissues.Chemotaxis experiments confirmed that the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis was involved in promoting B cell chemotaxis(P＜0.05).Although B cells in tumor and non-tumor tissues had similar levels of IgM,IgG,and IgA expression,tumor-infiltrating B cells significantly inhibited the proliferation of T cells when compared with B cells derived from non-tumor tissues(P＜0.01).Conclusion There are more B cells infiltrated in gastric cancer tissues,which may be recruited to tumor tissues through the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis,and then inhibit T cell proliferation to promote the progression of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid(EgCF) on the cytoskeletal rearrangement and phagocytosis and the migration of macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Methods Peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6 mice were isolated and cultured in vitro, and divided into control group and LPS group and LPS combined with EgCF group. After 48 hours of treatment, filamentous actin (F-actin) changes were observed with rhodamine-labelled phalloidin staining and fluorescence microscopy; Transwell^TM chamber was used to test cell migration ability and flow cytometry to test cell phagocytosis. After 1 hour of treatment, PI3K and AKT, phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), Rac1, guanosine triphospho-Rac1 (GTP-Rac1), WASP and Arp2 protein expressions were detected with Western blot analysis. Results Compared with the control group, after LPS stimulation, macrophages were deformed significantly; pseudopodia increased; actin cytoskeleton increased and was more distributed in pseudopodia; the ability of migration and phagocytosis were significantly improved, and the expression of PI3K, p-AKT, GTP-Rac1, WASP and Arp2 proteins significantly increased. EgCF treatment caused cell shrinkage and disappearance of pseudopodia protrusions of LPS-activated cells, and led to the reduced phagocytic and migratory of cells; the protein expression of PI3K, p-AKT, GTP-Rac1, WASP and Arp2 decreased significantly compared with the LPS group. Conclusion LPS induces the migration and enhances phagocytosis of macrophages while EgCF inhibits these effects, which is related to actin cytoskeleton rearrangement.
Mice ; Animals ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Echinococcus granulosus/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Cyst Fluid/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Phagocytosis ; Actins/metabolism* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Guanosine Triphosphate/pharmacology*

Objective:To understand the true feelings of nursing undergraduates about their professional cultural confidence, and to provide reference for nursing educators and managers to formulate ideological and political education programs.Methods:Totally 33 undergraduate nursing students admitted into Guangzhou Medical University in 2020 were selected by purposive sampling from November to December 2020. This study adopted the phenomenological method in qualitative research. Semi-structured group focus interviews were conducted with the nursing undergraduates, and Colaizzi's 7-step analysis was used to analyze the data and refine the themes.Results:The nursing undergraduates showed both positive and negative psychological experience towards nursing culture. Positive experience themes included recognition, acceptance and love, while negative experience themes included conflict, resistance and confusion.Conclusions:This study reveals the psychological experience of nursing undergraduates' cultural confidence in this profession. It is recommended that nursing educators and managers pay attention to and strengthen the positive experience of nursing undergraduates, and devote themselves to ameliorating their negative experience. They should provide targeted education for general culture and nursing culture, help nursing undergraduates establish a positive and stable nursing culture perception, and cultivate their confidence in nursing culture.

Many recent studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays important roles in human physiology and pathology. Also, microbiome-based therapies have been used to improve health status and treat diseases. In addition, aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, have become topics of intense interest in biomedical research. Several researchers have explored the links between these topics to study the potential pathogenic or therapeutic effects of intestinal microbiota in disease. But the exact relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and gut microbiota remains unclear. As technology advances, new techniques for studying the microbiome will be developed and refined, and the relationship between diseases and gut microbiota will be revealed. This article summarizes the known interactions between the gut microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting assay techniques for the gut microbiome, and we also discuss the potential therapeutic role of microbiome-based therapies in diseases.
Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/therapy* ; Parkinson Disease/therapy*

Many recent studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays important roles in human physiology and pathology. Also, microbiome-based therapies have been used to improve health status and treat diseases. In addition, aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, have become topics of intense interest in biomedical research. Several researchers have explored the links between these topics to study the potential pathogenic or therapeutic effects of intestinal microbiota in disease. But the exact relationship between neurodegenerative diseases and gut microbiota remains unclear. As technology advances, new techniques for studying the microbiome will be developed and refined, and the relationship between diseases and gut microbiota will be revealed. This article summarizes the known interactions between the gut microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting assay techniques for the gut microbiome, and we also discuss the potential therapeutic role of microbiome-based therapies in diseases.

Objective:To explore the effect of nursing intervention based on the integration theory of health behavior change in pelvic floor muscle exercise of patients with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) after early cervical cancer surgery.Methods:A total of 134 patients with pelvic floor dysfunction after early cervical cancer surgery were selected and divided into test group ( n=67) and control group ( n=67) by random digits table method. The test group received three months of pelvic floor muscle exercise based on the theory of healthy behavior change. The control group received conventional pelvic floor rehabilitation care. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20(PFDI-20), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7(PFIQ-7), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were evaluated before the intervention (T0), After one month of intervention (T1) and at the end of the intervention (T2). Results:The results of repeated measurement analysis of variance showed significant group/time interaction between PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores ( Finteraction=29.196,13.213, both P<0.05); significant group/time interaction between GSES and SSRS scores ( Finteraction value was 25.664,70.240, both P<0.05). At the end of the intervention, the scores of PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 in the test group were 66.54±14.04 and 73.20±7.41, which were lower than 77.47±15.91 and 78.39±8.51 in the control group over the same period. The difference was statistically significant ( t value was -4.216, -3.765, both P<0.01); the GSES and SSRS scores of the test group were 2.86±0.30 and 50.37±2.45, which were higher than the control group (2.51±0.34 and 46.42±2.82), the differences between the groups were statistically significant ( t value was 6.447, 8.662, both P<0.01). Conclusion:The nursing intervention plan based on the integration theory of health behavior change can significantly improve the self-efficacy, social support level and quality of life of patients with PFD after early cervical cancer surgery, and enhance the short-term and long-term pelvic floor rehabilitation effect of patients.

Background: Multiple biomarkers have performed well in predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk in Western populations. However, evidence is scarce among Asian populations. Methods: Plasma triglyceride-to-high density lipoprotein (TG-to-HDL) ratio, alanine transaminase (ALT), high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP), ferritin, adiponectin, fetuin-A, and retinol-binding protein 4 were measured in 485 T2DM cases and 485 age-and-sex matched controls nested within the prospective Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort. Participants were free of T2DM at blood collection (1999 to 2004), and T2DM cases were identified at the subsequent follow-up interviews (2006 to 2010). A weighted biomarker score was created based on the strengths of associations between these biomarkers and T2DM risks. The predictive utility of the biomarker score was assessed by the area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Results: The biomarker score that comprised of four biomarkers (TG-to-HDL ratio, ALT, ferritin, and adiponectin) was positively associated with T2DM risk (P trend <0.001). Compared to the lowest quartile of the score, the odds ratio was 12.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.43 to 26.6) for those in the highest quartile. Adding the biomarker score to a base model that included smoking, history of hypertension, body mass index, and levels of random glucose and insulin improved AUC significantly from 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78 to 0.83) to 0.83 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.86; P=0.002). When substituting the random glucose levels with glycosylated hemoglobin in the base model, adding the biomarker score improved AUC from 0.85 (95% CI, 0.83 to 0.88) to 0.86 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.89; P=0.032). Conclusion A composite score of blood biomarkers improved T2DM risk prediction among Chinese.

Objective: To compare the differences in the stress distribution in simulated first molars prepared with three rotary nickel-titanium instruments. Methods : Four simulated first molars were prepared without instruments and with Reciproc, WaveOne and Protaper. Before and after preparation, each simulated molar was scanned by Micro-CT. The data were imported to Mimics 16.0 software to establish three-dimensional models. Finite element analysis was processed with Abaqus 6.14 software under conditions of longitudinal and lateral load. Results: Under vertical load conditions, the maximum von Mises stress of the enamel increased by 1.36%, 21.48% and 20.99% in the Reciproc, WaveOne and Protaper groups, respectively, after preparation, while the maximum von Mises stress of the cementum increased by 55.98%, 41.18% and 33.04%, respectively, and the maximum von Mises stress of the alveolar bone increased by 45.55%, 40.37% and 24.09%, respectively. Under 45° lateral load conditions, the maximum von Mises stress of the enamel increased by 1.79%, -4.58% and 3.82% in the Reciproc, WaveOne and Protaper groups, respectively, after preparation, while the maximum von Mises stress of cementum increased by 16.33%, 7.58% and 4.32%, respectively, and the maximum von Mises stress of the alveolar bone increased by 46.82%, 36.40% and 8.29%, respectively. Under the same conditions, the von Mises stresses of the cementum and alveolar bones of the simulated molars were higher after preparation than before preparation, especially under lateral load conditions. The stress was focused on the border between the crown and the root. The von Mises stress of the cementum and alveolar bones increased much more in the Reciproc group than in the other two groups under both conditions. Conclusion The von Mises stress of simulated molars was greater after preparation than before preparation. The von Mises stress of the cementum and alveolar bones increased much more in the Reciproc group than in the other two groups.

Objective To investigate the related factors of anxiety in patients undergoing liver puncture,so as to provide better clinical care and psychological intervention for patients to ensure the successful completion of liver puncture. Methods From January 2008 to January 2014,310 cases of patients from the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen with liver puncture were selected as the research object. The patients' general condition and self rating Anxiety Scale were investigated. Results The SAS score of the patients who would undergo liver puncture was(47.25±0.44)points,and the incidence of anxiety symptoms was 91.3%. The results of univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the effect of patients with anxiety before liver biopsy can explain the variation of the size of the corresponding factors:whether accompanied by family members, payment methods,awareness of the disease,ear of liver failure,the education level,and gender(β' =0.617, 0.352,0.114,0.102,0.082、0.043;P < 0.05). Conclusions Before the liver puncture,the patients show a state of anxiety. The main factors affecting the anxiety status are whether to have family members,to pay for the disease,to understand the disease,to worry about the failure of liver failure,the degree of education and gender medical staff should provide targeted nursing intervention for patients to alleviate anxiety and promote rehabilitation on the basis of the above factors and the relevant circumstances.