Stem cell treatment may enhance erectile dysfunction (ED) in individuals with cavernous nerve injury (CNI). Nevertheless, no investigations have directly ascertained the implications of varying amounts of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) on ED. We compare the efficacy of three various doses of HUC-MSCs as a therapeutic strategy for ED. Sprague-Dawley rats (total = 175) were randomly allocated into five groups. A total of 35 rats underwent sham surgery and 140 rats endured bilateral CNI and were treated with vehicles or doses of HUC-MSCs (1 × 10 6 cells, 5 × 10 6 cells, and 1 × 10 7 cells in 0.1 ml, respectively). Penile tissues were harvested for histological analysis on 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, 60 days, and 90 days postsurgery. It was found that varying dosages of HUC-MSCs enhanced the erectile function of rats with bilateral CNI and ED. Moreover, there was no significant disparity in the effectiveness of various dosages of HUC-MSCs. However, the expression of endothelial markers (rat endothelial cell antigen-1 [RECA-1] and endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]), smooth muscle markers (alpha smooth muscle actin [α-SMA] and desmin), and neural markers (neurofilament [RECA-1] and neurogenic nitric oxide synthase [nNOS]) increased significantly with prolonged treatment time. Masson's staining demonstrated an increased in the smooth muscle cell (SMC)/collagen ratio. Significant changes were detected in the microstructures of various types of cells. In vivo imaging system (IVIS) analysis showed that at the 1 st day, the HUC-MSCs implanted moved to the site of damage. Additionally, the oxidative stress levels were dramatically reduced in the penises of rats administered with HUC-MSCs.
Male ; Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Rats ; Penis/pathology* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Umbilical Cord/cytology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/complications* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Actins/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoking exacerbates the progression of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in chronic lung diseases has gained attention; however, it remains unclear whether smoking-exacerbated lung damage in TB is associated with TLS. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of pulmonary TLS in smokers with TB and to explore the possible role of TLS in smoking-related lung injury in TB. METHODS: Lung tissues from 36 male patients (18 smokers and 18 non-smokers) who underwent surgical resection for pulmonary TB were included in this study. Pathological and immunohistological analyses were conducted to evaluate the quantity of TLS, and chest computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the severity of lung lesions. The correlation between the TLS quantity and TB lesion severity scores was analyzed. The immune cells and chemokines involved in TLS formation were also evaluated and compared between smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS: Smoker patients with TB had significantly higher TLS than non-smokers ( P < 0.001). The TLS quantity in both the lung parenchyma and peribronchial regions correlated with TB lesion severity on chest CT (parenchyma: r = 0.5767; peribronchial: r = 0.7373; both P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased B cells, T cells, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) expression in smoker patients with TB ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Smoker TB patients exhibited increased pulmonary TLS, which was associated with exacerbated lung lesions on chest CT, suggesting that cigarette smoking may exacerbate lung damage by promoting TLS formation.
Humans ; Male ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology* ; Middle Aged ; Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology* ; Adult ; Lung/pathology* ; Smoking/adverse effects* ; Smokers ; Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective : To assess and to compare the diagnostic performance of cervical ultrasound and 18F fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG PET/CT) in identifying cervical lymph node metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) following total thyroidectomy, focusing on both early and delayed imaging phases. Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 83 DTC patients with DTC who had undergone total thyroidectomy. A total of 143 cervical lymph nodes, comprising both metastatic and non-metastatic nodes, were evaluated using 18F-FDG PET/CT and ultrasound. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy were calculated for each imaging modality. Differences in lymph node detection rates across cervical regions using ultrasound were analyzed, along with nodal size parameters(long and short axis diameters), to investigate potential limitations of ultrasound in this context. Additionally, PET/CT parameters including axial ratio, early and delayed maximum standardized uptake values(SUVmax), and changes in SUVmax between imaging timepoints(ΔSUVmax) were compared between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes to evaluate the diagnostic value and underlying mechanisms of PET/CT in this clinical setting. Results : 18 F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 91 . 58% (98/107) , a specificity of 72. 22% (26/36) , and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 86. 71% (124/143) in identifying cervical lymph node metastases post-total thyroidectomy in DTC patients . In comparison , ultrasound showed a lower sensitivity of 50. 47% (54/107) , but a higher specificity of 97. 22% (35/36) , with an overall accuracy of 62. 24% (89/ 143) . Notably , ultrasound exhibited a significantly higher false-negative rate in the first cervical lymph node group compared to the second group [56. 6% (30/53 ) vs 43 . 4% (23/53 ) ; χ2 = 20. 396 , P < 0. 001] . In delayed PET/CT imaging , metastatic lymph nodes showed a significantly increased SUV max compared to early-phase imaging (Z = - 8. 147 , P < 0. 001) . Using an SUV max threshold of 2. 5 , delayed imaging identified a greater number of positive lymph nodes than early imaging ( χ2 = 18. 127 , P < 0. 001) . Furthermore , metastatic lymph nodes exhibi- ted a significantly lower axial ratio than non-metastatic nodes (Z = - 4. 529 , P < 0. 001) . Both early and delayed SUV max values were significantly higher in malignant nodes compared to benign ones (Z = - 3 . 689 , P < 0. 001 and Z = - 4. 550 , P < 0. 001 , respectively) . Additionally , ΔSUV max was markedly elevated in metastatic lymph nodes (Z = - 4. 189 , P < 0. 001) . Conclusion Dual-phase 18 F-FDG PET/CT proves to be superior to ultrasound in di- agnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following total thyroid- ectomy . Delayed-phase imaging offers higher tumor-to-background ratio , which enhances the visibility of metastatic lymph nodes . In addition , dual-phase 18 F-FDG PET/CT plays greater advantages in the differential diagnosis be- tween metastatic lymph nodes and non-metastatic lymph nodes .

Objective To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment(EP)for relieving post-stroke spasticity in rats.Methods Eighteen rats were randomized equally into sham-operated group,middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)group,and MCAO+EP group.In MCAO+EP group,the rats received electroacupuncture at the acupoints Qubin and Baihui for 3 consecutive days prior to MCAO.Neurological deficits and cognitive function of the rats were evaluated,and pathologies in the hippocampus were examined using HE,Nissl,and TUNEL staining.The expressions of IL-4,IL-6,TNF-α,and TMAO in the brain tissues were detected with ELISA,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-3,and caspase-9 were determined with qRT-PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.Results The rats receiving MCAO had significantly increased neurological deficit scores and showed increased muscle tension,number of apoptotic neurons,and expressions of IL-6,TNF-α,NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the hippocampus and significantly reduced length of time for new object recognition.Microscopically,the cells in the hippocampus of the MCAO rats showed uneven and loosened arrangement and unclear cell boundaries.In contrast,the rats in I/R+EP group showed significantly lowered neurological deficit scores and dystonia rating scores,reduced cell apoptosis,lowered hippocampal expressions of IL-6,TNF-α,caspase-3,caspase-9,and NF-κB p65,increased time for new object recognition,tightly arranged and uniformly stained hippocampal cells with clear boundaries,with also an increased number of active neurons and enhanced expression of IL-4 in the hippocampus.Conclusion EP alleviates post-stroke spasticity in rats by inhibiting inflammatory responses and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis mediated by the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment(EP)for relieving post-stroke spasticity in rats.Methods Eighteen rats were randomized equally into sham-operated group,middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)group,and MCAO+EP group.In MCAO+EP group,the rats received electroacupuncture at the acupoints Qubin and Baihui for 3 consecutive days prior to MCAO.Neurological deficits and cognitive function of the rats were evaluated,and pathologies in the hippocampus were examined using HE,Nissl,and TUNEL staining.The expressions of IL-4,IL-6,TNF-α,and TMAO in the brain tissues were detected with ELISA,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-3,and caspase-9 were determined with qRT-PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.Results The rats receiving MCAO had significantly increased neurological deficit scores and showed increased muscle tension,number of apoptotic neurons,and expressions of IL-6,TNF-α,NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the hippocampus and significantly reduced length of time for new object recognition.Microscopically,the cells in the hippocampus of the MCAO rats showed uneven and loosened arrangement and unclear cell boundaries.In contrast,the rats in I/R+EP group showed significantly lowered neurological deficit scores and dystonia rating scores,reduced cell apoptosis,lowered hippocampal expressions of IL-6,TNF-α,caspase-3,caspase-9,and NF-κB p65,increased time for new object recognition,tightly arranged and uniformly stained hippocampal cells with clear boundaries,with also an increased number of active neurons and enhanced expression of IL-4 in the hippocampus.Conclusion EP alleviates post-stroke spasticity in rats by inhibiting inflammatory responses and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis mediated by the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

This study was performed to explore the effects of berberine(BBR)and berbamine(BA)on the apoptosis and activity of eosinophils,and to provide new ideas for the treatment of eosinophil-related diseases.Anticoagulated whole blood was taken from hospitalized patients,and eosinophils were purified by magnetic bead sorting technology,and the cell purification rate was compared by using flow cytometry.The purified eosinophils were cultured and stimulated with different concentrations of BBR and BA,and the apoptosis of eosinophils was observed using immunofluorescence microscopy.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate,reactive oxygen species(ROS)release,mitochondrial membrane potential,and CD11b,CD62L and CD63 molecular expression of eosinophils.Data showed that 10 μmol/L BBR displayed significant anti-apoptosis effect on eosinophils at 18 h,24 h,48 h,however,100 μmol/L and 150 μmol/L BBR displayed significant apoptosis-promoting effects on eosinophils at 24 h,48 h,especially in the early stage.BA at 5 μmol/L,15 μmol/L and 25 μmol/L showed significant apoptosis-promoting effects on eosinophils at 24 h,48 h,especially in the late stage.In eosinophils,BA stimulated the production of ROS and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in a concentration-dependent manner,reaching the maximum effect at 25 μmol/L,while BBR stimulation did not change mitochondria and ROS.Pretreatment with 25 μmol/L BA significantly inhibited the increase of CD11b expression and the decrease of CD62L expression in eosinophils after eotaxin-2 stimulation.In conclusion,berberine has a bidirectional regulatory effect on the quantity of eosinophils,while berbamine promotes eosinophil apoptosis and inhibits eosinophil activation.Both compounds hold significant potential for regulating the progression of eosinophil-associated diseases,and their regulatory mechanisms need further investigation.

Due to the fact that the articular cartilage of children's joints has not yet been fully ossified, visualizing the adjacent anatomical structures during the clinical diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases and injuries in children is a challenging issue. Arthrography is an efficient, convenient, and minimally invasive technique, and is particularly crucial for the visualization of children's hip joints. Currently, arthrography technology is widely employed during surgeries for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and in recent years, numerous studies have concentrated on the efficacy of joint angiography, exploring its assessment and predictive roles during and after the operation. We review the overview of hip joint arthrography techniques, such as the concept of arthrography, the selection of access routes for hip joint arthrography, the process of hip joint arthrography, the dosage and operation of contrast agents, and the adverse reactions of contrast agents; the use of hip joint arthrography to evaluate the quality of closed reduction; the use of hip joint arthrography to predict the future development and outcome of the acetabulum after closed reduction; the use of hip joint arthrography in the study of open reduction or osteotomy; the use of hip joint arthrography to observe the morphology of soft tissues in the hip joint; the use of hip joint arthrography in combination with nuclear magnetic resonance to observe the anatomical structure of the acetabular labrum. Summarizing the research results of arthrography for evaluating the corresponding indicators of the hip joint helps improve the matching between the femoral head and the acetabulum and the accuracy of evaluating the quality of reduction, uncovers identifying factors such as labrum varus that hinder concentric reduction, enhances the ability to predict the development and outcome of the acetabulum, and has significant guiding significance for the precise selection of the timing of surgical intervention for early and residual deformities in children with DDH. Exploring the application of arthrography technology in evaluating the quality of closed reduction in DDH and predicting the development of the acetabulum after reduction is expected to provide meaningful references for orthopedic surgeons in the current clinical diagnosis, treatment, and research of DDH.

Objective:To establish a TAL gel-clot bacterial endotoxin test for aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.Methods:According to the bacterial endotoxin test in general chapter 1143 of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020,pre-interference test was performed using 3 types of buffer solutions and Ca-Mg additive by orthogonal design.The interference test and sample preparation validation were carried out using different batches of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant from 2 TAL manufacturers.Results:No interference was obtained through pre-interference test.Under the validated conditions,aluminum hydroxide adjuvant combined with phosphate buffered saline and Ca-Mg additive was employed to remove interference in bacteria endotoxin test.Conclusion:The established TAL gel-clot method is applicable to bacterial endotoxin test for aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

Objective To investigate the correlation between intra-and peri-tumoral radiomics features and the response to con-current chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)in cervical squamous cell carcinoma,and to explore the difference of predictive performance between 2D and 3D radiomics models.Methods The imaging data of 132 patients were analyzed retrospectively and randomly divided into training set(n=92)and validation set(n=40).Radiomics features were extracted based on the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI),the correlation analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm were used for dimensionality reduction and screening,then the radiomics score was calculated and the logistic model was constructed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,internal validation of Bootstrap and Brier score were used to evaluate the discrimina-tion and calibration of the model,and the improvement in predictive performance of 3D model compared with 2D model was evaluated by the integrated discrimination improvement(IDI).Results In the training set,the ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the models(2D-intratumoral,3D-intratumoral,3D-peritumoral,3D-combined)ranged from 0.774 to 0.893.The internal validation of Bootstrap showed the AUC were 0.772,0.860,0.847 and 0.888,respectively,while in the validation set,the AUC were 0.757,0.849,0.824 and 0.887,respectively.The Brier scores indicated that the models were well calibrated.In the training set and the validation set,the IDI values were 0.155 and 0.179,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The radiomics analysis based on the tumor volume can fully explore the tumor heterogeneity.The intra-and peri-tumoral radiomics combined model shows the best predictive performance,which is important to assist clinicians in developing individualized therapies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between mosquito density fluctuations and meteorological factors, so as to provide a scientific basis for mosquito surveillance analysis, risk assessment, and comprehensive prevention and control. MethodsMosquito surveillance and monitoring data of 2020‒2023 was obtained from on-site supervisory sampling by Songjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and meteorological data was obtained from the Wheat A wheat malt-agro-meteorological big data system. Excel 2019 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to organize and analyze the mosquito number, species composition, and seasonal changes in mosquito density captured by the CO₂-light trap at rach monitoring site. Circular distribution method was used to calculate the peak time of mosquito density, combined with the meteorological data of the same period to explore the impact of meteorological factors on the results of mosquito surveillance. ResultsThere was a statistical difference in the overall distribution of mosquito quantity in different habitats(H=23.11, P<0.05), 2020‒2023. In addition, the results showed that July 28th was the peak day for mosquito density, and the duration from June 13th to September 11th was the seasonal peak period for mosquitoes. Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between mosquito density and average air temperature, average highest air temperature, average lowest air temperature, extreme maximum air temperature, extreme minimum air temperature, precipitation, and number of precipitation days (all P<0.01). While, there was no significant correlation between average wind speed and mosquito density (P>0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis resulted in the equation of Y=0.151X_{extreme minimum temperature}+0.321X_{number of precipitation days}+1.002X_{SQRT precipitation}-1.288 (F=102.635, P<0.05). ConclusionThe CO₂-light trap is advisable to monitor the habitats of farmers, livestock sheds, residential areas, parks, hospitals, and other external environments. Air temperature and precipitation have a significant impact on mosquito density. It is recommended to implement comprehensive prevention and control measures to reduce mosquito density and prevent mosquito-borne diseases before the peak period of mosquitoes.