Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly men, with lower urinary tract symptoms as the main manifestation, severely affecting the quality of life of patients. The pathogenesis of BPH is not yet fully understood, and there are still some challenges and limitations in western medicine treatment for BPH. Therefore, finding new and more effective treatment strategies is urgent. In recent years, many basic and clinical studies have confirmed the important role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of BPH. This article reviews the progress of basic and clinical research in the treatment of BPH with traditional Chinese medicine, and believes that basic research mainly focuses on the active ingredients of Chinese medicine [regulating pathways such as NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/antioxidant response element(ARE), nuclear factor κB(NF-κB), epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)/forkhead box O subtype(FOXO3a), etc.], single Chinese herbs(regulating inflammatory factors, oxidative stress-related proteins, cell cycle-related proteins, and apoptotic factors, etc.), and Chinese herbal compounds and patent medicines [regulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK1/2), transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)/Smad, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), PI3K/Akt, Nrf2, trefoil factor 2(TFF2)/Wnt, interleukin-6(IL-6)/Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/STAT3, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR), etc.], and then play a therapeutic role by inhibiting BPH cell proliferation, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, promoting apoptosis, and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Clinical studies mainly focus on internal treatment, external treatment, combined internal and external treatment, and integrated Chinese and western medicine treatment as the main methods, aiming to improve traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, prostate symptom scores, residual urine volume, effective bladder volume, sexual quality of life, increase average urine flow rate, maximum urine flow rate, and promote balance of sex hormone secretion. Through this research, it is hoped to provide some reference ideas for clinical research and drug development for BPH.
Prostatic Hyperplasia/metabolism* ; Male ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics*

Objective: To develop effective alternatives to natural enzymes, it is crucial to develop nanozymes that are economical, resource efficient, and environmentally conscious. Carbon nanomaterials that have enzyme-like activities have been extensively developed as substitutes for traditional enzymes. Methods: Carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) were directly synthesized via a one-step electrochemical method from a MAX precursor using an ammonium bifluoride electrolyte at ambient conditions. The CDCs were characterized by systematic techniques. Results: CDCs showed bienzyme-like activities similar to that of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. We systematically studied the dependence of CDC enzyme-like activity on different electrolytes and electrolysis times to confirm activity dependence on CDC content. Additionally, the synthesis mechanism and CDC applicability were elaborated and demonstrated, respectively. Conclusion The demonstrated synthesis strategy eliminates tedious intercalation and delamination centrifugation steps and avoids using high concentrations of HF, high temperatures, and halogen gases. This study paves the way for designing two-dimensional material-based nanocatalysts for nanoenzyme and other applications.
Ammonium Compounds/chemical synthesis* ; Carbon/chemistry* ; Electrochemical Techniques ; Enzymes ; Fluorides/chemical synthesis* ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; Oxidation-Reduction

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the association between mild cognitive impairment and all-cause mortality. Methods: The research papers of the association between cognitive impairment and all-cause mortality in the elderly in the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Wang Fang data and CNKI published as of August 1, 2021 were comprehensively retrieved. Software R 4.02 was used for Meta-analysis. Results: A total of 9 research papers were included, involving 48 709 patients. The quality of included papers was high. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the association between mild cognitive impairment and the increased risk of all-cause mortality was statistically significant. Compared with the normal cognitive population, the risk of mortality in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment increased by 39% (HR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.18-1.63). Conclusions: The current research evidence showed that mild cognitive impairment assessed by MMSE screening scale can be used as an independent predictor of the increased risk of all-cause mortality in the elderly population in China. However, due to the limitation of the number of included studies and sample size, the conclusions need to be supported by more evidence studies.
Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Cognitive Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Mass Screening

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To investigate the effects of Jiawei-Naotai formula (JWNTF) on ATF4/CHOP/Puma pathway in hippocampal neurons of ovariectomized female rats with cerebral ischemia.METHODS:The female rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, JWNTF group and positive control group.The rats, expect in the sham group, were ovariectomized.The rats in each group were intragastric administration 11 days after ovariectomy.The rats in sham group and model group were given a gavage of 0.9％Na Cl, while the rats in other groups were administrated by corresponding therapy intragastrically for 3 d.The regional cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) suture method 14 days after ovariectomy.The behaviors of the rats were evaluated 24 h after cerebral ischemia.The mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected by RT-qPCR, and the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, ATF4, CHOP and Puma was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with sham group, the neurobehavioral scores significantly increased in other groups (P<0.05).Compared with model group, the neurobehavioral scores were significantly decreased in positive control group and JWNTF group (P<0.05).The protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, ATF4, CHOP and Puma, and the mRNA expression of Bax and caspase-3 in the hippocampus were much higher, and Bcl-2 was lower in model group than those in sham group (P<0.05).JWNTF significantly reduced the protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, ATF4 and CHOP, and the mRNA expression of Puma, Bax and caspase-3, and markedly increased the expression of Bcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels compared with model group.CONCLUSION:The JWNTF protects against brain damage induced by cerebral ischemia, which may be related to inhibitiing the expression of ATF4/CHOP/Puma pathway-related molecules at mRNA and protein levels.

Objective To identify tiletamine, zolazepam and their metabolites in samples from drug facilitated sexual assault by gas chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry （GC-QTOF-MS）. Methods Urine samples of victims were collected, and detected by GC-QTOF-MS after liquid-liquid extraction and concentration. The molecular formula of fragments ions was identified by determination of accurate mass numbers, to detect related substances. Results Tiletamine, zolazepam, three metabolites of tiletamine and two metabolites of zolazepam were identified in urine samples from actual cases. Conclusion GC-QTOF-MS provides abundant and accurate information of fragment ions mass numbers, which can be used for qualitative identification of tiletamine, zolazepam and their metabolites in drug facilitated sexual assault.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Forensic Toxicology/methods* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Humans ; Sex Offenses ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Tiletamine/blood* ; Zolazepam/blood*

Objective: To investigate the application values of immunophenotypic analysis and molecular genetics in the diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) . Methods: The retrospective analyses of flow cytometric (FCM) immunophenotypic anyalysis, chromosome karyotype and chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of 798 outpatient or hospitalization APL patients referred to our hospital between May 2012 and December 2017 were performed to further study the application values of FCM and molecular genetics in the diagnosis of APL. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of FCM were 91.9% and 98.7% respectively. The typical characteristic immunophenotype for APL was as of follows: a high SSC, absence of expression of cluster differntiation (CD) CD34 and HLA-DR, and expression or stronger expression of CD33, consistent expression of CD13, CD9, CD123, expression of CD56, CD7, CD2 (sometimes) . The rest 10% of the cases harbored atypical APL phenotypes, generally accompanied by CD34 and/or HLA-DR expression, decreased SSC and often accompanied by CD2 expression, it was difficult to definitively diagnose APL by this FCM phenotype, and their diagnoses depended on the results of genetics or molecular biology tests. Compared with normal individuals, complex karyotypes APL with t (15;17) translocation, other variant translocations and variant t (11;17) , t (5;17) had no significant differences in terms of their FCM phenotypes. Conclusions: FCM could rapidly and effectively diagnose APL. Despite the fact that complex karyotypes with various additional chromosomal abnormalities were detected in approximately one third of APL cases in addition to the pathognomonic t (15;17) (q22;q21) , they had no observable impact on the overall immunophenotype. Molecular and genetic criteria were the golden criteria for the diagnosis of APL. About 10% of immunophenotyping cases relied on molecular genetics for diagnosis.
Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies

Aim To investigate the effects of Jiawei Naotaifang on cerebral infarction area, pathological changes of brain tissue and estrogen level of focal cere-bral Iischemia in female ovariectomized rats, and cor-relation between estrogen levels and cerebral infarction area. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, ovariectomized group, cerebral ischemia group,model group,and drug groups(estro-gen group, Jiawei Naotaifang high dose group, Jiawei Naotaifang middle dose group, Jiawei Naotaifang low dose group). The rats in the ovariectomized group, model group, drug groups were ovariectomized, elev-enth days after the ovariectomy. The rats in the drug groups were given intragastric administration for three days. The rats in the model group, cerebral ischemia group and drug groups were prepared for cerebral is-chemia models. Neurological function scores were scored 24 hours after the success of the model, serum levels of estrogen were detected, and the brain was stained with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE), TTC staining was used to measure the area of cerebral in-farction, and HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of brain tissues. Results Com-pared with cerebral ischemia group,cerebral infarction area of rats in the model group increased significantly, the estrogen level was lower and the necrosis and py-knosis of cortical and hippocampus cells of rats in the model group were more obvious. Compared with model group,the cerebral infarction area of rats in the drug groups was reduced,the estrogen levels were elevated, especially in Jiawei Naotaifang high dose group and es-trogen group. The cell morphology of rats,in the estro-gen group,Jiawei Naotaifang high dose group and mid-dle dose group, was improved obviously. Cerebral in-farction area was negatively correlated with the level of estrogen. Conclusions The cerebral infarction area of cerebral ischemia in female ovariectomized rat is signif-icantly correlated with the level of estrogen. Jiawei Naotaifang can reduce the damage and alleviate brain injury of cerebral ischemia in female ovariectomized rats,which may be related to the improvement of estro-gen level.