Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a critical endocrine mediator implicated in male reproductive physiology. To investigate the correlation between IGF2 protein levels and various aspects of male infertility, specifically focusing on sperm quality, inflammation, and DNA damage, a cohort of 320 male participants was recruited from the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) between 1 st January 2024 and 1 st March 2024. The relationship between IGF2 protein concentrations and sperm parameters was assessed, and Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were employed to evaluate the independent associations between IGF2 protein levels and risk factors for infertility. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IGF2 protein levels in seminal plasma, alongside markers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]). The relationship between seminal plasma IGF2 protein levels and DNA damage marker phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) was also explored. Our findings reveal that IGF2 protein expression decreased notably in patients with asthenospermia and teratospermia. Correlation analysis revealed nuanced associations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, and low IGF2 protein concentrations correlated with increased inflammation and DNA damage in sperm. The observed correlations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, along with its connection to inflammation and DNA damage, underscore the importance of IGF2 in the broader context of male reproductive health. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential therapeutic interventions targeting IGF2-related pathways to enhance male fertility.
Humans ; Male ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; DNA Damage ; Adult ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*

A novel analytical method was developed in this study by combining online solid phase extraction with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(Online SPE-UPLC-MS/MS)for simultaneous determination of 50 kinds of steroid hormones in surface water.Specifically,after high-speed centrifugation of 4 mL water samples,the supernatant was directly injected into an Oasis HLB online SPE column for enrichment and purification.Subsequently,the target compounds were transferred to the analytical column via valve switching for separation and analysis.The chromatographic separation was performed on a Thermo Acclaim RSLC C18 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,2.2 μm),using a mobile phase composed of 5 mmol/L ammonium fluoride aqueous solution and acetonitrile.Mass spectrometric detection was conducted in positive ion mode,utilizing multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)with quantification achieved by the internal standard method.The method validation demonstrated that the limits of detection(LOD)for the 50 kinds of steroid hormones ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 ng/L,while the limits of quantification(LOQ)were between 0.08 and 1.67 ng/L.The average recoveries in surface water samples at spiked concentrations of 5,20 and 200 ng/L were between 74.1％and 119％,with relative standard deviations(RSDs)of 0.2％to 9.9％.This method was applied to analyze 11 surface water samples collected from sites surrounding a pharmaceutical and chemical industrial park.A total of 44 kinds of steroid hormones were detected,with concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 88.6 ng/L,revealing the presence of hormone contamination in the environmental waters surrounding industrial areas.Compared with the traditional offline SPE methods,the proposed online SPE technique significantly reduced sample volume requirements and pretreatment time,while minimizing the loss of target compounds during the pretreatment process.Moreover,compared to reported online SPE techniques,this method achieved high-throughput analysis of multiple classes of steroid hormones,with lower detection limits and higher recoveries.Overall,this method provided rapid sample preparation,high sensitivity,and excellent stability,making it suitable for the direct analysis of trace steroid hormones in surface water.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Anmeidan （AMD） on the learning and memory ability of sleep-deprived rats and the mechanism. MethodA total of 50 SD rats were randomized into control group， model group， low-dose AMD group （4.55 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， high-dose AMD group （18.18 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and estazolam group （0.09 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Insomnia was induced in rats with the self-made sleep deprivation box （21 days）. The learning and memory ability of rats was measured by Morris water maze. Immunofluorescence method was employed to detect the number of cells expressing N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 （NDRG2） and glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） in hippocampus of rats， real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） to determine the mRNA expression of hippocampal NDRG2， glial glutamate transporter-1 （GLT-1）， and GluNR2A and GluNR2B N-methyl-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptor subunits， and Western blot to examine the protein expression of NDRG2 and GLT-1 in hippocampus. ResultCompared with control group， the model group showed increase in the latency to reach the platform and total swimming distance， significant decrease in the total distance moved in the target quadrant， time in target quadrant， and times of crossing the platform （P<0.01）， rise in the number of cells expressing NDRG2 and GFAP in the hippocampal CA1 region （P<0.01） and the mRNA level of NDRG2 and GluNR2B， reduction in the mRNA level of GLT-1 and GluNR2A， elevation in NDRG2 protein expression （P<0.01）， and decrease in GLT-1 protein expression （P<0.01）. In contrast to the model group， low-dose and high-dose AMD improved the learning and memory levels of sleep-deprived rats （P<0.01）， reduced the number of cells expressing NDRG2 and GFAP （P<0.01）， significantly decreased the mRNA expression of NDRG2 and GluNR2B， increased the mRNA expression of GLT-1 and GluNR2A， reduced NDRG2 protein level （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and raised GLT-1 protein level （P<0.01）. ConclusionAMD can improve the learning and memory ability of sleep-deprived rats. The mechanism is the likelihood that it regulates astrocyte activity， thereby affecting the neurotransmitter level and synaptic plasticity in the brain.

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.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of glucose metabolism disorders on the short-term prognosis in neonates with asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of the neonates with asphyxia who were admitted to 52 hospitals in Hubei Province of China from January to December, 2018 and had blood glucose data within 12 hours after birth. Their blood glucose data at 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours after birth (with an allowable time error of 0.5 hour) were recorded. According to the presence or absence of brain injury and/or death during hospitalization, the neonates were divided into a poor prognosis group with 693 neonates and a good prognosis group with 779 neonates. The two groups were compared in the incidence of glucose metabolism disorders within 12 hours after birth and short-term prognosis. RESULTS: Compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group had a significantly higher proportion of neonates from secondary hospitals (48.5% vs 42.6%, CONCLUSIONS Recurrent hyperglycemia in neonates with asphyxia may suggest poor short-term prognosis, and it is necessary to strengthen the early monitoring and management of the nervous system in such neonates.
Asphyxia ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To evaluate risk factors and available treatments of extramedullary relapse (EMR) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with myeloid leukemia.Methods:A total of 280 patients were retrospectively analyzed from January 2008 to December 2018 in Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Clinical data were collected including disease patterns, pre-transplantation status, chromosome karyotype, conditioning regimen, types of donor, extramedullary disease before transplantation and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model were uesd for univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, respectively.Results:Twenty patients developed EMR (7.14%). The median time of EMR was 7.5 (1-123) months after allo-HSCT. The mortality of EMR was 80% (16/20). Univariate analysis identified disease patterns, second complete remission (CR2) or progressive disease before transplantation, extramedullary disease, abnormal karyotype and conditioning regimen without total body radiation as significant factors correlated to EMR ( P<0.05). Multi-variable analysis revealed that CR2 or progressive disease ( RR=3.468,95% CI 2.189-7.786), abnormal karyotype ( RR=1.494,95% CI 1.020-2.189) and extramedullary disease before transplantation ( RR=8.627,95% CI 3.921-18.452) were independent risk factors of EMR. Conclusions:The clinical outcome of EMR after allo-HSCT is poor.It is crucial to comprehensively assess and identify EMR as early as possible.

Objective:To investigate the effective substance of the choleretic effect of Gardeniae Fructus，and analyze the relationships between its choleretic effect and the HPLC fingerprint chromatogram. Method:HPLC method was applied to establish the fingerprint chromatography of 8 batches of Gardeniae Fructus at different harvest periods. The flow，the content of bile acid，bilirubin and cholesterol in bile were tested，and then the principal component analysis was used to comprehensively evaluate the total choleretic effects of Gardeniae Fructus. After the relationships between the relative peak area of the common peaks and the choleretic effects were explored using grey relationship analysis method，the spectrum-effect relationship of Gardeniae Fructus was established. Result:The order of the contribution of the chemical components to the choleretic effect at the common peaks was as follow（r>0.8）：P9>P14>P26>P4>P30>P6>P1>P10>P5>P24. Among all peaks，the full wavelength scanning results implied that the peaks 9，14 and 4 might be iridoids, and the peaks 26，30 and 24 might be crocins. By comparing with the standard substances，the peak 9 was finally identified as geniposide. Conclusion:The choleretic effect of Gardeniae Fructus may be the results of multiple components and pathways，and the main components in Gardeniae Fructus with the choleretic effect was from geniposide. In conclusion，these results provide a reference for investigating the material basis of choleretic effect of Gardeniae Fructus.