Reproductive system diseases are among the primary contributors to the decline in social fertility rates and the intensification of aging, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Recent research has revealed the substantial potential of the gut microbiota in improving reproductive system diseases. Under healthy conditions, the gut microbiota maintains a dynamic balance, whereas dysfunction can trigger immune-inflammatory responses, metabolic disorders, and other issues, subsequently leading to reproductive system diseases through the gut-gonadal axis. Reproductive diseases, in turn, can exacerbate gut microbiota imbalance. This article reviews the impact of the gut microbiota and its metabolites on both male and female reproductive systems, analyzing changes in typical gut microorganisms and their metabolites related to reproductive function. The composition, diversity, and metabolites of gut bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Firmicutes, including short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and bile acids, are closely linked to reproductive function. As reproductive diseases develop, intestinal immune function typically undergoes changes, and the expression levels of immune-related factors, such as Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines (including IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β), also vary. The gut microbiota and its metabolites influence reproductive hormones such as estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, thereby affecting folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. Additionally, the metabolism and absorption of vitamins can also impact spermatogenesis through the gut-testis axis. As the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproductive diseases becomes clearer, targeted regulation of the gut microbiota can be employed to address reproductive system issues in both humans and animals. This article discusses the regulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal immune function through microecological preparations, fecal microbiota transplantation, and drug therapy to treat reproductive diseases. Microbial preparations and drug therapy can help maintain the intestinal barrier and reduce chronic inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation involves transferring feces from healthy individuals into the recipient’s intestine, enhancing mucosal integrity and increasing microbial diversity. This article also delves into the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences reproductive capacity through the gut-gonadal axis and explores the latest research in diagnosing and treating reproductive diseases using gut microbiota. The goal is to restore reproductive capacity by targeting the regulation of the gut microbiota. While the gut microbiota holds promise as a therapeutic target for reproductive diseases, several challenges remain. First, research on the association between gut microbiota and reproductive diseases is insufficient to establish a clear causal relationship, which is essential for proposing effective therapeutic methods targeting the gut microbiota. Second, although gut microbiota metabolites can influence lipid, glucose, and hormone synthesis and metabolism via various signaling pathways—thereby indirectly affecting ovarian and testicular function—more in-depth research is required to understand the direct effects of these metabolites on germ cells or granulosa cells. Lastly, the specific efficacy of gut microbiota in treating reproductive diseases is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating further mechanistic research and clinical studies to validate and optimize treatment regimens.

Intestinal organoids are constructed by crypts or stem cells from the intestine under the 3D support of the culture matrix. They contain all mature cells of the intestine, and have become a new and efficient platform for studying the mechanism of intestinal diseases. Compared with 2D cell culture, organoids can not only more effectively simulate the physiological structure and function of the intestine, but also better restore the true ecology of the intestine in different external environments. Therefore, it is more widely used in the study of pathogenesis of different intestinal diseases. This article reviewed the new progress of intestinal organoids culture, and the application and progress of intestinal organoids in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer and celiac disease in recent years, and also discussed the application of intestinal organoids in drug research and development and screening.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum levels of tribbles pseudokinase 3(TRIB3)and storkhead box 1(STOX1)for prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods:A total of 116 CHD patients undergoing PCI in Daye People's Hospital between May 2019 and August 2022 were enrolled as CHD group,another 95 healthy volunteers undergoing physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were selected as control group.According to presence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)within 3 months after PCI,CHD group was divided into MACE group(n=21)and no MACE group(n=95).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels;multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI;receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze predictive value of serum TRIB3 and STOX1 for poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI.Results:Compared with participants in control group,those in CHD group had significant higher serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels(P＜0.001 all).Compared with participants in no MACE group,those in MACE group had significant higher serum levels of TRIB3[(9.65±1.27)ng/ml vs.(12.04±1.64)ng/ml]and STOX1[(16.06±1.54)ng/ml vs.(18.21±1.78)ng/ml](P＜0.001 all).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression showed that serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels were independent risk factors for MACE in CHD pa-tients after PCI(OR=3.859,2.159,P＜0.001 both).ROC analysis indicated that combined detection of serum TRIB3 and STOX1(area under the curve(AUC)=0.916)had higher predictive value for poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI compared to those of single detection(AUC=0.837,0.776).Conclusion:Serum levels of TRIB3 and STOX1 significantly increase in CHD patients after PCI suffering from MACE,and the combination of both can better predict the prognosis of these patients.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum levels of tribbles pseudokinase 3(TRIB3)and storkhead box 1(STOX1)for prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods:A total of 116 CHD patients undergoing PCI in Daye People's Hospital between May 2019 and August 2022 were enrolled as CHD group,another 95 healthy volunteers undergoing physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were selected as control group.According to presence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)within 3 months after PCI,CHD group was divided into MACE group(n=21)and no MACE group(n=95).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels;multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI;receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze predictive value of serum TRIB3 and STOX1 for poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI.Results:Compared with participants in control group,those in CHD group had significant higher serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels(P＜0.001 all).Compared with participants in no MACE group,those in MACE group had significant higher serum levels of TRIB3[(9.65±1.27)ng/ml vs.(12.04±1.64)ng/ml]and STOX1[(16.06±1.54)ng/ml vs.(18.21±1.78)ng/ml](P＜0.001 all).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression showed that serum TRIB3 and STOX1 levels were independent risk factors for MACE in CHD pa-tients after PCI(OR=3.859,2.159,P＜0.001 both).ROC analysis indicated that combined detection of serum TRIB3 and STOX1(area under the curve(AUC)=0.916)had higher predictive value for poor prognosis in CHD patients after PCI compared to those of single detection(AUC=0.837,0.776).Conclusion:Serum levels of TRIB3 and STOX1 significantly increase in CHD patients after PCI suffering from MACE,and the combination of both can better predict the prognosis of these patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors related to renal impairment in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. METHODS: Totally 492 patients with DKD in 8 Chinese hospitals from October 2017 to July 2019 were included. According to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging guidelines, patients were divided into a chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-3 group and a CKD 4-5 group. Clinical data were collected, and logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to different CKD stages in DKD patients. RESULTS: Demographically, male was a factor related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD (OR=3.100, P=0.002). In clinical characteristics, course of diabetes >60 months (OR=3.562, P=0.010), anemia (OR=4.176, P<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR=3.352, P<0.001), massive albuminuria (OR=4.058, P=0.002), atherosclerosis (OR=2.153, P=0.007) and blood deficiency syndrome (OR=1.945, P=0.020) were factors related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD. CONCLUSIONS Male, course of diabetes >60 months, anemia, hyperuricemia, massive proteinuria, atherosclerosis, and blood deficiency syndrome might indicate more severe degree of renal function damage in patients with DKD. (Registration No. NCT03865914).
Humans ; Male ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Hyperuricemia ; Kidney ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications*

Objective To investigate the distribution and identify the genetic genetics of invasive Pomacea species in Xihu District, Hangzhou City, so as to understand the spread tendency of Pomacea species. Methods The specimens of Pomacea species were collected from five sites in water systems (lakes, rivers and wetlands) and its costal lands in Xihu District, Hangzhou City in 2017 for morphological identification. Total DNA was isolated from the foot tissues of adult snails for amplification of the COI gene, and haplotype diversity and nucleic acid diversity analyses were performed. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was created based on the haplotype captured from GenBank and those from this study to investigate the phylogenetic relationships. Results Pomacea specimens, which were preliminarily characterized as Pomacea, were found in ponds, rivers and wetlands in Xihu District of Hangzhou City. A total of 16 sequences were captured from the DNA samples of Pomacea specimens, which belonged to 3 haplotypes, including Hap1, Hap2 and Hap3. A high frequency was seen in Hap1 and Hap3, and a low frequency was found in Hap2. The Pomacea specimens collected from the 5 sites in Xihu Districts included P. canaliculata and P. maculate. The Pomacea specimens with a Hap1 had a close genetic relationship with the P. canaliculata from Argentina, Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, and the Pomacea specimens with a Hap2 had a close genetic relationship with the P. canaliculata from Argentina, Japan and Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, China, while the Pomacea specimens with a Hap2 had a close genetic relationship with the P. maculate from Argentina and Brazil. Conclusions P. canaliculata and P. maculata are present in Xihu District of Hangzhou City. P. maculata may spread to Xihu District through multiple introductions or water flow.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of three-dimensional visualization technique in total mesopancreas excision(TMpE) for pancreatic head carcinoma. METHODS: From January 2013 to June 2017, 105 TMpE for pancreatic head carcinoma were performed in our institution, and clinical data of these cases were analyzed retrospectively. In order to evaluate the feasibility of operation, three-dimensional visualization techniques were applied to observe the site and size of the pancreatic head tumors, and the relationship between the tumors and peripancreatic vessels before the operation. RESULTS: The median operation time was 239 minutes, and the median blood loss was 409 mL. 29 cases with postoperative complications and no perioperative deaths. 74 patients were considered as R0 resection in final threedimensional pathologic examination, and the rate of R0 resection is 70.5%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative application of three-dimensional visualization technique in TMpE can improve preoperative assessment accuracy and increase the rate of R0 resection, in addition to reduce postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively analyze image quality of two sets of phantom (CatPhan504 and Cheese) Megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images acquired by Helical Tomotherapy with three scanning modes (Fine, Normal and Coarse), and to explore and validate a semi-automatic quality assurance procedure for MVCT images of Helical Tomotherapy. METHODS: On Helical Tomotherapy, CatPan504 and Cheese phantoms were scanned with three pitch levels (Fine, Normal, Coarse: 4 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm/circle) respectively. Pylinac, Matlab and Eclipse were used to calculate and compare spatial resolution, noise level and low contrast resolution of images obtained under three scanning modes respectively. The spatial resolution can be evaluated by the blurring of line-pair CT value in the images of CatPhan504's CTP528 module. The noise level can be evaluated by the integral non-uniformity in the images of Cheese's uniformity module. the low contrast resolution can be evaluated by contrast-to-noise ratio of both phantoms' plug-in module, or visibility of the region of interest (Supra-Slice) in the images of CatPhan504's CTP515 module. RESULTS: Analyses on CatPhan504's line pair module(CTP528 module) showed that the first three line pairs(the gap size are 0.500 cm, 0.250 cm and 0.167 cm respectively) could be clearly observed but blurring began to occur from the fourth line pair(the gap size is 0.125 cm) under Coarse mode. Meanwhile, the first four line pairs were all observable under the Normal and Fine modes. Integral non-integrity index(the value negatively correlated with the noise level) were 0.155 7, 0.136 8 and 0.122 9 for Coarse, Normal and Fine modes respectively. None of the Supra-Slice in CatPhan504's CTP515 module could be observed under three imaging modes. Low contrast contrast-to-noise ratio of Cheese phantom was similar under three modes and the insert visibility exhibited nearly linear growth with the increasing difference between CT average value of the insert material and background. CONCLUSION Superiority and inferiority of three image modes in terms of the three image quality index was not consistent. Evaluation results above could provide reference for more rational decision on scanning modes selection of helical tomotherapy, which was based on image visualization demands in clinical practice. The proposed method could also provide guidance for similar image quality assessment and periodic quality assurance.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Growing clinical evidence shows that a partial rheumatoid arthritis( RA) patient treated with Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets( TGT) may fail to achieve clinical improvement. It is of great clinical significance to predict the therapeutic effect of TGT in RA. Therefore,the aim of the current study was to identify potential biomarkers for TGT treatment in RA. Affymetrix EG1.0 arrays were applied to detect gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 6 RA patients( 3 responders and 3 non-responders) treated with TGT. By integrating differential expression data analysis and biomolecular network analysis,360 mRNAs( 185 up-regulated and 175 down-regulated) and 24 miRNAs( 7 up-regulated and 17 down-regulated) which were differentially expressed between TGT responder and non-responder groups were identified. A total of 206 candidate target genes for the differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained based on miRanada and Target Scan databases,and then the miRNA target gene coexpression network and miRNA-mediated gene signal transduction network were constructed. Following the network analyses,three candidate miRNAs biomarkers( hsa-miR-4720-5 p,hsa-miR-374 b-5 p,hsa-miR-185-3 p) were identified as candidate biomarkers predicting individual response to TGT. Partialleast-squares( PLS) was applied to construct a model for predicting response to TGT based on the expression levels of the candidate gene biomarkers in RA patients. The five-fold cross-validation showed that the prediction accuracy( ACC) of this PLS-based model efficacy was 100.00%,100.00%,100.00%,66.67% and 66.67% respectively,and all the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve( AUC) were 1.00,indicating the highly predictive efficiency of this PLS-based model. In conclusion,the integrating transcription data mining and biomolecular network investigation show that hsa-mir-4720-5 p,hsa-mir-374 b-5 p and hsa-mir-185-3 p may be candidate biomarkers predicting individual response to TGT. In addition,the PLS model based on the expression levels of these candidate biomarkers may be helpful for the clinical screen of RA patients,which potentially benefit individualized therapy of RA in a daily clinical setting.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Biomarkers ; Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Tablets ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effects of turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft for Achilles tendon rerupture. METHODS: From July 2013 to April 2017, 11 patients with Achilles tendon reruptures were repaired by turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft, including 10 males and 1 female aged from 25 to 48 years old. The patients were all manifested weakness of plantar flexion strength injured foot, and positive of single heel rise test before operation. Postoperative complications was observed, and AOFAS score at 6 months after operation was applied to evaluate clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 6 to 11 months. All wound were healed at stage I without skin necrosis, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis and rerupture. The length of tendon defect ranged from 4 to 7 cm, the full weight-bearing time ranged from 8 to 11 weeks. Postoperative AOFAS score at 6 months was for 79 to 100, and 9 patients got excellent results, and 2 good. CONCLUSIONS For patients with recurrent ruptures of Achilles tendon, turning over rough surface of aponeurosis of gastrocnemius with fascia graft has advantages of stable repair, less complications and good recovery of function.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Aponeurosis ; Fascia Lata ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries ; Treatment Outcome