Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional growth factors of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. They regulate steroid secretion from mammalian granulosa cells, promote granulosa cell survival and proliferation, and inhibit follicular atresia, luteinization, and granulosa cell apoptosis, thereby promoting the development and maturation of mammalian follicles. At the same time, BMPs play an important role in embryonic morphogenesis, induction of uterine receptivity, and blastocyst attachment. This paper describes the effects of BMPs on mammalian follicular and embryonic development and the roles of BMPs in female reproduction, focusing on the process in which BMPs promote follicular maturation by regulating steroid secretion from granulosa cells during mammalian oocyte maturation. This review aims to provide a reference for further research on mammalian oocyte culture and improvement of reproductive efficiency in female animals.
Animals ; Embryonic Development/drug effects* ; Female ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/pharmacology* ; Reproduction/physiology* ; Humans ; Granulosa Cells/cytology* ; Oocytes

Objective:To explore the causal relationship between gut microbiota and lung function (FEV1/FVC) using two-sample Mendelian randomization method; To explore its application in the TCM field.Methods:This was a Mendelian randomization study. The GWAS data of gut microbiota from the MiBioGen consortium study and the GWAS data of lung function (FEV1/FVC) published by IEU OpenGWAS in the public database were used, and instrumental variables were extracted according to prespecified thresholds. The inverse variance weighted method (IVW) was mainly used for analysis. The results were evaluated according to the effect indicator β value and 95% CI. When the IVW method was statistically significant, further sensitivity analysis was performed. Leave-one-out test, heterogeneity test, horizontal gene pleiotropy test and MR-Egger regression intercept analysis were used to verify the stability and reliability of the results. Results:A total of 10 causal relationships between gut microbiota and lung function (FEV1/FVC) were determined using the IVW method: family. BacteroidalesS24.7group ( β=-0.029, P=0.015), family. ClostridialesvadinBB60group ( β=-0.028, P=0.040), family. Streptococcaceae ( β=-0.056, P=0.042), genus. LachnospiraceaeFCS020group ( β=0.025, P=0.029), genus. Lactococcus ( β=-0.024, P=0.038), genus. Peptococcus ( β=0.025, P=0.049), genus. RuminococcaceaeUCG011 ( β=-0.030, P=0.038), genus. Ruminococcus2 ( β=0.028, P=0.033), genus. Terrisporobacter ( β=-0.030, P=0.018), phylum. Cyanobacteria ( β=0.027, P=0.039). Leave-one-out analysis showed that the results were stable, and the effects of heterogeneity and horizontal gene pleiotropy on causal effect estimation could be removed. Conclusion:The gut microbiota may play a role in the changes of lung function, which to a certain extent confirms the TCM theory of "exterior-interior relationship between the lung and large intestine", and can provide certain reference for the research direction of TCM.

Objective To discuss the nursing cooperation method in CT-guided pulmonary nodule localization using indocyanine green combined with methylene blue.Methods A total of 81 patients,who needed to receive pulmonary nodule localization before thoracoscopic resection,were enrolled in this study.The nursing cooperation measures,including the preparation and injection of indocyanine green combined with methylene blue,breathing mode coordination,position management,precise localization coordination,and psychological care,were analyzed.Results Successful nodule localization was accomplished in all patients.No statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events existed between the patients with different clinical characteristics(P＞0.05).The gender,age,lesion site,nodule size,nodule-pleura distance,posture during puncturing and needle path route were not the factors influencing the occurrence of adverse reactions in patients receiving CT-guided pulmonary nodule localization using indocyanine green combined with methylene blue.Conclusion In performing CT-guided pulmonary nodule localization using indocyanine green combined with methylene blue,the nursing cooperation method carries generality and stability,which is suitable for patients with different clinical characteristics.

Tooth germ injury can lead to abnormal tooth development and even tooth loss, affecting various aspects of the stomatognathic system including form, function, and appearance. However, the research about tooth germ injury model on cellular and molecule mechanism of tooth germ repair is still very limited. Therefore, it is of great importance for the prevention and treatment of tooth germ injury to study the important mechanism of tooth germ repair by a tooth germ injury model. Here, we constructed a Tg(dlx2b:Dendra2-NTR) transgenic line that labeled tooth germ specifically. Taking advantage of the NTR/Mtz system, the dlx2b⁺ tooth germ cells were depleted by Mtz effectively. The process of tooth germ repair was evaluated by antibody staining, in situ hybridization, EdU staining and alizarin red staining. The severely injured tooth germ was repaired in several days after Mtz treatment was stopped. In the early stage of tooth germ repair, the expression of phosphorylated 4E-BP1 was increased, indicating that mTORC1 is activated. Inhibition of mTORC1 signaling in vitro or knockdown of mTORC1 signaling in vivo could inhibit the repair of injured tooth germ. Normally, mouse incisors were repaired after damage, but inhibition/promotion of mTORC1 signaling inhibited/promoted this repair progress. Overall, we are the first to construct a stable and repeatable repair model of severe tooth germ injury, and our results reveal that mTORC1 signaling plays a crucial role during tooth germ repair, providing a potential target for clinical treatment of tooth germ injury.
Animals ; Mice ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/pharmacology* ; Signal Transduction ; Tooth/metabolism* ; Tooth Germ/metabolism* ; Odontogenesis

Objective:To provide insight into the clinical characteristics, therapy and prognosis of patients with radiation-induced brainstem injury after radiotherapy.Methods:From August 2013 to September 2021, 13 patients with radiation-induced brainstem injury were included in this study at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, and the general information and strategy of radiotherapy were collected. A retrospective analysis was adopted to investigate the clinical and radiological characteristics, treatment and clinical outcomes.Results:There were 13 cases in total, including 4 females and 9 males. The onset age of enrolled patients ranged from 29 to 66 years with an average of (48.15±10.23) years. The median dose targeted at tumor area was 70 Gy with in 33 fractions. The median interval between radiotherapy and the diagnosis of radiation-induced brainstem injury was 24 months. The common clinical manifestations included dysphagia, bucking dysarthria, dizziness and problem with balance. The MRI radiological features were hypointense on T1WI, hyperintense on T2WI, and irregularly enhanced with contrast. The median follow-up was 45 months. Seven cases got improvements, while 3 had no obvious efficacy and 3 cases died. No significant differences in prognosis were observed between those received traditional glucocorticoid and those received bevacizumab treatment( P=0.079). Conclusions:The common symptoms of radiation-induced brainstem injury were symptoms of posterior cranial nerves injury and ataxia. Lesions mostly happened in pons and medulla, with hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI. Half of the patients have improved after treatment. There was no significant difference in prognosis between glucocorticoid and bevacizumab treatment.

Klein-Levin syndrome is a chronic recurrent sleep disorder characterized by periodic excessive sleep, which can be accompanied by cognitive dysfunction, eating disorders, behavioral disorders, sensory disorders and emotional disorders, etc. During interval, individual′s daily functions are completely normal. Most of the KLS cases are sporadic. At present, only 17 familial cases of KLS have been reported abroad, while domestic reports in China are rare. We analyzed the detailed medical history, laboratory examinations, differential diagnosis, and the disease prevalence amongst family members of a patient with familial KLS, in order to provide reference for the follow-up study of familial cases of KLS.

Klein-Levin syndrome is a chronic recurrent sleep disorder characterized by periodic excessive sleep, which can be accompanied by cognitive dysfunction, eating disorders, behavioral disorders, sensory disorders and emotional disorders, etc. During interval, individual′s daily functions are completely normal. Most of the KLS cases are sporadic. At present, only 17 familial cases of KLS have been reported abroad, while domestic reports in China are rare. We analyzed the detailed medical history, laboratory examinations, differential diagnosis, and the disease prevalence amongst family members of a patient with familial KLS, in order to provide reference for the follow-up study of familial cases of KLS.

Objective To observe the effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block combined with diclofenac sodium suppository in anus on postoperative analgesia and early recov-ery after laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods Sixty-six patients of laparoscopic hysterectomy,aged 40-60 years,were randomly divided into group T and group D,33 cases in each group.Group T used ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP)block after surgery.Group D used TAP block and diclofenac sodium suppositories in anus.All patients received PCIA.Postoperative 24 h sufentanil dosage out of analgesia pump and the effective press times were recorded.The incidence of dysphoria,nausea and vomit within postoperative 24 h,the time of first out-of-bed activity,the time of first anal exhaust and the time of removing urine tube were measured.The plasma concentra-tion of interleukin-6(IL-6),C reactive protein (CRP)and cortisol (Cor)were recorded at the follow-ing four time points:before anesthesia,just postoperative moment,8 and 12 h after surgery. Results Compared with group T,the sufentanil dosage [(18.6±3.2)μg vs (40.8±5.1)μg]and the effective press times [(9.3±2.2)times vs (20.4±3.5)times]were fewer in group D (P<0.05).The incidence of dysphoria,and nausea and vomit were less in group D compared with group T (P<0.05).The IL-6,CRP and Cor of group D at 12 h were lower than those of group T (P<0.05). But the times of first out-of-bed activity,anal exhaust and removing urine tube in two groups were not significantly different.Conclusion Transversus abdominis plane block combined with diclofenac sodium suppositories in anus can provide safe and effective postoperative analgesia for laparoscopic hysterectomy,and promote the early fast recovery.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between C-peptide levels and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in type 2 diabetic patients is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between fasting C-peptide and GI symptoms of gastroparesis in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: We recruited 333 type 2 diabetic patients into the present study. All patients filled out questionnaires of gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) to evaluate GI symptoms. Hospital anxiety and depression scale were adopted to define anxiety and depression. Patients with GCSI scores ≥ 1.9 were regarded as having symptoms of gastroparesis. RESULTS: In our study, 71 (21.3%) type 2 diabetic patients had GCSI scores ≥ 1.9. In comparison to patients with scores < 1.9, those with scores ≥ 1.9 had significantly lower fasting c-peptide levels (1.49 ng/mL vs 1.94 ng/mL, P < 0.001), higher prevalence of depression (40.9% vs 18.3%, P < 0.001) and anxiety (28.2% vs 13.0%, P = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that fasting C-peptide was still significantly associated with symptoms of gastroparesis (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence intervals, 0.48–0.94; P = 0.021), even after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, HbA1c, current smoking and drinking status, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, linear regressions showed that fasting C-peptide was independently and negatively related to GCSI scores (standardized regression coefficient, −0.29; P < 0.001) in patients with at least one GI symptom. CONCLUSION: GI symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis affect approximately 20% of type 2 diabetes patients and are associated with lower fasting C-peptide levels independent of depression and anxiety status.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Fasting* ; Gastroparesis* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking

Objective To evaluate the effects of gestational exposure to mobile phone radiation on astrocytes in parietal cortex of rat offspring.Methods Nine male Sprague Dawley rats were mated with nine female rats at the age of 12 weeks.Pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups including control group,short-term gestational exposure group (STE group) and long-term gestational exposure group (LTE group) with three in each group.From day 2 to day 18 of pregnancy,rats in STE and LTE groups were exposed to a mobile phone in talking mode for 6 h and 24 h per day,respectively.Meanwhile,the mobile phone used in control group was kept in standby mode.Morphology and ultrastructure of cells in parietal cortex of 1 month-old offspring rat were studied by Nissle staining and electron microscope,respectively.Cells positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and expression of GFAP in parietal cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western bloting.One-way ANOVA,followed by SNK post hoc tests,were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) No significant difference in the morphology of cells in parietal cortex of rat offspring was observed among the three groups by Nissle staining.These cells were regularly arranged with intact cell membrane,clear nuclear membrane,evenly distributed chromatin and distinct nucleoli.(2) Neurons with normal morphology and intact synapse were observed in rat offspring in both control and STE groups.But condensation and migration of nuclear chromatin in neurons and blurred and widened synaptic clefts were observed in LTE group.(3) In offspring of control and STE groups,there were few GFAP-positive cells with small cell body and short processes in parietal cortex.But in LTE group,more GFAP-positive cells with large body and long processes were found.Moreover,long-term exposure to mobile phone during pregnancy resulted in enhanced GFAP expression in parietal cortex (0.79±0.04) as compared with control group (0.37±0.03) and STE group (0.41 ±0.04) (F=147.059,P＜0.001).Conclusions Long-term gestational exposure to mobile phone radiation might lead to activation of astrocytes,increased expression of GFAP and changes in the ultrastructure of neurons in parietal cortex of rat offspring.