Investigating the correlation between micronucleus formation and male infertility has the potential to improve clinical diagnosis and deepen our understanding of pathological progression. Our study enrolled 2252 male patients whose semen was analyzed from March 2023 to July 2023. Their clinical data, including semen parameters and age, were also collected. Genetic analysis was used to determine whether the sex chromosome involved in male infertility was abnormal (including the increase, deletion, and translocation of the X and Y chromosomes), and subsequent semen analysis was conducted for clinical grouping purposes. The participants were categorized into five groups: normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, and azoospermia. Patients were randomly selected for further study; 41 patients with normozoospermia were included in the control group and 117 patients with non-normozoospermia were included in the study group according to the proportions of all enrolled patients. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) screening was conducted through peripheral blood. Statistical analysis was used to determine the differences in micronuclei (MNi) among the groups and the relationships between MNi and clinical data. There was a significant increase in MNi in infertile men, including those with azoospermia, compared with normozoospermic patients, but there was no significant difference between the genetic and nongenetic groups in azoospermic men. The presence of MNi was associated with sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, immotile spermatozoa, malformed spermatozoa, total sperm count, and total sperm motility. This study underscores the potential utility of MNi as a diagnostic tool and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of male infertility.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Adult ; Micronucleus Tests ; Semen Analysis ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Sperm Count ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

The p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), a key regulator of malignancy, is negatively correlated with immune infiltration and has become an emergent drug target of cancer therapy. Given the lack of high efficacy PAK4 inhibitors, we herein reported the identification of a novel inhibitor 13 bearing a tetrahydrobenzofuro[2,3-c]pyridine tricyclic core and possessing high potency against MIA PaCa-2 and Pan02 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.38 and 0.50 μmol/L, respectively. This compound directly binds to PAK4 in a non-ATP competitive manner. In the mouse Pan02 model, compound 13 exhibited significant tumor growth inhibition at a dose of 100 mg/kg, accompanied by reduced levels of PAK4 and its phosphorylation together with immune infiltration in mice tumor tissue. Overall, compound 13 is a novel allosteric PAK4 inhibitor with a unique tricyclic structural feature and high potency both in vitro and in vivo, thus making it worthy of further exploration.

Objective:To identify the relevant factors for the first-course remission of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to develop a predictive model as well as assess its predictive capability.Methods:Clinical data of 749 patients newly diagnosed with AML admitted to the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine from January 1, 2019, to April 30, 2023, were collected and randomly divided into training and validation sets. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine variables associated with complete remission in the first course of induction therapy, and a predictive model was established based on these variables. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the predictive model was plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.Results:The indicators predicting the first remission course included peripheral blood white blood cell count during onset, CBF::MYH11 fusion gene, CEBPA bZIP region mutation, myelodysplastic syndrome-related gene mutation, and induction chemotherapy regimen selection as independent factors for the first remission course. The model’s area under the training and validation curves was 0.738 (95% CI: 0.696-0.780) and 0.726 (95% CI: 0.650-0.801), respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results yielded P-values of 0.993 and 0.335, respectively. Conclusion:In this study, the developed model demonstrates a strong predictive capability for the efficacy of the first course of patients with AML, providing valuable guidance to clinicians in assessing patient prognosis and selecting appropriate treatment strategies.

Organophosphorus nerve agents are the most threatening chemical warfare agents and terrorist agents.The number of nerve agents and their related chemicals involved in the verification of Chemical Weapon Convention(CWC)exceeds ten million,with the majority being isomers.Accurate structural identification of these chemicals has always been one of the challenges in CWC related verification analysis.In this work,a total of 17 kinds of alkyl phosphonate isomers and structural analogs from 5 groups were designed and synthesized,and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-infrared spectroscopy(GC-FTIR).The spectra of isomers or structural analogs obtained from two techniques as well as the structural information provided therein were compared and analyzed.The results showed that for isomers or structural analogs with similar MS spectra,FTIR spectra could provided more structural fingerprint information of compounds and had advantages in confirming structures.Combined with the excellent separation ability of GC,GC-FTIR can be used to assist GC-MS in the structural confirmation of alkyl phosphates,achieving rapid and accurate identification of isomers or structural analogues.

Objective To explore the relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)and clinical pathological features of invasive breast cancer and lymphovascular invasion(LVI).Methods Imaging and clinical pathological data were retrospectively collected from 508 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent breast DCE-MRI at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2019 to August 2021.Patients were divided into the LVI-positive(LVI+)group(n=79)and LVI-negative(LVI-)group(n=429)based on postoperative pathological results.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for LVI.Results Compared with LVI-group,LVI+group had a higher proportion of patients aged<45 years(44.3%vs.27.0%,P=0.002),non-mass-like enhancement(NME)(31.7%vs.17.7%,P=0.004),Ki-67 expression rate(40.0%vs.30.0%,P<0.001),high Ki-67 expression(94.9%vs.78.1%,P=0.001),Luminal B subtype(76.0%vs.60.1%,P=0.008),and positive axillary lymph nodes rate(72.2%vs.31.5%,P<0.001),while the proportion of Luminal A subtype was lower(2.5%vs.21.5%,P<0.001).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that age≥45 years(OR=0.468,95%CI 0.280-0.783,P=0.004)was an independent protective factor for LVI,while NME(OR=1.987,95%CI 1.126-3.444,P=0.016)was an independent risk factor.Compared with Luminal A subtype,patients with Luminal B subtype(OR=10.482,95%CI 3.164-64.923,P=0.001),HER-2 overexpression subtype(OR=11.571,95%CI 2.755-79.341,P=0.003)and triple-negative subtypes(OR=8.433,95%CI 1.985-57.908,P=0.009)had a higher risk of LVI.Conclusions Age≥45 years is an independent protective factor for LVI,while NME is an independent risk factor.Among molecular subtypes,patients with Luminal B,HER-2 overexpression and triple-negative subtypes have a higher risk of LVI compared with the Luminal A subtype.

Objective:To identify the relevant factors for the first-course remission of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to develop a predictive model as well as assess its predictive capability.Methods:Clinical data of 749 patients newly diagnosed with AML admitted to the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine from January 1, 2019, to April 30, 2023, were collected and randomly divided into training and validation sets. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine variables associated with complete remission in the first course of induction therapy, and a predictive model was established based on these variables. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the predictive model was plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.Results:The indicators predicting the first remission course included peripheral blood white blood cell count during onset, CBF::MYH11 fusion gene, CEBPA bZIP region mutation, myelodysplastic syndrome-related gene mutation, and induction chemotherapy regimen selection as independent factors for the first remission course. The model’s area under the training and validation curves was 0.738 (95% CI: 0.696-0.780) and 0.726 (95% CI: 0.650-0.801), respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results yielded P-values of 0.993 and 0.335, respectively. Conclusion:In this study, the developed model demonstrates a strong predictive capability for the efficacy of the first course of patients with AML, providing valuable guidance to clinicians in assessing patient prognosis and selecting appropriate treatment strategies.

Objective To compare the differences in lower limb force line between degenerative medial meniscus injuries and lateral meniscus injuries and investigate their correlation.Methods A total of 90 patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for meniscal injuries between March 2019 and March 2022 were enrolled in the study.They were 45 males and 45 females,at a median age of 52 years(ranging from 40 to 59 years).Of these patients,47 had medial meniscus injuries,while 43 had lateral meniscus injuries.The hip-knee-ankle(HKA)angle was measured on full-length films,and the differences were compared between the 2 groups.Results There were no significant differences in terms of gender,age,lower limb laterality,body mass index,site of injury,and type of injury between the medial meniscus injury group and the lateral meniscus injury group.Statistical difference was observed in the mean HKA angle,with a value of(177.20±2.46)° in the medial meniscus injury group and of(181.05±3.13)° in the lateral meniscus injury group(P＜0.01).Conclusion There is a significant difference in HKA angle between medial meniscus injury group and the lateral meniscus injury group.A correlation is found between lower limb alignment and degenerative meniscus injury.

Objective To explore the value of controlling nutritional status(CONUT)score and related inflammatory indicators in predicting the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)patients,to provide a reference for better clinical assessment and individualized treatment plan.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 132 patients with ccRCC admitted to four comprehensive hospitals in Yibin during 2010 and 2018.Patients'medical and follow-up records were collected,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the area under the curve(AUC)and optimal cut-off value of CONUT score and related indicators.Survival curve was plotted with Kaplan-Meier method,and the influencing factors of prognosis were analyzed with Log-rank test and Cox regression.Results During the follow-up of 62(53,71)months,37(28.03％)deaths occurred.The disease-specific survival(DSS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were 51(41,58)and 46(35,56)months,respectively.The 3-year and 5-year DSS and PFS were 84.09％and 71.97％,and 75.00％and 71.97％,respectively.The AUC of CONUT score,neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR),and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR)were 0.980,0.905,0.899 and 0.884,respectively,with the optimal cut-off values of 3.50,3.19,89.07 and 3.56,respectively.Cox regression showed that CONUT score(HR=0.042,95％CI:0.013-0.140)and PLR(HR=0.182,95％CI:0.045-0.744)were associated with DSS;CONUT score(HR=0.029,95％CI:0.010-0.086)and LMR(HR=2.984,95％CI:1.227-7.258)were associated with PFS.Conclusion The prognosis of ccRCC patients is related to their nutritional,immune,and inflammatory status.CONUT score and inflammatory factors(PLR,LMR)may be important predictors of DSS and PFS.

Objective To explore the clinical value of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)combined with serum serine protease inhibitor Kazal 1(SPINK1)and secretory phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)in early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.Methods 276 patients from June 2021 to May 2023 were selected as the study objects.92 cases of esophageal cancer diagnosed by operation and pathology were esophageal cancer group,another 89 patients diagnosed as benign esophageal lesions through tissue biopsy were selected as the benign lesion group,and 95 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations were collected as the healthy control group,general information such as age and gender of subjects in three groups were collected and organized;using pathological results as the gold standard,the accuracy of EUS in diagnosing esophageal cancer was verified;the expression of serum SPINK1 and SPP1 was compared among the esophageal cancer group,benign lesion group,and healthy control group;the relationship between the expression of serum SPINK1 and SPP1 in esophageal cancer patients and their clinical and pathological characteristics was explored;efficacy of EUS combined with serum SPINK1,SPP1 levels for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer was analyzed using receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve).Results Compared with the gold standard,the results of EUS examination showed that 81 cases were diagnosed with esophageal cancer,79 cases were diagnosed with benign lesions,11 cases were missed diagnosed,and 10 cases were misdiagnosed,with an accuracy rate of 88.40%(160/181);Compared with the healthy control group and the benign lesion group,the expression levels of serum SPINK1 and SPP1 in the esophageal cancer group were obviously increased,the expression levels of serum SPINK1 and SPP1 in the benign lesion group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);Serum SPINK1 expression was linked to tumor diameter>2 cm,presence of lymph node metastasis,lymph node positivity,and tissue grading level 3 in patients(P<0.05).Serum SPP1 expression level was related to tumor diameter>2 cm,presence of lymph node metastasis,lymph node positivity,and estrogen receptor positivity of patients(P<0.05);ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of EUS,serum SPINK1,SPP1 levels,and their combination in the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer was 0.862,0.834,0.782,and 0.926,respectively,the clinical efficacy of the combination of the three in the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer was superior to that of EUS,serum SPINK1,and SPP1 alone(Z=2.30,Z=3.70,Z=4.23,P=0.022,P=0.000,P=0.000).Conclusion The expression levels of serum SPINK1 and SPP1 in esophageal cancer patients are abnormally up-regulated.The combination of EUS and serum SPINK1 and SPP1 has high clinical value in early diagnosis of esophageal cancer.