Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)is a serious acute infectious disease caused by novel coronavirus(SARS CoV-2)infection,with fever,dry cough and fatigue as the main symptoms.In recent years,studies have suggested that the male reproductive system can be directly invaded by novel coronavirus,with the testis as one of its target organs.Therefore,infection with novel coronavirus can cause the development and aggravation of such diseases as male erectile dysfunction,male infertility,prosta-titis,etc.However,no consensus has been reached whether such impacts will be mitigated or remain after recovery from COVID-19,and few reports are available on the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 inducing male reproductive diseases based on the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and Western medicine.This review systematically summarizes the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health and the etiological principles in the perspective of both TCM and Western medicine.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of moxibustion(Mox)combined with low-dose tadalafil(TAD)in the treatment of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction(DMED)with the syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis.Meth-ods:According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,we selected 90 patients with DMED for this trial and equally randomized them into a Mox,a TAD,and a Mox combined with TAD(Mox+TAD)group to be treated by mild Mox applied to the acupoints Zusanli,Sanyinjiao and Yinlingquan qd alt,oral medication with low-dose TAD at 5 mg per dose qd,and combination of the above two thera-pies,respectively,all for 4 weeks.We obtained from the patients their IIEF-5 scores,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms scores,Erectile Hardness Scale(EHS)scores,corpus cavernosal hemodynamic indexes,and the peak systolic velocity(PSV),end diastolic velocity(EDV)and resistance index(RI)of the corpus cavernosal arteries before and after treatment,and compared them among the three groups.Results:The total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the Mox+TAD(90.0％)than in the Mox(46.7％)and TAD groups(60.0％)(P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline,the IIEF-5 and EHS scores were increased,while the TCM symptoms scores decreased in all the three groups after treatment,more significantly in the Mox+TAD group than in the other two(P＜0.05).And the PSV and RI were remarkably increased,while the EDV decreased(P＜0.05)in all the three groups(P＜0.05)after treatment,with PSV even higher in the Mox+TAD than in the Mox and TAD groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Moxi-bustion combined with tadalafil has a definite efficacy and safety for the treatment of DMED,which can effectively improve the erectile function of the patients by increasing penile blood supply,benefiting qi and activating blood circulation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of nefazodone on excessive activation of microglia and its regulatory mechanism, as well as its effect on neurological injury in mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).Methods:(1) BV2 cell line was routinely cultured in vitro, and primary microglia from the cortex of neonatal C57BL/6J mice were cultured. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was employed to assess the effects of nefazodone (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 μmol/L) on viability of BV2 cells and primary microglia to determine the working concentration. BV2 cells and primary microglia were divided into a normal control group, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, and a nefazodone group; cells in the nefazodone group were pretreated with 20 μmol/L nefazodone for 2 h; cells in the LPS group and nefazodone group were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/mL for BV2 cells and 0.1 μg/mL for primary microglia) for 24 h; cells in the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and CD68. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to measure interleukin ( IL) -1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α), nitric oxide synthase 2 ( Nos2), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 ( CCL2), and β-hexosaminidase subunit β ( Hexb) mRNA expressions. ELISA was used to quantify the concentrations of supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in BV2 cells. Western blotting was applied to detect the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in BV2 cells. Griess reagent assay was used to measure supernatant nitric oxide (NO) level in BV2 cells. Western blotting was also used to assess the protein expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated (p)-ERK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, p38, p-p38, nuclear factor kappa B p65 and p-p65 in BV2 cells. (2) Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal control group, a MCAO group, and a nefazodone group, with 10 mice in each group. MCAO model in the MCAO group and nefazodone group was established using suture method; the nefazodone group received an intraperitoneal injection of nefazodone (15 mg/kg) 30 min after modeling, while the normal control group received an equivalent volume of solvent. Three days after modeling, neurological deficits were evaluated using modified neurological severity score (mNSS), and behavioral changes were evaluated by paw grip strength test and foot-fault test. Cerebral infarction volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Iba1 protein expression in the ischemic penumbra was detected by Western blotting. Results:(1) CCK-8 assay showed no significant difference in viability of BV2 cells between the normal control group and 10 or 20 μmol/L nefazodone groups ( P>0.05), and viability of BV2 cells in 30 and 50 μmol/L nefazodone groups was statistically lower than that of normal control group ( P<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining revealed that compared with the normal control group, the LPS group had significantly increased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased fluorescent intensities of CD68 and Iba1 ( P<0.05). RT-qPCR results indicated that compared with those in the normal control group, the Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in both BV2 cells and primary microglia of the LPS group were significantly increased; compared with the LPS group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased CCL2, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expressions in BV2 cells, and significantly decreased Nos2, CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in primary microglia ( P<0.05). ELISA showed that compared with those in the normal control group, the supernatant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels significantly increased in the BV2 cells of LPS group; compared with those in the LPS group, supernatant IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels statistically decreased in the nefazodone group ( P< 0.05). Western blotting demonstrated that compared with those in the normal control group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with those in the LPS group, the iNOS and COX-2 protein expressions in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group statistically decreased ( P<0.05). Griess assay showed that compared with the normal control group, BV2 cells in the LPS group had significantly increased supernatant NO concentration ( P <0.05); compared with the LPS group, BV2 cells in the nefazodone group had significantly decreased supernatant NO concentration ( P<0.05). Western blotting revealed that compared with those in the normal control group, the p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly increased in BV2 cells of the LPS group ( P<0.05); compared with the LPS group, the p-p65/p65, p-ERK/ERK and p-JNK/JNK ratios significantly decreased in BV2 cells of the nefazodone group ( P<0.05). (2) Behavioral tests showed that compared with the normal control group, the MCAO group had significantly decreased forelimb grip strength and increased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05); compared with the MCAO group, the nefazodone group had significantly decreased mNSS score, increased forelimb grip strength and decreased foot-fault rate ( P<0.05). The percentage of cerebral infarction volume in the nefazodone group was significantly lower than that in the MCAO group ([9.56±1.81]% vs. [21.71±12.26]%, P< 0.05). The MCAO group had statistically higher Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (7.27±2.88) than the normal control group (1.00±0.64), and the nefazodone group had significantly lower Iba1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra (1.75±0.86) than the MCAO group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Nefazodone can improve neurological function impairment in MCAO mice by inhibiting the excessive activation of microglia; cytological experiments suggest that its mechanism may be related to the negative regulation of ERK/JNK/NF-κB p65 signaling axis.

Objective To investigate the relation between obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)and tinnitus.Meth-ods The data of subjects aged 20 years or above who participated in tinnitus and sleep questionnaire survey from the 2005-2008 and 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Surveys(NHANES)had been used,the people at risk of OSA were selected via the STOP-Bang questionnaire,and the association between the people at risk of OSA and tinnitus was determined by a Logistic regression model.Results Among the 5 183 participants,83.3％(4 320/5 183)and 16.7％(863/5 183)were classified into the non-tinnitus and tinnitus group,respectively.The tinnitus group had higher STOP-Bang scores(3.71±1.51)than those of the group without tinnitus(2.81±1.62)(P＜0.001).The observed prevalence rates of tinnitus in the low-risk,middle-risk and high-risk group were 8.1％(175/1 973),20.5％(435/1 689),27.8％(253/658),respectively.The multivariate Logistic regression model showed that patients with middle-risk and high-risk of OSA had an increased risk of tinnitus compared with low-risk group,with the OR values and confidence intervals of 2.348(1.920～2.871)and 3.136(2.488～3.953),respec-tively(P＜0.001).Conclusion People at risk of OSA are independently risk factors of tinnitus.Higher risk of OSA is associated with higher prevalence and higher risk of tinnitus.

Aim To investigate the therapeutic effect of newly formulated Tadalafil tablets on liver fibrosis in mice induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)and its impact on the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs).Methods Liver fibrosis model was estab-lished by intraperitoneally injecting 20％CCl4 corn oil solution twice a week for eight weeks.After four weeks of modeling,the treatment group was administered ei-ther the newly formulated Tadalafil tablets(1.0 mg·kg-1)or the Cialis(2.5 mg·kg-1)via gavage for the remaining four weeks.We assessed the effects of Tadalafil on collagen deposition,tissue structural dam-age,and HSCs activation markers in the fibrotic liver of mice using serum biochemical analysis,histopathologi-cal staining,and Western blotting following the treat-ment period.LX-2 cells were cultured and treated with tadalafil after TGF β1 stimulation,and the effects of tadalafil on LX-2 cell activation were assessed via Western blot.Results Compared to the normal mice,the model group mice exhibited a significantly higher liver-specific index,increased liver function indicators,and notable hepatocyte necrosis.Additionally,liver lobules were damaged,accompanied by severe infiltra-tion of inflammatory cells.Both smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and fibronectin(Fn)were elevated,serving as markers of HSCs activation.As a result of treatment with the newly formulated Tadalafil tablets,liver tissue damage was significantly reduced,transaminase levels decreased,necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced,and collagen fiber deposition was allevia-ted,and α-SMA and Fn expression was reduced.It was worth noting that low-dose newly formulated Tadalafil tablets were found to be as effective as high-dose Cia-lis.In a cellular model,Tadalafil significantly inhibited the activation of LX-2 cells and reduced the expression of proteins related to cell activation.Conclusions The newly formulated Tadalafil tablets can significantly inhibit HSCs activation,reduce extracellular matrix(ECM)deposition,improve liver fibrosis and liver function damage caused by CCl4.This new formulation offers a significant advantage over Cialis in terms of ef-fectiveness,with a lower effective dose.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of moxibustion(Mox)combined with low-dose tadalafil(TAD)in the treatment of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction(DMED)with the syndrome of Qi deficiency and blood stasis.Meth-ods:According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,we selected 90 patients with DMED for this trial and equally randomized them into a Mox,a TAD,and a Mox combined with TAD(Mox+TAD)group to be treated by mild Mox applied to the acupoints Zusanli,Sanyinjiao and Yinlingquan qd alt,oral medication with low-dose TAD at 5 mg per dose qd,and combination of the above two thera-pies,respectively,all for 4 weeks.We obtained from the patients their IIEF-5 scores,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms scores,Erectile Hardness Scale(EHS)scores,corpus cavernosal hemodynamic indexes,and the peak systolic velocity(PSV),end diastolic velocity(EDV)and resistance index(RI)of the corpus cavernosal arteries before and after treatment,and compared them among the three groups.Results:The total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the Mox+TAD(90.0％)than in the Mox(46.7％)and TAD groups(60.0％)(P＜0.05).Compared with the baseline,the IIEF-5 and EHS scores were increased,while the TCM symptoms scores decreased in all the three groups after treatment,more significantly in the Mox+TAD group than in the other two(P＜0.05).And the PSV and RI were remarkably increased,while the EDV decreased(P＜0.05)in all the three groups(P＜0.05)after treatment,with PSV even higher in the Mox+TAD than in the Mox and TAD groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Moxi-bustion combined with tadalafil has a definite efficacy and safety for the treatment of DMED,which can effectively improve the erectile function of the patients by increasing penile blood supply,benefiting qi and activating blood circulation.

This study was conducted retrospectively on a cohort of 68 patients with steroid 5 α-reductase 2 (SRD5A2) deficiency and 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). Whole-exon sequencing revealed 28 variants of SRD5A2 , and further analysis identified seven novel mutants. The preponderance of variants was observed in exon 1 and exon 4, specifically within the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-binding region. Among the entire cohort, 53 patients underwent initial surgery at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (Chengdu, China). The external genitalia scores (EGS) of these participants varied from 2.0 to 11.0, with a mean of 6.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 2.5). Thirty patients consented to hormone testing. Their average testosterone-to-dihydrotestosterone (T/DHT) ratio was 49.3 (s.d.: 23.4). Genetic testing identified four patients with EGS scores between 6 and 9 as having this syndrome; and their T/DHT ratios were below the diagnostic threshold. Furthermore, assessments conducted using the crystal structure of human SRD5A2 have provided insights into the potential pathogenic mechanisms of these novel variants. These mechanisms include interference with NADPH binding (c.356G>C, c.365A>G, c.492C>G, and c.662T>G) and destabilization of the protein structure (c.727C>T). The c.446-1G>T and c.380delG variants were verified to result in large alterations in the transcripts. Seven novel variations were identified, and the variant database for the SRD5A2 gene was expanded. These findings contribute to the progress of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for individuals with SRD5A2 deficiency.
Humans ; 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY/blood* ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Female ; Mutation ; Testosterone/blood* ; Infant ; Dihydrotestosterone/blood*

The relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains inadequately understood. Given that HUA is often associated with various metabolic disorders, this study aims to explore the multivariate linear impacts of metabolic parameters on erectile function in ED patients with HUA. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 514 ED patients with HUA in the Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Nanjing, China), aged 18 to 60 years. General demographic information, medical history, and laboratory results were collected to assess metabolic disturbances. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Based on univariate analysis, variables associated with IIEF-5 scores were identified, and the correlations between them were evaluated. The effects of these variables on IIEF-5 scores were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Fasting plasma glucose ( β = -0.628, P < 0.001), uric acid ( β = -0.552, P < 0.001), triglycerides ( β = -0.088, P = 0.047), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( β = -0.164, P = 0.027), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; β = -0.562, P = 0.012), and smoking history ( β = -0.074, P = 0.037) exhibited significant negative impacts on erectile function. The coefficient of determination ( R ²) for the model was 0.239, and the adjusted R ² was 0.230, indicating overall statistical significance ( F -statistic = 26.52, P < 0.001). Metabolic parameters play a crucial role in the development of ED. Maintaining normal metabolic indices may aid in the prevention and improvement of erectile function in ED patients with HUA.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Hyperuricemia/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Uric Acid/blood* ; Young Adult ; Triglycerides/blood* ; Adolescent ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG)on the cardiac structure and function in obese patients with heart failure(HF)and compare the efficacy of LSG across obese patients with different HF types.Methods This study included 33 obese patients with HF who underwent LSG.The clinical indicators were compared between before operation and 12 months after operation.Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to evaluate the changes in echocardiographic parameters before operation and 3,6,and 12 months after operation.Patients were allocated into a HF with preserved ejection fraction group(n=17),a HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction group(n=5)and a HF with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF)group(n=11)based on left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)before operation for subgroup analyses of the effects of LSG on the cardiac structure and function of obese patients with HF.The paired samples t-test was conducted to assess the degree of cardiac structural and functional alterations after LSG.Results The 33 patients included 69.7% males,with an average age of(35.3±9.9)years,and a body mass index(BMI)of(51.2±9.8)kg/m².The median follow-up was 9.0(5.0,13.3)months.Compared with the preoperative values,the postoperative BMI(P=0.002),body surface area(BSA)(P=0.009),waist circumference(P=0.010),hip circumference(P=0.031),body fat content(P=0.007),and percentage of patients with cardiac function grades Ⅲ-IV(P<0.001)decreased.At the 12-month follow-up left atrial diameter(P=0.006),right atrial long-axis inner diameter(RAD1)(P<0.001),right atrial short-axis inner diameter(RAD2)(P<0.001),right ventricular inner diameter(P=0.002),interventricular septal thickness at end-diastolic(P=0.002),and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes(P=0.004)and left ventricular end-systolic volumes(P=0.003) all significantly reduced compared with preoperative values.Additionally,left ventricular fractional shortening and LVEF improved(both P<0.001).Subgroup analyses revealed that cardiac structural parameters significantly decreased in the HF with preserved ejection fraction,HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction,and HFrEF subgroups compared with preoperative values.Notably,the HFrEF group demonstrated the best performance in terms of left atrial diameter(P=0.003),left ventricular inner diameter at end-diastole(P=0.008),RAD1(P<0.001),RAD2(P=0.004),right ventricular inner diameter(P=0.019),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(P=0.004)and left ventricular end-systolic volume(P=0.001),cardiac output(P=0.006),tricuspid regurgitation velocity(P=0.002),and pulmonary artery systolic pressure(P=0.001) compared to preoperatively.Postoperative left ventricular fractional shortening(P<0.001,P=0.003,P<0.001)and LVEF(P<0.001,P=0.011,P=0.001)became higher in all the three subgroups than the preoperative values.Conclusions LSG decreased the body weight,BMI,and BSA,improved the cardiac function grade,reversed the enlargement of the left atrium and left ventricle,reduced the right atrium and right ventricle,and enhanced the left ventricular systolic function.It was effective across obese patients with different HF types.Particularly,LSG demonstrates the best performance in improving the structures of both atria and ventricles in obese patients with HFrEF.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Heart Failure/complications* ; Adult ; Obesity/physiopathology* ; Laparoscopy ; Middle Aged ; Heart/physiopathology* ; Stroke Volume