arcopenia is a systemic skeletal muscle disorder characterized by a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and progressive decline in function， with multiple signaling pathways involved in its occurrence and development. Among them， the AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway， as a key pathway regulating cellular energy homeostasis， plays an important role in the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism and functional maintenance by improving abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism， balancing skeletal muscle protein synthesis and degradation， improving mitochondrial function， promoting autophagy， and inhibiting inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. This article reviews the research progress on how various traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） monomers， including polyphenols， flavonoids， and terpenoids； various traditional Chinese medicine extracts， such as those from Lycium barbarum ， Asini Corii Colla， and Panax quinquefolium ， and TCM compounds， such as Guiqi zhuangjin decoction， Jianpi qiangji granules， and Qigu capsules， intervene in sarcopenia by regulating the AMPK signaling pathway to promote muscle protein synthesis， inhibit protein degradation， improve mitochondrial function， and alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally， their molecular mechanisms are explored. The aim is to deeply elucidate the basis of TCM in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and to provide theoretical support for the development of related innovative drugs.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status and existing issues of hospital-associated infection manage-ment in non-public medical institutions,so as to provide data for the formulation of hospital-associated infec-tion management policies and the construction of a quality evaluation system for hospital-associated infection man-agement in non-public medical institutions.METHODS A qualitative research method was employed.In Dec.2023,semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 directors of hospital-associated infection management depart-ments in primary,secondary and tertiary non-public medical institutions.The interview data were coded and ana-lyzed by Nvivo 12.0 software to refine themes.RESULTS Three themes were refined:the organizational system for hospital-associated infection management in non-public medical institutions had been basically established,but the division of functions and responsibilities was not yet fully clear,hospital-associated infection management had achieved certain results,including collaborating with other departments to standardize and implement infection control measures,enhancing staff awareness of infection control,and promoting the establishment of organization-al systems.There were issues in infection control works such as insufficient funding,personnel allocation not meeting requirements,and difficulties in implementing infection control measures.The most urgent assis-tance needed was to address the training and professional title promotion for full-time and part-time infection con-trol personnel.CONCLUSION Non-public medical institutions should strengthen staffing and training,enhance the pro-fessional capabilities of infection control personnel,and establish hospital-associated infection management standards that are tailored to the characteristics of non-public medical institutions at all levels.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status and existing issues of hospital-associated infection manage-ment in non-public medical institutions,so as to provide data for the formulation of hospital-associated infec-tion management policies and the construction of a quality evaluation system for hospital-associated infection man-agement in non-public medical institutions.METHODS A qualitative research method was employed.In Dec.2023,semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 directors of hospital-associated infection management depart-ments in primary,secondary and tertiary non-public medical institutions.The interview data were coded and ana-lyzed by Nvivo 12.0 software to refine themes.RESULTS Three themes were refined:the organizational system for hospital-associated infection management in non-public medical institutions had been basically established,but the division of functions and responsibilities was not yet fully clear,hospital-associated infection management had achieved certain results,including collaborating with other departments to standardize and implement infection control measures,enhancing staff awareness of infection control,and promoting the establishment of organization-al systems.There were issues in infection control works such as insufficient funding,personnel allocation not meeting requirements,and difficulties in implementing infection control measures.The most urgent assis-tance needed was to address the training and professional title promotion for full-time and part-time infection con-trol personnel.CONCLUSION Non-public medical institutions should strengthen staffing and training,enhance the pro-fessional capabilities of infection control personnel,and establish hospital-associated infection management standards that are tailored to the characteristics of non-public medical institutions at all levels.

Objective To analyze the correlations between platelet-related parameters and the incidence of anxiety and depression in the patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis(PD),and evaluate the efficacy of the pa-rameters in the diagnosis of anxiety and depression in PD patients.Methods A total of 245 patients undergoing PD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from September 2022 to February 2023 were enrolled.The gener-alized anxiety scale(GAD-7)and the patient health questionnaire(PHQ-9)were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression of the patients,respectively.The personal information and biochemical indicators of the patients were col-lected,and the platelet count(PLT),mean platelet volume(MPV),and platelet distribution width(PDW)were measured.Logistic regression was adopted to analyze the relationships of platelet-related parameters with anxiety and depression in PD patients.Results Among the 245 patients undergoing PD,the incidences of anxiety and depression were 15.9% and 38.0% ,respectively.There were differences in the dialysis period(Z=-2.358,P =0.018;Z =-3.079,P=0.002),MPV(Z=-4.953,P<0.001;Z=-7.878,P<0.001),and PDW(Z =-4.587,P<0.001;Z=-7.367,P<0.001)between the anxiety group and the non-anxiety group as well as between the de-pression group and the non-depression group.The correlation analysis showed that MPV(r =0.358,P<0.001;r =0.489,P<0.001)and PDW(r =0.340,P<0.001;r =0.447,P<0.001)were positively correlated with anxiety and depression in the patients undergoing PD.The Logistic regression model showed that MPV(P =0.022,P =0.011),PDW(P =0.041,P =0.018),and dialysis period(P =0.011,P =0.030)were independent risk factors for the anxiety and depressive state in PD patients.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of MPV in the diagnosis of anxiety and depression in PD patients were 0.750 and 0.800,respectively,and those of PDW were 0.732 and 0.780,respectively.Conclusion MPV and PDW have high efficacy in the diagnosis of anxiety and depression associated with PD and can be used as objective indicators to evaluate the anxiety and depression in the patients undergoing PD.

Objective:To explore the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) with different dosages on the endometrial factor, number of oocytes retrieved, pregnancy outcomes and other factors in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) patients with minimal stimulation/natural protocol.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. The patients who underwent minimal stimulation protocol of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) were divided into 4 groups. Group A: the patients had CC 50 mg/d from the third day of menstruation to the trigger day (1 457 cycles); group B: the patients had 50 mg/d from the third day of menstruation for 3 d (1 533 cycles); group C: the patients had CC 25 mg/d from the third day of menstruation to the trigger day (345 cycles); group D: the patients had CC 25 mg/d for 3 d (319 cycles). The general data, clinical results, pregnancy and delivery outcomes were compared between group A and group B, as well as group C and group D. Results:In the treatment of IVF/ICSI, the dosage of gonadotropin (Gn) used, number of dominant follicles, estradiol level, luteinizing hormone level, progesterone level, number of oocytes retrieved, rate of oocytes retrieved, number of fertilizations, number of transplantable embryos and whole embryo freezing rate in patients of group A were significantly higher than those in group B (all P<0.05). The endometrial thickness [7.10 (5.40,8.65) mm] and the ratio of endometrial type (A/A-B) on trigger day [70.70% (888/1 256)] of group B were significantly better than those of group A [6.00 (4.70,8.00) mm, P<0.001; 63.62% (649/1 020), P<0.001], and the fresh embryo transfer rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A [20.00% (259/1 295) vs. 42.94% (584/1 360), P<0.001]. There were no statistical differences in the number of high-quality embryos and the rate of no embryo transfer between the two groups (both P>0.05). In group C and group D, the Gn used dosage, the number of dominant follicles, the estradiol level on trigger day, number of oocytes retrieved, embryos/cycles were significantly increased (all P<0.05), the endometrial thickness on trigger day of group D [7.00 (5.40, 8.60) mm] was significantly higher than that of group C [6.10 (5.00,7.93) mm, P<0.001], but there was no statistical difference of the ratio of endometrial type (A/A-B) between the two groups ( P=0.739). In addition, the luteinizing hormone and progesterone values on the trigger day in group C were significantly higher than those in group D ( P=0.014, P=0.005), but there were no significant differences in pre-ovulation rate and all embryos frozen rate between the two groups (all P<0.05), and the rate of fresh embryo transfer in group C [26.04% (75/288)] was significantly lower than that in group D [38.80% (97/250), P<0.001]. Finally, there were no significant differences in cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and fresh/frozen embryo transfer outcome between group A and group B as well as group C and group D (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The use of low-dose and short-time CC in minimal stimulation protocol does not change the final pregnancy outcome, while saving patients' economic and time costs, so it could be an appropriate project for DOR patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes for suboptimal ovarian responders undergoing follicular phase long protocol.Methods:The data of infertile patients who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) for the first time with follicular phase long protocol from January 2017 to January 2020 in Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University Hospital were retrospectively cohort analyzed. Totally 2 336 patients with normal ovarian reserve were included in the study with suboptimal ovarian response to ovarian stimulation. According to the different exogenous LH supplementation, they were divided into hMG group ( n=1 558) and rLH group ( n=778). The clinical features and effects of ovulation induction were compared between the two groups and reproductive outcomes were compared in both fresh embryo transfer cycles and subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between different LH activity drugs supplementation and the cumulative live birth rate of suboptimal ovarian responders. Results:The basic characteristics such as age, infertility type and diagnosis, body mass index and biomarkers of ovarian reserve were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). Total dosage [(2 088.98±628.24) U] and duration [(12.22±2.29) d] of FSH used in the hMG group were significantly higher than those in the rLH group [(1 866.90±602.65) U, P<0.001; (11.89±2.37) d, P=0.001]. Total dosage [(537.30±484.49) U] and duration [(7.40±3.52) d] of LH used in the hMG group were significantly higher than those in the rLH group [(498.10±472.04) U, (5.67±3.78) d, P<0.001]. The serum LH levels on the first day [(0.78±0.77) U/L] and the sixth day [(0.81±0.49) U/L] of gonadotropin stimulation in the hMG group were higher than those in the rLH group [(0.67±0.32) U/L, P<0.001; (0.71±0.33) U/L, P=0.002]. However, the serum LH level was comparable on the trigger day between the two groups without significant difference ( P=0.303). The levels of serum estrodiol [(8 377.14±7 000.63) pmol/L] and progesterone [(3.84±2.18) nmol/L] on the trigger day were significantly higher in the hMG group than in the rLH group [(7 644.91±5 145.64) pmol/L, P=0.009; (3.14±1.80) ng/L, P<0.001]. The pregnancy outcomes including clinical pregnancy rates, abortion rates and live birth rates were comparable between the two groups in fresh embryo transfer cycles and the subsequent FET cycles (all P>0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) [89.46% (696/778)] and the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) [78.02% (607/778)] in the rLH group were significantly higher than those in the hMG group [84.60% (1 318/1 558), P=0.001; 72.98% (1 137/1 558), P=0.008]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age was a risk factor for CLBR ( OR=0.930, 95% CI: 0.906-0.955, P<0.001) and antral follicle count ( OR=1.029, 95% CI: 1.005-1.054, P=0.018), total number of oocytes retrieved ( OR=1.064, 95% CI: 1.029-1.100, P<0.001), the number of embryos transferred ( OR=1.714, 95% CI: 1.293-2.272, P<0.001), the stage of embryos transferred ( OR=1.567, 95% CI: 1.243-1.975, P<0.001), endometrial thickness on transfer day ( OR=1.122, 95% CI: 1.077-1.170, P<0.001) and rLH supplementation ( OR=1.348, 95% CI:1.101-1.651, P=0.004) were protective factors for CLBR of suboptimal responders. Conclusion:For suboptimal ovarian responders with normal ovarian reserve, rLH supplementation may achieve a higher CLBR than hMG supplementation in follicular phase long protocol.

Objective:To explore the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) with different dosages on the endometrial factor, number of oocytes retrieved, pregnancy outcomes and other factors in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) patients with minimal stimulation/natural protocol.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. The patients who underwent minimal stimulation protocol of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) were divided into 4 groups. Group A: the patients had CC 50 mg/d from the third day of menstruation to the trigger day (1 457 cycles); group B: the patients had 50 mg/d from the third day of menstruation for 3 d (1 533 cycles); group C: the patients had CC 25 mg/d from the third day of menstruation to the trigger day (345 cycles); group D: the patients had CC 25 mg/d for 3 d (319 cycles). The general data, clinical results, pregnancy and delivery outcomes were compared between group A and group B, as well as group C and group D. Results:In the treatment of IVF/ICSI, the dosage of gonadotropin (Gn) used, number of dominant follicles, estradiol level, luteinizing hormone level, progesterone level, number of oocytes retrieved, rate of oocytes retrieved, number of fertilizations, number of transplantable embryos and whole embryo freezing rate in patients of group A were significantly higher than those in group B (all P<0.05). The endometrial thickness [7.10 (5.40,8.65) mm] and the ratio of endometrial type (A/A-B) on trigger day [70.70% (888/1 256)] of group B were significantly better than those of group A [6.00 (4.70,8.00) mm, P<0.001; 63.62% (649/1 020), P<0.001], and the fresh embryo transfer rate of group B was significantly higher than that of group A [20.00% (259/1 295) vs. 42.94% (584/1 360), P<0.001]. There were no statistical differences in the number of high-quality embryos and the rate of no embryo transfer between the two groups (both P>0.05). In group C and group D, the Gn used dosage, the number of dominant follicles, the estradiol level on trigger day, number of oocytes retrieved, embryos/cycles were significantly increased (all P<0.05), the endometrial thickness on trigger day of group D [7.00 (5.40, 8.60) mm] was significantly higher than that of group C [6.10 (5.00,7.93) mm, P<0.001], but there was no statistical difference of the ratio of endometrial type (A/A-B) between the two groups ( P=0.739). In addition, the luteinizing hormone and progesterone values on the trigger day in group C were significantly higher than those in group D ( P=0.014, P=0.005), but there were no significant differences in pre-ovulation rate and all embryos frozen rate between the two groups (all P<0.05), and the rate of fresh embryo transfer in group C [26.04% (75/288)] was significantly lower than that in group D [38.80% (97/250), P<0.001]. Finally, there were no significant differences in cumulative clinical pregnancy rate and fresh/frozen embryo transfer outcome between group A and group B as well as group C and group D (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The use of low-dose and short-time CC in minimal stimulation protocol does not change the final pregnancy outcome, while saving patients' economic and time costs, so it could be an appropriate project for DOR patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes for suboptimal ovarian responders undergoing follicular phase long protocol.Methods:The data of infertile patients who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) for the first time with follicular phase long protocol from January 2017 to January 2020 in Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University Hospital were retrospectively cohort analyzed. Totally 2 336 patients with normal ovarian reserve were included in the study with suboptimal ovarian response to ovarian stimulation. According to the different exogenous LH supplementation, they were divided into hMG group ( n=1 558) and rLH group ( n=778). The clinical features and effects of ovulation induction were compared between the two groups and reproductive outcomes were compared in both fresh embryo transfer cycles and subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between different LH activity drugs supplementation and the cumulative live birth rate of suboptimal ovarian responders. Results:The basic characteristics such as age, infertility type and diagnosis, body mass index and biomarkers of ovarian reserve were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). Total dosage [(2 088.98±628.24) U] and duration [(12.22±2.29) d] of FSH used in the hMG group were significantly higher than those in the rLH group [(1 866.90±602.65) U, P<0.001; (11.89±2.37) d, P=0.001]. Total dosage [(537.30±484.49) U] and duration [(7.40±3.52) d] of LH used in the hMG group were significantly higher than those in the rLH group [(498.10±472.04) U, (5.67±3.78) d, P<0.001]. The serum LH levels on the first day [(0.78±0.77) U/L] and the sixth day [(0.81±0.49) U/L] of gonadotropin stimulation in the hMG group were higher than those in the rLH group [(0.67±0.32) U/L, P<0.001; (0.71±0.33) U/L, P=0.002]. However, the serum LH level was comparable on the trigger day between the two groups without significant difference ( P=0.303). The levels of serum estrodiol [(8 377.14±7 000.63) pmol/L] and progesterone [(3.84±2.18) nmol/L] on the trigger day were significantly higher in the hMG group than in the rLH group [(7 644.91±5 145.64) pmol/L, P=0.009; (3.14±1.80) ng/L, P<0.001]. The pregnancy outcomes including clinical pregnancy rates, abortion rates and live birth rates were comparable between the two groups in fresh embryo transfer cycles and the subsequent FET cycles (all P>0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) [89.46% (696/778)] and the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) [78.02% (607/778)] in the rLH group were significantly higher than those in the hMG group [84.60% (1 318/1 558), P=0.001; 72.98% (1 137/1 558), P=0.008]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age was a risk factor for CLBR ( OR=0.930, 95% CI: 0.906-0.955, P<0.001) and antral follicle count ( OR=1.029, 95% CI: 1.005-1.054, P=0.018), total number of oocytes retrieved ( OR=1.064, 95% CI: 1.029-1.100, P<0.001), the number of embryos transferred ( OR=1.714, 95% CI: 1.293-2.272, P<0.001), the stage of embryos transferred ( OR=1.567, 95% CI: 1.243-1.975, P<0.001), endometrial thickness on transfer day ( OR=1.122, 95% CI: 1.077-1.170, P<0.001) and rLH supplementation ( OR=1.348, 95% CI:1.101-1.651, P=0.004) were protective factors for CLBR of suboptimal responders. Conclusion:For suboptimal ovarian responders with normal ovarian reserve, rLH supplementation may achieve a higher CLBR than hMG supplementation in follicular phase long protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of recurrent hydatidiform mole (RHM) and provide accurate guidance for reproduction. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples of the probands with RHM and members from 5 unrelated pedigrees were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted by using routine method, and whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect variants of RHM-associated genes including NLRP7 and KHDC3L. Sanger sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to validate the candidate variants and delineate their parental origin. RESULTS: Homozygous or compound heterozygous variants of the NLRP7 gene were identified in four patients from three pedigrees, which included a homozygous deletion of exon 1 to 4 of NLRP7 in patient P1 and her elder sister, compound heterozygous variants of NLRP7 c.939delG (p.Q314Sfs*6) pat and c.1533delG (p.N512Tfs*4) mat in patient P2, and compound heterozygous variants of NLRP7 c.2389_2390delTC (p.A798Qfs*6) pat and c.2165A>G (p.D722G) mat in patient P4. All variants were interpreted as pathogenic or likely pathogenic according to the American College of Medical and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Among these, NLRP7 exons 1 to 4 deletion, c.939delG (p.Q314Sfs*6), c.1533delG (p.N512Tfs*4) and c.2389_2390delTC (p.A798Qfs*6) were unreported previously. CONCLUSION Variants of the NLRP7 gene probably underlay autosomal recessive RHM in the three pedigrees, and definitive molecular diagnosis is beneficial for accurate genetic counseling. Above finding has also enriched the spectrum of the NLRP7 variants underlying RHM.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole/pathology* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Sequence Deletion