Elemene is widely recognized as an effective anti-cancer compound and is routinely administered in Chinese clinical settings for the management of several solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its detailed molecular mechanism has not been adequately demonstrated. In this research, it was demonstrated that elemene effectively curtailed NSCLC growth in the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Mechanistically, employing high-throughput screening techniques and subsequent biochemical validations such as microscale thermophoresis (MST), microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p) was pinpointed as a critical target through which elemene exerts its anti-tumor effects. Interestingly, elemene serves as a binding stabilizer for miR-145-5p, demonstrating a strong binding affinity (dissociation constant (K _D) = 0.39 ± 0.17 μg/mL) and preventing its degradation both in vitro and in vivo, while not interfering with the synthesis of the primary microRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) and precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). The stabilization of miR-145-5p by elemene resulted in an increased level of this miRNA, subsequently suppressing NSCLC progression through the miR-145-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3)/nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. Our findings provide a new perspective on revealing the interaction patterns between clinical anti-tumor drugs and miRNAs.

Objective:To analyze the influence factors of urinary tract infection after transurethral bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate (TUPEP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH), and the early predictive value of serum inflammatory indicators for postoperative urinary tract infection.Methods:A total of 300 patients with BPH who received TUPEP treatment in the Department of Urology, Kailuan General Hospital from January 2021 to August 2023 were selected, according to whether they had urinary tract infections after the operation, they were divided into infection group ( n=117) and non-infection group ( n=183). The clinical data of the two groups were collected, and the serum inflammatory indexes of the two groups were recorded within 24 hours after the operation, including white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil granulocyte (NE%), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (PCT), heparin-binding protein (HBP), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and serum ferritin (SF). The differences of clinical data and serum inflammatory indexes between the two groups were analyzed. The measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and independent sample t-test was used for inter-group comparisons. The measurement data of non- normal distribution were represented by median (interquartile range) [ M ( Q1, Q3)], and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for inter-group comparison. The count data were expressed as cases and percentage, and inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Chi-test. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explored the influencing factors of urinary tract infections in BPH patients after TUPEP surgery. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 medical plotting softwar to evaluate the predictive value of serum inflammatory markers and combined detection of multiple markers for early postoperative urinary tract infections. Results:The duration of disease, history of diabetes, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume, preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, preoperative urine residual volume, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative catheter indwelling time, and hospitalization time in the infection group were higher than those in the non-infection group ( P<0.05). The preoperative 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level and maximum urinary flow rate were lower in the infection group than those in the non- infection group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the course of the disease, history of diabetes, IPSS score, prostate volume, preoperative PSA level, preoperative urine residual volume, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative catheter indwelling time was positively correlated with urinary tract infection after TUPEP ( B=0.660, 0.242, 0.164, 0.125, 0.230, 0.066, 0.382, 0.022, 0.436, P<0.01), and preoperative 25OHD level and preoperative maximum urinary flow rate were negatively correlated with urinary tract infection after TUPEP ( B=-0.216, -0.372, P<0.01). The levels of hs-CRP, SAA, PCT, HBP, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, SF in the infection group were higher than those in the non-infection group ( P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of hs-CRP, SAA, PCT, HBP, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, SF in early predicting urinary tract infection after TUPEP in BPH patients were 0.697, 0.775, 0.902, 0.873, 0.884, 0.904, 0.917, 0.823, 0.906, 0.852, 0.807, 0.787. The AUC of the combined detection of multiple serum inflammatory markers was 0.972, the sensitivity and specificity were 93.18% and 96.63%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of multiple serum inflammatory markers were higher than those of separate detection. Conclusion:The course of BPH, whether to combine history of diabetes, preoperative IPSS score, prostate volume, preoperative PSA level, preoperative 25OHD level, preoperative maximum urinary flow rate, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative catheter indwelling time are influencing factors of urinary tract infection after TUPEP, hs-CRP, SAA, PCT, HBP, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, SF had certain value in the early prediction of urinary tract infection after TUPEP in patients with BPH, the combination of multiple indicators can improve the predictive value of early urinary tract infection.

Objective:To evaluate the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) related outcomes during hospitalization during the intensive care unit (ICU) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients with high body mass index (BMI, >25 kg/m 2) undergoing lung transplantation with ECMO support. Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. IPF patients who received ECMO during lung transplantation admitted to the Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled. Preoperative indicators including, demographics, comorbidities, arterial blood gas, and laboratory indicators; intraoperative indicators, such as lung lobe volume reduction, surgical type, surgical time, cold ischemia time, blood loss and transfusion volume; immediate indicators upon admission to the ICU, such as blood gas analysis and laboratory indicators; ECMO related outcomes, such as ECMO mode, ECMO support time, ECMO related complications (bleeding at the catheterization site, intraductal thrombosis, lower limb ischemia), and the length of ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and 30-day survival rate were collected. According to BMI, patients were divided into three groups: light weight group (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2), normal weight group (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2), and overweight group (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m 2). Mainly to compare the relevant outcomes of ECMO among patients during ICU. Results:A total of 114 IPF patients who received ECMO support during lung transplantation were collected, including 23 cases in the light weight group, 63 cases in the normal weight group, and 28 cases in the overweight group. Compared with patients with underweight and normal weight, overweight patients were more likely to have hypertension (46.4% vs. 8.7%, 23.8%, P < 0.01) and coronary heart disease (32.1% vs. 4.3%, 20.6%, P < 0.05) before surgery, which was consistent with international guidelines for obesity. Other clinical data (preoperative, intraoperative, ICU characteristics) showed no statistically significant differences and were comparable. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of ECMO related outcomes, such as ECMO related complications [veno-venous (V-V) mode: 78.3%, 77.8%, 78.6%, veno-arterial (V-A) mode: 21.7%, 22.2%, 21.4%], ECMO support time (hours: 61.70±20.03, 44.57±5.76, 41.77±7.26), ECMO related complications (bleeding at the catheterization site: 4.3%, 7.9%, 14.3%; intraductal thrombosis: 8.7%, 12.7%, 17.9%; lower limb ischemia: 8.7%, 12.7%, 14.3%), and the length of ICU stay (days: 11±3, 7±1, 9±1), duration of mechanical ventilation [days: 2 (2, 11), 2 (2, 6), 3 (2, 8)] among the light weight group, normal weight group, and overweight group (all P > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day cumulative survival rate among the three groups (Log-Rank test: χ2 = 0.919, P = 0.632). Conclusions:High BMI does not worsen ECMO-related outcomes or adversely affect early prognosis in IPF patients undergoing lung transplantation. BMI as a single parameter should not be a contraindication for the use of ECMO in lung transplantation surgery for IPF patients.

Background Experimental studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones can cause adverse effects on male reproductive health, including decreased semen quality and altered sex hormones. However, the results of epidemiological studies on the relationship between mobile phone use and male semen quality are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are few epidemiological studies on the association of mobile phone use with sex hormones. Objective To explore the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Methods A total of 2045 men visited the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in Wuhan and ordered infertility examination were recruited from December 2018 to January 2020. Information on mobile phone use was obtained using a questionnaire. Among them, 1232 and 1694 men were eligible for semen quality analyses and sex hormone analyses, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, there was no statistically significant associations of mobile phone use with sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, sperm concentration, sperm count, or serum luteinizing hormone (P>0.05). However, serum total testosterone showed a declined tendency with increasing daily duration of mobile phone use (P_trend=0.08). Compared with men with daily mobile phone use of 0-2 h, men with daily mobile phone use of 2.1-5, 5.1-8, and >8 h showed decreased serum total testosterone concentrations by 6.29% (95%CI: 0.40%-11.84%), 6.01% (95%CI: 0.60%-12.19%), and 7.87% (95%CI: 0.40%-14.79%), respectively. Conclusion Mobile phone use is not associated with male semen quality and serum luteinizing hormone, but increasing daily duration of mobile phone use is potentially associated with a tendency to lower male serum total testosterone.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is of great significance to the setting of daily energy requirements and the scientific diet guidance for the population. There are 3 kinds of measurement methods for BMR, including the direct calorimetry, the indirect calorimetry, and the equation estimation. The direct calorimetry method is difficult to implement and is only used in some special populations. The indirect calorimetry and the equation estimation are two methods that are currently used commonly. The indirect calorimetry is highly accurate and suitable for individual for basal metabolic measurement or datum collection via equation estimation. The equation estimation is simple and convenient, which is suitable for large samples.
Basal Metabolism ; physiology ; Biomedical Research ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans