Objective:To investigate the changes of serum helper T cell 1 (Th1)/helper T cell 2 (Th2) cytokines in patients with idiopathic oligonasthenospermia (IO).Methods:A total of 136 patients with IO admitted to the Xianyang Central Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively selected and divided into mild to moderate group (86 cases) and severe group (50 cases) according to the severity of IO. Another 60 healthy males were selected as normal control group. Baseline data, serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines [interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21] of the three groups were compared. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21 and the severity of IO disease.Results:The sperm concentration, total sperm and percentage of forward motile sperm in severe group were lower than those in mild to moderate group and normal control group (all P<0.05), and the sperm concentration, total sperm and percentage of forward motile sperm in mild to the moderate group were lower than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-21 in severe group were higher than those in the mild-moderate group and the normal control group (all P<0.05), and the serum levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-21 in mild-moderate group were higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in severe group were higher than those in the mild-moderate group and the normal control group (all P<0.05), and the serum levels of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in mild-moderate group were higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the severity of IO disease was positively correlated with the levels of serum Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-21) and serum Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) (all P<0.001). Conclusions:The Th1/Th2 immune imbalance in patients with IO is aggravated with the increase of disease severity. Early diagnosis and treatment of IO should be strengthened to prevent disease progression.

Purpose To investigate the correlation between intervertebral disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration in chronic low back pain(CLBP)using quantitative MRI techniques.Materials and Methods A total of 63 CLBP patients and 42 volunteers in Zigong Fourth People's Hospital from September 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively collected.Magnetic resonance scans were performed using multi-echo water-fat separation technique and T2 mapping technique.Intervertebral disc degeneration was assessed using the Pfirrmann grading,while paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration was evaluated using the Goutallier grading.Proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles,and T2 values of the nucleus pulposus were quantitatively measured.The relationships between these parameters and their associations with age and gender were analyzed.Results Compared with healthy volunteers,CLBP patients showed significantly reduced T2 values of the nucleus pulposusand significantly increased PDFF of the paraspinal muscles(Z=-5.54-4.65,all P<0.001).The Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs and the Goutallier grading of paraspinal muscles were significantly correlated with the T2 value of the nucleus pulposus and the PDFF of the paraspinal muscles(|r|>0.4,P<0.05).Age and Pfirrmann grading were independent predictors of paraspinal muscle fat infiltration(β=0.228-5.682,all P<0.001),and gender was also an independent predictor at the L4/5 intervertebral disc level(β=-2.834,-3.352,both P<0.05).Conclusion Intervertebral disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle fat infiltration are closely related in CLBP,age and gender also have an impact.

Purpose To investigate the correlation between intervertebral disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration in chronic low back pain(CLBP)using quantitative MRI techniques.Materials and Methods A total of 63 CLBP patients and 42 volunteers in Zigong Fourth People's Hospital from September 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively collected.Magnetic resonance scans were performed using multi-echo water-fat separation technique and T2 mapping technique.Intervertebral disc degeneration was assessed using the Pfirrmann grading,while paraspinal muscle fatty infiltration was evaluated using the Goutallier grading.Proton density fat fraction(PDFF)of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles,and T2 values of the nucleus pulposus were quantitatively measured.The relationships between these parameters and their associations with age and gender were analyzed.Results Compared with healthy volunteers,CLBP patients showed significantly reduced T2 values of the nucleus pulposusand significantly increased PDFF of the paraspinal muscles(Z=-5.54-4.65,all P<0.001).The Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs and the Goutallier grading of paraspinal muscles were significantly correlated with the T2 value of the nucleus pulposus and the PDFF of the paraspinal muscles(|r|>0.4,P<0.05).Age and Pfirrmann grading were independent predictors of paraspinal muscle fat infiltration(β=0.228-5.682,all P<0.001),and gender was also an independent predictor at the L4/5 intervertebral disc level(β=-2.834,-3.352,both P<0.05).Conclusion Intervertebral disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle fat infiltration are closely related in CLBP,age and gender also have an impact.

Objective:To investigate the changes of serum helper T cell 1 (Th1)/helper T cell 2 (Th2) cytokines in patients with idiopathic oligonasthenospermia (IO).Methods:A total of 136 patients with IO admitted to the Xianyang Central Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively selected and divided into mild to moderate group (86 cases) and severe group (50 cases) according to the severity of IO. Another 60 healthy males were selected as normal control group. Baseline data, serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines [interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21] of the three groups were compared. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21 and the severity of IO disease.Results:The sperm concentration, total sperm and percentage of forward motile sperm in severe group were lower than those in mild to moderate group and normal control group (all P<0.05), and the sperm concentration, total sperm and percentage of forward motile sperm in mild to the moderate group were lower than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-21 in severe group were higher than those in the mild-moderate group and the normal control group (all P<0.05), and the serum levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-21 in mild-moderate group were higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in severe group were higher than those in the mild-moderate group and the normal control group (all P<0.05), and the serum levels of Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in mild-moderate group were higher than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the severity of IO disease was positively correlated with the levels of serum Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-21) and serum Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) (all P<0.001). Conclusions:The Th1/Th2 immune imbalance in patients with IO is aggravated with the increase of disease severity. Early diagnosis and treatment of IO should be strengthened to prevent disease progression.