Chronic epididymitis (CE) is a long-standing inflammatory condition of the epididymis caused by unresolved acute infections, chronic infections, medication use, or other factors. Clinically, it is characterized by persistent dull pain or a dragging sensation in one or both sides of the scrotum. The disease course typically exceeds three months and is marked by insidious onset and recurrent episodes. Current studies suggest that CE may disrupt the epididymal microenvironment through multiple pathological processes, including local inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, fibrotic remodeling, and autophagy. These alterations impair sperm maturation, transport, and capacitation, thereby contributing to male reproductive dysfunction and infertility. This review summarizes the major etiologies and pathophysiological characteristics of CE and its impact on male reproductive function. It focuses on the roles of inflammatory cytokines and related signaling pathways, oxidative stress mechanisms, and fibrotic progression in the pathogenesis of CE. Moreover, it explores targeted therapeutic strategies based on these mechanisms, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for identifying key molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in CE-induced male reproductive impairment.

Chronic epididymitis (CE) is a long-standing inflammatory condition of the epididymis caused by unresolved acute infections, chronic infections, medication use, or other factors. Clinically, it is characterized by persistent dull pain or a dragging sensation in one or both sides of the scrotum. The disease course typically exceeds three months and is marked by insidious onset and recurrent episodes. Current studies suggest that CE may disrupt the epididymal microenvironment through multiple pathological processes, including local inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, fibrotic remodeling, and autophagy. These alterations impair sperm maturation, transport, and capacitation, thereby contributing to male reproductive dysfunction and infertility. This review summarizes the major etiologies and pathophysiological characteristics of CE and its impact on male reproductive function. It focuses on the roles of inflammatory cytokines and related signaling pathways, oxidative stress mechanisms, and fibrotic progression in the pathogenesis of CE. Moreover, it explores targeted therapeutic strategies based on these mechanisms, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for identifying key molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in CE-induced male reproductive impairment.

Objective:To comprehensively search, evaluate and summarize the relevant evidence of early ambulation in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA), so as to provide evidence-based basis for the nursing practice of early ambulation in patients with TKA.Methods:Clinical decisions, best practice manuals, guidelines, systematic reviews, expert consensus and evidence summaries for early postoperative ambulation of TKA patients were searched by computer on PubMed, Web of Science, BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Library, UpToDate, OVID, CINAHL, Embase, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, Guidelines International Network, National Guideline Clearinghouse, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Canadian Medical Association Clinical Practice Guideline, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the databases to March 31, 2023. Four nursing graduate students trained in evidence-based nursing systems independently evaluated the quality of the included literature and divided the evidence levels according to the JBI Evidence Pre Grading System (2014 edition) .Results:A total of 15 articles were included, including four clinical decision papers, three guidelines, six expert consensus papers, one evidence summary and one systematic review. According to the judgment of professionals, 23 pieces of best evidence were formed from seven aspects, including the director of ambulation, evaluation before ambulation, ambulation planning, ambulation timing, ambulation content, ambulation evaluation and health education.Conclusions:The best evidence of early postoperative ambulation of patients with TKA summarized in this study is scientific and practical, which can provide evidence-based basis for clinical nursing work.

Objective To develop a mental fatigue detection method for spaceflight environments in response to the mental fatigue problem that may arise during the on-orbit period of astronauts.Methods In the ground-based research,we used a 36-hour sleep deprivation experiment to induce mental fatigue state.Then the electroencephalogram(EEG)data and questionnaire scores were collected from 45 subjects.Finally,a series of EEG features relevant to mental fatigue were calculated and a mental fatigue detection method constructed with Random Forest Classifier to differentiate the mental fatigue level.Results The average accuracy over 85%was achieved in both ground-based and space-based experimental data and each evaluation index had consistent trend.Conclusion The mental fatigue detection method based on EEG signals is suited to the differences in environment and tasks,and shows precise and stable performance in both ground-based experiment and space-based one,which is feasible to be applied in spaceflight environments in the future.

BACKGROUND:Bone cement has certain toxic effects on the human body. The probability of renovation is high after bone cement total hip arthroplasty. It is reported that the long-term effect of cementless total hip arthroplasty is apparently better than bone cement total hip arthroplasty, and can be renovated conveniently. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effect of cementless total hip arthroplasty on hip joint disease, and to compare the difference between unilateral replacement and bilateral replacement. METHODS: Clinical and folow-up data of 233 patients (280 hips), who were treated with cementless total hip arthroplasty in the Department of Orthopedics, Wuzhou Worker’s Hospital, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from July 2007 to December 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. According to the replacement program, they were divided into unilateral replacement group (n=186) and bilateral replacement group (n=47). Harris score of hip joint, visual analog scale score of thigh pain, the excelent and good rate of hip joint during final folow-up and complications were compared between the two groups before replacement, at 6, 12 and 24 months after replacement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:No significant difference in Harris scores was detected before replacement, at 6, 12 and 24 months after replacement (P > 0.05). Harris score was significantly higher at 6, 12 and 24 months after replacement compared with that before replacement in both groups (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the excelent and good rate was detected in the unilateral replacement group (87%) and the bilateral replacement group (86%) (P > 0.05). No significant difference in the visual analog scale score was seen before replacement, at 6, 12 and 24 months after replacement (P > 0.05). Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower at 6, 12 and 24 months after replacement than that before replacement in the two groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications after replacement in patients of both groups (P > 0.05). These findings confirm that the effects of cementless total hip arthroplasty for hip joint disease are evident, can effectively restore hip joint function. No significant difference was detected between unilateral replacement and bilateral replacement. Strict replacement operation and matching of prosthesis and medulary cavity can effectively reduce thigh pain after replacement.