Objective:To investigate the effect of type 2 taste receptor(T2R)38 activation on ferroptosis of human airway epithelium NuLi-1 cells induced by cigarette smoke exposure,and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods:The human airway epithelial NuLi-1 cells were divided into control group(without any treatment),cigarette smoke extract(CSE)group(treated with 5％CSE for 24 h)and CSE+T2R38 specific agonist phenylthiocarbamide(PTC)group(CSE+PTC group)(treated with 5％CSE and 1 mmol·L-1 PTC for 24 h).The expression levels of T2R38 mRNA and protein in NuLi-1 cells in various groups were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods.The cell viabilities in various groups were determined by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay.The activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the cells in various groups were measured by kits.DAX-J2 red fluorescence probe was used to determine the levels of nitric oxide(NO)in the cells in various groups.The reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in the cells in various groups were detected by fluorescent probe kit.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),Fe2+,and reduced glutathione(GSH)in the cells in various groups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method.Western blotting method was used to determine the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and glutathione peroxidases 4(GPx4)proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with control group,the expression levels of T2R38 mRNA and protein in NuLi-1 cells in CSE group were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with control group,the viability of NuLi-1 cells in CSE group was decreased(P＜0.05),the activities of iNOS and SOD in cells in CSE group were increased(P＜0.05),the levels of NO and ROS were increased(P＜0.05),the levels of MDA and Fe2+were increased(P＜0.05),and the GSH level and the expression levels of Nrf2 and GPx4 proteins were decreased.Compared with CSE group,the viability of NuLi-1 cells in CSE+PTC group was increased(P＜0.05),the activity of SOD and the GSH level in the cells were increased(P＜0.05),the activity of iNOS in cells was decreased(P＜0.05),the levels of NO and ROS in cells were decreased(P＜0.05),the levels of MDA and Fe2+were decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of Nrf2 and GPx4 proteins were increased(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in eNOS activity among control group,CSE group,and CSE+PTC group(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Activation of bitter taste receptor T2R38 can inhibit ferroptosis in human airway epithelium NuLi-1 cells induced by cigarette smoke exposure,and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of iNOS activity in the cells.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) on the outcome of microscopic testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome (KS) of the clinical data and to identify effective predictors for successful micro-TESE.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the clinical data of 118 non-mosaic KS patients treated at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between May 2018 and September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether sperm were successfully retrieved via micro-TESE: the sperm retrieved group ( n=45) and the no sperm retrieved group ( n=73). Differences between the two groups were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing sperm retrieval. Changes in testicular volume and sex hormone levels before and after surgery were also assessed. Results:The sperm retrieval rate was 38.1% (45/118). Patients in the sperm retrieved group were significantly younger [(26.93±3.80) years] than those in the no sperm retrieved group [(28.27±3.92) years, P=0.029], and the AMH level was significantly higher [0.44 (0.18, 1.13) μg/L] than that in the no sperm retrieved group [0.10 (0.03, 0.22) μg/L, P<0.001]. AMH was identified as an independent predictor of micro-TESE outcome in non-mosaic KS patients ( OR=7.867, 95% CI: 2.727-27.242, P=0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.802 (95% CI: 0.722-0.883), and the optimal reference threshold for AMH was ≥0.265 μg/L. Postoperatively, testosterone levels decreased significantly by a median of 0.27 μg/L ( P=0.019), while luteinizing hormone levels increased by a median of 2.08 U/L ( P=0.049), with a more significant decline in testosterone levels observed in the no sperm retrieved group by a median of 0.29 μg/L ( P=0.022). Conclusion:AMH can predict successful micro-TESE in non-mosaic KS patients, with higher AMH levels indicating a higher likelihood of success.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) on the outcome of microscopic testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with non-mosaic Klinefelter syndrome (KS) of the clinical data and to identify effective predictors for successful micro-TESE.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted on the clinical data of 118 non-mosaic KS patients treated at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between May 2018 and September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether sperm were successfully retrieved via micro-TESE: the sperm retrieved group ( n=45) and the no sperm retrieved group ( n=73). Differences between the two groups were compared, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing sperm retrieval. Changes in testicular volume and sex hormone levels before and after surgery were also assessed. Results:The sperm retrieval rate was 38.1% (45/118). Patients in the sperm retrieved group were significantly younger [(26.93±3.80) years] than those in the no sperm retrieved group [(28.27±3.92) years, P=0.029], and the AMH level was significantly higher [0.44 (0.18, 1.13) μg/L] than that in the no sperm retrieved group [0.10 (0.03, 0.22) μg/L, P<0.001]. AMH was identified as an independent predictor of micro-TESE outcome in non-mosaic KS patients ( OR=7.867, 95% CI: 2.727-27.242, P=0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.802 (95% CI: 0.722-0.883), and the optimal reference threshold for AMH was ≥0.265 μg/L. Postoperatively, testosterone levels decreased significantly by a median of 0.27 μg/L ( P=0.019), while luteinizing hormone levels increased by a median of 2.08 U/L ( P=0.049), with a more significant decline in testosterone levels observed in the no sperm retrieved group by a median of 0.29 μg/L ( P=0.022). Conclusion:AMH can predict successful micro-TESE in non-mosaic KS patients, with higher AMH levels indicating a higher likelihood of success.

Objective: To investigate the effect of oral nutritional supplements(ONS) on body weight loss and life quality in post-discharge patients with gastric and colorectal cancer. Methods: All the enrolled post-operative gastric or colorectal cancer patients were randomly divided into ONS group and control group. Body weight loss, middle arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and right-hand grip strength were measured and the Karnofsky score, ECOG score and QOL score were calculated 3 months after the discharge. Results: The body weight loss of gastric cancer patients was lower in ONS group than in control group since 2 months after discharge.(2 months after discharge: 1.65±2.11vs. 2.70±1.90 kg, t=-2.385 3, P=0.019 3; 3 months after discharge: 1.95±2.75vs. 3.67±2.29 kg, t=-3.134 7, P=0.002 4), There was no difference of body weight loss between two groups in colorectal cancer patients. The middle arm circumference, triceps skinfold thicknessand right-hand grip strength showed no statistic difference between two groups both in gastric and colorectal cancer patients. The Karnofsky score(56.82±13.65%vs. 51.71±9.72%, t=2.014 8, P=0.047 2) and QOL score(41.91±6.92 vs. 38.39±8.77, t=2.059 7, P=0.042 6) were higher in ONS group than in control group in gastric cancer patients. While all 3 types of scores had no difference between two groups in colorectal cancer patients. Conclusion ONS can efficiently reduce the body weight loss and improve the performance status and life qualityin post-discharge gastric cancer patients, but not in colorectal cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery versus conservative treatment for appendiceal abscess. METHODS: The databases of CNKI, Wangfang, VIP, PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCT) or clinical controlled trials (CCT) comparing laparoscopic surgery with conservative treatment for appendiceal abscess published before June 2018. The search terms were Chinese or English. Chinese search terms included appendix, abscess, and laparoscopy; English search terms included appendix, abscess, and laparoscope. References of the resulted papers, related reviews or meta-analysis references were also induded. Literature inclusion criteria: (1)RCT or CCT, whether or not to assign concealment or blinding; (2) appendiceal abscess was diagnosed at admission; (3) laparoscopic group: laparoscopic appendectomy or laparoscopy surgical methods, such as irrigation and drainage, for appendiceal abscess; conservative treatment group: conservative methods, such as antibiotics or percutaneous abscess drainage were used to treat appendiceal abscess. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) review, case report, single cohort study and other non-controlled studies literature; (2) single study sample size ≤ 20; (3) subjects with simple appendicitis or perforation of appendix to form diffuse peritonitis; (4) no valid data available for extraction; (5) repeated publication of the literature. Data were extracted from the included studies, and the Cochrane Collaboration RevMan 5.1.0 version software was used for this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Three RCTs and four CCTs with a total of 591 patients were included in this study. There were 312 patients in the laparoscopic group and 279 patients in the conservative group. Compared with the conservative group, the laparoscopic group had higher uneventful recovery rate (OR=11.91, 95%CI: 4.59 to 30.88, P<0.05), shorter hospital stay (WMD=-2.98, 95%CI: -5.96 to -0.01, P=0.05), lower incidence of recurrent or residual abscess (OR=0.07, 95%CI:0.03 to 0.20, P<0.05), and shorter time to recover to normal condition for body temperature and white blood cell respectively (SMD=-2.12, 95%CI:-2.49 to -1.75, P<0.05; SMD=-2.07, 95%CI: -3.84 to -0.29, P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in hospital charge(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic surgery for appendiceal abscess is safe and feasible. It can improve the recovery with shorter postoperative hospital stay and less recurrent or residual abscess.
Abdominal Abscess ; surgery ; therapy ; Appendix ; surgery ; Cohort Studies ; Conservative Treatment ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Treatment Outcome

Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common and major complication after surgery. The syndrome covers a wide spectrum of clinical signs, ranges from mild feeling to severe discomfort and varies from person to person. The mild patients need no care, but severe ones may have long hospital stay, and even suffer from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, severely affecting postoperative rehabilitation. However, the etiology of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction has not been fully elucidated. Much research demonstrates that many factors, such as operative procedures, surgical operation, homeostasis disturbance, anesthesia and analgesia, blood perfusion, inflammation, and neuroendocrine factors, are responsible for the development and progression of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction. This study therefore reviewed the causes of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in the published literatures.
Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period

Background and objective hTe solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a common and challenging clini-cal problem, especially solid SPN. hTe object of this study was to explore the predictive factors of SPN appearing as pure solid with malignance and to establish a clinical prediction model of solid SPNs.Methods We had a retrospective review of 317 sol-id SPNs (group A) having a ifnal diagnosis in the department of thoracic surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015, and analyzed their clinical data and computed tomography (CT) images, including age, gender, smoking history, family history of cancer, previous cancer history, diameter of nodule, nodule location (upper lobe or non-upper lobe, letf or right), clear border, smooth margin, lobulation, spiculation, vascular convergence, pleural retraction sign, air broncho-gram sign, vocule sign, cavity and calciifcation. By using univariate and multivariate analysis, we found the independent predic-tors of malignancy of solid SPNs and subsequently established a clinical prediction model. hTen, another 139 solid SPNs with a final diagnosis were chosen in department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Zhoushan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University as group B, and used to verify the accuracy of the prediction model. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed using the prediction model.Results MultivariateLogistic regression analysis was used to identify eight clini-cal characteristics (age, family history of cancer, previous cancer history, clear border, lobulation, spiculation, air bronchogram sign, calciifcation) as independent predictors of malignancy of in solid SPNs. hTe area under the ROC curve for our model (0.922; 95%CI: 0.865-0.961). In our model, diagnosis accuration rate was 84.89%. Sensitivity was 90.41%, and speciifcity was 78.79%, and positive predictive value was 80.50%, and negative predictive value was 88.14%.Conclusion Our prediction model could accurately identify malignancy in patients with solid SPNs, thereby it can provide help for diagnosis of solid SPNs.

This paper summarized the characteristics, rehabilitation needs, and situation and problems of stroke dysfunction in China. Approaches and methods of family rehabilitation were also discussed.

OBJECTIVETo study characteristics of energy metabolism in the skeletal muscle of rats with postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) and the interventional effect of ginsenoside Rb1.

METHODWe chose resection of 70% of the "middle" small intestine as the rat model for POFS. Ninety-six adult male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and the ginsenoside Rb1-treated group by body weight. And then, each group was further randomly divided into four subgroups, according to different postoperative investigated time points, such as postoperative day 1, postoperative day 3, postoperative day 7 and postoperative day 10. So the animals were divided into twelve subgroups (n = 8 in each subgroup). Rats of the control group and the model group were injected intraperitoneally with saline at the dose of 10 mL x kg(-1) one hour before the operation and once a day during the postoperative days. Rats of the ginsenoside Rb1-treated group were administered 10 mg x kg(-1) ginsenoside Rb1 by the same method. The skeletal muscles were sampled on postoperative day 1, 3, 7 and 10. The contents of ATP, ADP, AMP in skeletal muscles were determined by HPLC, and the activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase were investigated by colorimetry.

RESULTCompared with the control group, the content of ATP in skeletal muscle of rats of the model group decreased significantly on postoperative day 3 (P < 0.05), while the content of ADP significantly increased on postoperative day 7 and 10 (P < 0.05). The activity of Na(+)-K(+)-AT-Pase decreased on postoperative day 3 and 7 (P < 0.05), and the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase decreased on postoperative day 7. After supplement of ginsenoside Rb1, on the investigated time points, all the negative changes of the indicators discovered above were significantly adjusted (P < 0.05) in rats of the ginsenoside Rb1-treated group, while no significant differences were investigated.

CONCLUSIONDuring a certain period of postoperative time, the activity of energy metabolism is depressed in the skeletal muscle of rats with POFS, but it can be improved by supplement of ginsenoside Rb1.

Animals ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Postoperative Complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; physiology ; Syndrome

Objective To observe the changes of coagulation function in patients with acute lowerlimb deep venous thrombosis(DVT)and evaluate the risk factors for DVT. Methods Plasma APTT.PT,TT,D-dimer and fibrinogen(Fbg)were detected by an automated coagulation analyzer in 62 acute lower-limb DVT patients and 70 controls:Retrospective studies on the clinical data of all patients were done by binary logistic regression analysis.Results (1)In DVT group,plasma APTT,PT and TT,the levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen.and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio(D/F ratio)were higher when compared with control group(au P＜0.01);(2)There were positive correlations between D-dimer and fibrinogen both in DVT and control groups(r=0.475,P＜0.01;r=0.564,P＜0.01,respectively);(3)Logistic analysis indicated that acute lower-limb DVT was associated with the presence of hypertension and increased plasma level of fibrinogen(OR=24.99,P＜0.01: OR=4.346.P＜0.01,respectively).Conclusions Hypertension and elevated plasma level of fibrinogen are independent risk factors for acute lower-limb DVT.