Objective:To analyze the trend of infertility disease burden from 1990 to 2019 and predict the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rate of male and female infertility for 2020—2029, providing a certain reference for the prevention and treatment of infertility diseases.Methods:Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019, prevalence, ASPR, DALY rate, and age-standardized DALY rate were used to evaluate the global burden of infertility comprehensively. The estimated annual percentage change was used to describe trends in the disease burden of infertility in 21 regions worldwide. The Bayesian age period cohort model was used to predict the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate for male and female infertility in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average model.Results:The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate of global male infertility increased from 319.52 per 100 000,1.82 per 100 000, 2 856.53 per 100 000, and 16.19 per 100 000 in 1990 to 565.30 per 100 000, 3.22 per 100 000, 3 398.53 per 100 000, and 19.36 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR, and age-standardized DALY rate of global female infertility increased from 656.67 per 100 000, 3.53 per 100 000, 6 036.36 per 100 000, and 32.27 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1 223.78 per 100 000, 6.59 per 10 000, 7 483.12 per 100 000, and 40.33 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The burden of infertility disease was the highest in men and women aged 30-34 years, and the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rates were 4 407.47 per 100 000, 25.08 per 100 000, 10 270.55 per 100 000 and 55.65 per 100 000, respectively. Only in 45-49 years of age, the prevalence of infertility (11.31 per 100 000) and DALY rate (0.06 per 100 000) in women were lower than those in men (15.68 per 100 000 and 0.08 per 100 000). In addition, the burden of infertility was the lowest in high socio-demographic index regions. Cameroon had the highest ASPR (7 652.40 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (43.94 per 100 000) for male infertility. Chinese women had the highest ASPR (20 402.30 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (106.16 per 100 000) of infertility. The forecast results show that the burden of male and female infertility diseases will increase in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029.Conclusion:The burden of infertility diseases in men and women increased in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019, and it is predicted that the global burden of infertility diseases will continue to rise in 2020—2029. Preliminary screening of infertility should be carried out as soon as possible, health education should be strengthened and effective prevention and treatment strategies should be formulated.

Objective:To analyze the trend of infertility disease burden from 1990 to 2019 and predict the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rate of male and female infertility for 2020—2029, providing a certain reference for the prevention and treatment of infertility diseases.Methods:Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2019, prevalence, ASPR, DALY rate, and age-standardized DALY rate were used to evaluate the global burden of infertility comprehensively. The estimated annual percentage change was used to describe trends in the disease burden of infertility in 21 regions worldwide. The Bayesian age period cohort model was used to predict the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate for male and female infertility in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average model.Results:The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate of global male infertility increased from 319.52 per 100 000,1.82 per 100 000, 2 856.53 per 100 000, and 16.19 per 100 000 in 1990 to 565.30 per 100 000, 3.22 per 100 000, 3 398.53 per 100 000, and 19.36 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The prevalence, DALY rate, ASPR, and age-standardized DALY rate of global female infertility increased from 656.67 per 100 000, 3.53 per 100 000, 6 036.36 per 100 000, and 32.27 per 100 000 in 1990 to 1 223.78 per 100 000, 6.59 per 10 000, 7 483.12 per 100 000, and 40.33 per 100 000 in 2019, respectively. The burden of infertility disease was the highest in men and women aged 30-34 years, and the ASPR and age-standardized DALY rates were 4 407.47 per 100 000, 25.08 per 100 000, 10 270.55 per 100 000 and 55.65 per 100 000, respectively. Only in 45-49 years of age, the prevalence of infertility (11.31 per 100 000) and DALY rate (0.06 per 100 000) in women were lower than those in men (15.68 per 100 000 and 0.08 per 100 000). In addition, the burden of infertility was the lowest in high socio-demographic index regions. Cameroon had the highest ASPR (7 652.40 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (43.94 per 100 000) for male infertility. Chinese women had the highest ASPR (20 402.30 per 100 000) and age-standardized DALY rate (106.16 per 100 000) of infertility. The forecast results show that the burden of male and female infertility diseases will increase in 204 countries and regions from 2020 to 2029.Conclusion:The burden of infertility diseases in men and women increased in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019, and it is predicted that the global burden of infertility diseases will continue to rise in 2020—2029. Preliminary screening of infertility should be carried out as soon as possible, health education should be strengthened and effective prevention and treatment strategies should be formulated.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of brain functional networks alterations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and explore their correlations with clinical indicators and psycho-psychological scores.Methods:A cross-sectional survey study was conducted. A total of 48 IBD patients diagnosed at the Changzhou Second People′s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were collected, and 32 healthy individuals matched for age, gender, and education level were selected as the healthy control group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were enrolled, and the topological properties of brain networks between the two groups of subjects were compared by using graph theory analysis. Pearson correlation and Spearman′s partial correlation analyses were used to explore the correlations between changes in IBD patients′ brain networks topological properties and clinical indicators and psycho-psychological scores.Results:In the IBD group, 29 patients were males (60.4%) and 19 were females (39.6%) ; the total disease course was 1.0 (0.3, 5.0) years; 34 patients were Crohn′s disease and 14 ulcerative colitis; they were mainly in the active phase (58.84%, 28/48) . The scores of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-A and HADS-D) in IBD patients were higher than those in the healthy control group (both P<0.01) . In terms of global properties, both the IBD group and the healthy control group had "small-world" properties (both σ>1.1) . Compared with the healthy control group, the IBD group had lower clustering coefficients, global efficiency, and local efficiency, and longer characteristic path lengths, with all differences being statistically significant (all P<0.05) . In terms of local properties, compared with the healthy control group, the IBD group had higher degree centrality and nodal efficiency in the left middle frontal gyrus, higher betweenness centrality in the left thalamus, lower betweenness centrality and degree centrality in the right parahippocampal gyrus, lower nodal clustering coefficients in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus and paracingulate gyrus, and lower nodal local efficiency in the bilateral caudate nuclei and left middle temporal gyrus, with all differences being statistically significant (all P<0.05) . The degree centrality of the right parahippocampal gyrus in the IBD group was negatively correlated with the HADS-A score ( r = -0.401, P = 0.005) , and the betweenness centrality was also negatively correlated with the HADS-A score ( r = -0.343, P = 0.017) . The nodal clustering coefficient of the right middle temporal gyrus in the IBD group was positively correlated with the total disease course ( rs = 0.589, P<0.001) . Conclusion:IBD patients have decreased overall information transmission capacity in brain networks, reduced limbic system function, and abnormal functions in brain areas related to pain perception, which are correlated to some extent with the disease course and psycho-psychological state.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of brain functional networks alterations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and explore their correlations with clinical indicators and psycho-psychological scores.Methods:A cross-sectional survey study was conducted. A total of 48 IBD patients diagnosed at the Changzhou Second People′s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were collected, and 32 healthy individuals matched for age, gender, and education level were selected as the healthy control group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were enrolled, and the topological properties of brain networks between the two groups of subjects were compared by using graph theory analysis. Pearson correlation and Spearman′s partial correlation analyses were used to explore the correlations between changes in IBD patients′ brain networks topological properties and clinical indicators and psycho-psychological scores.Results:In the IBD group, 29 patients were males (60.4%) and 19 were females (39.6%) ; the total disease course was 1.0 (0.3, 5.0) years; 34 patients were Crohn′s disease and 14 ulcerative colitis; they were mainly in the active phase (58.84%, 28/48) . The scores of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-A and HADS-D) in IBD patients were higher than those in the healthy control group (both P<0.01) . In terms of global properties, both the IBD group and the healthy control group had "small-world" properties (both σ>1.1) . Compared with the healthy control group, the IBD group had lower clustering coefficients, global efficiency, and local efficiency, and longer characteristic path lengths, with all differences being statistically significant (all P<0.05) . In terms of local properties, compared with the healthy control group, the IBD group had higher degree centrality and nodal efficiency in the left middle frontal gyrus, higher betweenness centrality in the left thalamus, lower betweenness centrality and degree centrality in the right parahippocampal gyrus, lower nodal clustering coefficients in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus and paracingulate gyrus, and lower nodal local efficiency in the bilateral caudate nuclei and left middle temporal gyrus, with all differences being statistically significant (all P<0.05) . The degree centrality of the right parahippocampal gyrus in the IBD group was negatively correlated with the HADS-A score ( r = -0.401, P = 0.005) , and the betweenness centrality was also negatively correlated with the HADS-A score ( r = -0.343, P = 0.017) . The nodal clustering coefficient of the right middle temporal gyrus in the IBD group was positively correlated with the total disease course ( rs = 0.589, P<0.001) . Conclusion:IBD patients have decreased overall information transmission capacity in brain networks, reduced limbic system function, and abnormal functions in brain areas related to pain perception, which are correlated to some extent with the disease course and psycho-psychological state.

Objective:To investigate the changes of T1 and T2 values in residual liver after major liver resection in rats and the relationship with pathologic indices related to liver regeneration.Methods:Seventy healthy male Sprague Dawley rats, SPF grade, aged 7-8 weeks, weighting 250-280 g, were divided into MR scan group ( n=14) and pathologic analysis group ( n=56). The MR scan group was further divided into partial hepatectomy group ( n=7) and the sham operation group ( n=7). MRI T 1 mapping and T 2 mapping were performed before surgery and on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 after surgery. T1 and T2 values of liver parenchyma were measured. In the pathologic analysis group, 7 rats were randomly included at each time point before and after surgery for pathologic examination, the diameter and proliferative activity (Ki-67 indices) of hepatocytes were assessed. The changes of imaging and pathologic indices were observed, and the correlations between MR parameters and liver volume and pathologic indices were analyzed. Results:Both T1 and T2 values in liver parenchyma were increased on day 1 after surgery and reached their maximum values on day 2 ( P=0.005 and P<0.001, compared with baseline), then were gradually decreased, and recovered to the preoperative level on day 14 and 21 ( P>0.05), respectively. T2 value was correlated with hepatocyte diameter, liver volume and Ki-67 indices better ( r=0.640, -0.764, 0.765, respectively, all P<0.001). T1 value was correlated with hepatocyte diameter, liver volume and Ki-67 indices ( r=0.472, -0.481 and 0.444, all P<0.001). Conclusion:The T1 and T2 values of rats liver remnant parenchyma showed regular changes, and were correlated with liver regeneration indices, which reflect the microscopic changes of rat liver remnant parenchyma, and are expected to be used for quantitative monitoring of liver remnant regeneration.

Objective:To investigate the changes of liver spin-lattice relaxation time (T 1rho) values in the rotating frame in the progression and regression of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced model rats with liver fibrosis and the diagnostic values for staging liver fibrosis. Methods:Eighty rats were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into the CCl 4 group ( n=49), the regression group ( n=20) and the control group ( n=11). All rats were labeled and then examined using MRI at baseline. The liver fibrosis model was established by subcutaneous injection of 40% CCl 4 in hackles. The CCl 4 group underwent black-blood T 1rho imaging at the end of the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th week post CCl 4 injection. The regression group underwent black-blood T 1rho imaging at the end of the 4th, 6th week post CCl 4 injection and the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th week post CCl 4 withdrawal (the injection was stopped at the end of the 6th week). The control group was injected with the same amount of corn oil at the same time point and underwent black-blood T 1rho imaging at the end of 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th week. The liver T 1rho values were measured in each group over time. Independent-samples t test was used to analyze the differences of liver T 1rho values in adjacent time points. The experimental mice were divided into no liver fibrosis group (S0), mild liver fibrosis group (S1, 2) and moderate or severe liver fibrosis group (S3, 4). The differences of liver T 1rho values were analyzed in different fibrosis stages by Kruskal-Wallis H test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of T 1rho values in staging liver fibrosis. The correlation between liver T 1rho values and fibrosis stages was analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient. Results:Fifty-nine rats completed the whole experiment, including 28 rats in the CCl 4 group, 20 rats in the recovery group and 11 rats in the control group. In the CCl 4 group, the liver T 1rho values gradually increased, reached the maximum at the end of week 8, and then gradually decreased. There was statistically significance in liver T 1rho values at the adjacent time points ( P<0.05) except at the 4th to 6th week ( P=0.112) and 10th to 12th week ( P=0.487) in the CCl 4 group. In regression group, the liver T 1rho values gradually increased post CCl 4 injection and decreased post CCl 4 injection withdrawal. There was statistically significance in liver T 1rho values at the adjacent time points ( P<0.05) in regression group. There was no statistically significance in liver T 1rho values at the adjacent time points ( P>0.05) in control group. The T 1rho values in the no liver fibrosis group (S0, n=15), the mild liver fibrosis group (S1, 2, n=23) and the moderate or severe liver fibrosis group (S3, 4, n=21) were [36.3(34.4,41.4)], (47.2±8.4), (48.8±9.0) ms, respectively. The liver T 1rho values increased with the aggravation of the liver fibrosis, and there was a low positive correlation between them ( r=0.402, P=0.001). There were statistically significant differences in T 1rho values among the three groups ( P<0.01).The area under the curve values to distinguish no liver fibrosis (S0) from liver fibrosis (S1 to 4) and no or mild liver fibrosis (S0 to 2) from moderately or severe liver fibrosis (S3,4) were 0.825 (95% confidence intervals is 0.720 to 0.931) and 0.668 (95% confidence intervals is 0.540 to 0.796), separately. Conclusion:The liver T 1rho values are useful for evaluating the progression and regression of liver fibrosis. It has a moderate diagnostic value to assess the presence of liver fibrosis, but a low diagnostic value to differentiate no or mild liver fibrosis from moderately to severe liver fibrosis.