To investigate the impact of preoperative serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on the probability of testicular sperm retrieval, we conducted a study of nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) men with different testicular volumes (TVs) who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). A total of 177 NOA patients undergoing micro-TESE for the first time from April 2019 to November 2022 in Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively reviewed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on average TV quartiles. Serum hormone levels in each TV group were compared between positive and negative sperm retrieval subgroups. Overall sperm retrieval rate was 57.6%. FSH levels (median [interquartile range]) were higher in the positive sperm retrieval subgroup compared with the negative outcome subgroup when average TV was <5 ml (first quartile [Q1: TV <3 ml]: 43.32 [17.92] IU l -1 vs 32.95 [18.56] IU l -1 , P = 0.048; second quartile [Q2: 3 ml ≤ TV <5 ml]: 31.31 [15.37] IU l -1 vs 25.59 [18.40] IU l -1 , P = 0.042). Elevated serum FSH levels were associated with successful micro-TESE sperm retrieval in NOA men whose average TVs were <5 ml (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.06 per unit increase; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.011). In men with TVs ≥5 ml, larger TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval (adjusted OR: 0.84 per 1 ml increase; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98; P = 0.029). In conclusion, elevated serum FSH levels were associated with positive sperm retrieval in micro-TESE in NOA men with TVs <5 ml. In men with TV ≥5 ml, increases in average TVs were associated with lower odds of sperm retrieval.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/surgery* ; Sperm Retrieval/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis/pathology* ; Microdissection ; Organ Size

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic causal relationship of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: Using LTL as the exposure factor and prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis as outcome factors, we mined the Database of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Then, we analyzed the causal relationship of LTL with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by Mendelian randomization using inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the main method and weighted median and MR-Egger regression as auxiliary methods, determined the horizontal multiplicity by MR-Egger intercept test, and conducted sensitivity analysis using the leaving-one-out method. RESULTS: A total of 121 related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in this study. IVW showed LTL to be a risk factor for prostatitis (OR = 1.383, 95% CI: 1.044－1.832, P = 0.024), and for orchitis and epididymitis as well (OR = 1.770, 95% CI: 1.275－2.456, P = 0.000 6). CONCLUSION Genetic evidence from Mendelian randomized analysis indicates that shortening of LTL reduces the risk of prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis.
Humans ; Male ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Epididymitis/genetics* ; Prostatitis/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Leukocytes ; Orchitis/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Telomere ; Risk Factors

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19

Objective To detect the virulence gene of E. coli from calves with diarrhea in Tongliao City，Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region，China and analyze its antimicrobial resistance as well as the distribution of antimicrobial resistant genes. Methods The sensitivities of 82 E. coli isolates from the fecal samples of calves with diarrhea to thirteen kinds of antibiotics were determined by disk diffusion test. The carrying statuses of thirteen virulence genes and twelve antimicrobial resistant genes of the E. coli isolates were determined by PCR，based on which the phylogenetic background was investigated. Results Of the 82 pathogenic E. coli isolates，48. 78%（40／82）、31. 71%（26／82）、14. 63%（12／82）and 4. 88%（4／82）belonged to phylogenic groups A，B1，B2 and D respectively，indicating that the prominent one was group A. A total of 11 virulence genes were detected in 82 isolates. The detection rates of irp2，fyuA，eaeA and STb genes were 79. 27%（65／82），63. 41%（52／82），53. 66%（44／82）and 50%（41／82）respectively，while those of other virulence genes were less than 50%，and no tsh or LT1 was detected. The 82 isolates were significantly resistant to 13 kinds of antibiotics，in which the resistant rates to tetracycline，doxycycline and amoxicillin were 100%（82／82），97. 56%（80／82）and 90. 24%（74／82）respectively. All the isolates were mutidrug resistant，most of which were resistant to eight kinds of antibiotics（16／82，19. 51%）. A total of twelve antimicrobial resistant genes were detected in the 82 isolates，in which the positive rates of genes resistant to β ‑ lactams（blaTEM），sulfonamide（sul1 and sul2），tetracycline（tetB and tetD）and aminoglycosides（aadB）were more than 70%. Conclusion The 82 pathogenic E. coli isolates mainly belonged to group A，with high detection rates of virulence gene and antimicrobial resistant gene as well as high and multiple drug resistance. The study provided a reference for the prevention and treatment of and clinical medication of E. coli‑associated diseases in calves in Tongliao Region.

Humans ; Female ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/surgery* ; Thoracic Wall/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology*

Objective: To develop a model incorporating radiomic features and clinical factors to accurately predict acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from 522 AIS patients (382 male [73.2%]; mean age ± standard deviation, 58.9 ± 11.5 years) were randomly divided into the training (n = 311) and validation cohorts (n = 211). According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months after hospital discharge, prognosis was dichotomized into good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor (mRS > 2); 1310 radiomics features were extracted from diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression method were implemented to select the features and establish a radiomics model. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and construct a clinical model. Ultimately, a multivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating independent clinical factors and radiomics score was implemented to establish the final combined prediction model using a backward step-down selection procedure, and a clinical-radiomics nomogram was developed. The models were evaluated using calibration, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analyses. Results: Age, sex, stroke history, diabetes, baseline mRS, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and radiomics score were independent predictors of AIS outcomes. The area under the ROC curve of the clinical-radiomics model was 0.868 (95% confidence interval, 0.825–0.910) in the training cohort and 0.890 (0.844–0.936) in the validation cohort, which was significantly larger than that of the clinical or radiomics models. The clinical radiomics nomogram was well calibrated (p > 0.05). The decision curve analysis indicated its clinical usefulness. Conclusion The clinical-radiomics model outperformed individual clinical or radiomics models and achieved satisfactory performance in predicting AIS outcomes.

Aim To investigate the effects of DAP on human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts(RA-FLS)and its relationship with endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway.Methods RA-FLS cells were cultured and identified by immunofluorescence assay for Vimentin and CD68.CCK-8 detected(0,5,10,20,30,40,50,60,70)mg·L-1 DAP on the proliferation activity of RA-FLS cells.According to the proliferation activity,the experiment was divided into blank group(Blank),low dose group(L-DAP),medium dose group(M-DAP),high dose group(H-DAP)and high dose+specific inhibitor 4-PBA group(H-DAP+4-PBA).The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The invasion and migration of cells were detected by Transwell and scratches assays,and the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins GRP78,PERK,P-PERK,ATF4,CHOP,Caspase-12,C-Caspase-12 and Bcl-2 were assessed by Western blot.Results CCK-8 results showed that compared with 0 mg·L-1 DAP group,the proliferation activity of each group in 20-70 mg·L-1 DAP group was significantly different(P<0.05),and the proliferation rate corresponding to 0,20,40 and 60 mg·L-1 DAP group was significantly different(P<0.05).This concentration was used as the basis for blank,low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups and high-dose+4-PBA experimental grouping.DAP could inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α from RA-FLS cells in concentration,reduce the invasion ability of cells,promote apoptosis,upregulate the expression of PERK,P-PERK,ATF4,GRP78,CHOP,Caspase-12, C-caspase-12 proteins and decrease the expression level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.Another set of experiments demonstrated that high dose DAP+4-PBA could up-regulate the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α,as well as the invasion of cells,and inhibit the expression of apoptosis and ERs-related proteins.Conclusions Daphresin regulates the secretion of inflammatory factors by activating the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway,inhibits the proliferation and invasion of RA-FLS cells,and induces apoptosis,which is expected to be a potential therapeutic pathway for RA.

Textual research on Chinese herbs is the preliminary work for the preparation of famous classical prescriptions. Through literature review，it was found that the researches of Persicae Semen focused on chemical compositions，pharmacological mechanism and medical record analysis in the recent years，and few researches based on the ancient literature were about the origin，concocting methods，flavor，meridian tropism，effects and indications. Textual research shows that the most commonly used names are Taoren and Taoheren，with a wide range of producing areas. The plant origin of Persicae Semen has not changed much since ancient times. Before the Qing dynasty，the plant origin of Persicae Semen was from the seeds of a kind of fruit named Shantao or Maotao，and in modern times，the seeds of Amygdalus persica or A. davidiana have become the major source. While different books have different views on Latin names for the origin of the Persicae Semen. We suggest that the Latin names of A. persica and A. davidiana should be more reasonable for Tao and Shantao respectively .In the concocting methods of Persicae Semen for activating vital energy and blood circulation，raw Persicae Semen should be used with peel and tip，while for moisturizing dryness，it should be fried into yellow without peel. Therefore，in the concocting methods of Persicae Semen for Taohe Chengqitang and Taohong Siwutang，the raw materials should be fried into yellow without peel or tip，while for Shentong Zhuyutang，raw Persicae Semen materials should be used with peel and tip. The indications of Persicae Semen include amenorrhea，lump，parasite，obstruction of chest，cough and asthma，constipation，etc.，and the people with blood deficiency，blood dryness and the pregnant women should use it with caution or should not use it. The modern clinical application of Persicae Semen is only a partial inheritance of ancient literature，which means that the Persicae Semen still has many effects to be verified and studied，and it is worthwhile for further exploration in order to expand its clinical application. The records of ancient literature on flavor，meridian tropism，and quality evaluation of Persicae Semen were consistent with those in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Because of the similar appearance，it is especially difficult to distinguish Persicae Semen and Armeniacae Semenis Amarum after crushing ，requiring much time and money for identification. It is recommended that medical institutions should purchase Persicae Semen without crushing as far as possible，then decide the best concocting methods according to the clinical requirement.