OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP)ethanol extract on motor dysfunction in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Eighty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, levodopa group (positive control group), low-dose GP group, and high-dose GP group, with 16 mice per group. The PD model was induced by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra pars reticulata of the mice. Two weeks after 6-hydroxydopamine, positive control group received intraperitoneal injection of levodopa 10 mg·kg^－1·d^－1, while low-dose GP and high-dose GP groups received GP extract 100 or 200 mg·kg^－1·d^－1 orally for three weeks. After a 3-week-treatment, the effects of GP on motor dysfunction in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced PD were assessed using open field and CatWalk gait tests, while the effects on muscle strength were evaluated by forelimb grip strength. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons. The levels of dopamine and serotonin in the midbrain were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family proteins such as p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p-p38 and p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2, and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway proteins such as B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved-cysteine aspartic acid specific protease (caspase)-3. RESULTS: Behavioral experiments showed that GP significantly improved the spontaneous activity and motor coordination of PD mice (P<0.05). The forelimb grip strength was also increased by GP treatment (P<0.05), compared to the PD model group. In addition, compared with the model group, the number of TH-positive neurons in substantia nigra pars reticulata region, the levels of dopamine and serotonin in midbrain and the expression of p-ERK1/2 were significantly increased by GP treatment (all P<0.05), whereas the expression of p-p38 and p-JNK1/2, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that GP might increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the midbrain and promote the survival of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars reticulata by regulating the expression of phosphorylation of MAPK family proteins and the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins, thereby ameliorating motor deficits in PD mice.
Animals ; Mice ; Male ; Gynostemma/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Neurons/pathology*

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of neural Wiskott-Alrdich syndrome protein(N-WASP)in pla-centas with preeclampsia.Methods This study included a total of 65 pregnant women:15 in the early-onset preeclampsia group,15 in the early-onset control group,15 in the late-onset preeclampsia group,and 20 in the late-onset control group.Real-time fluorescence quan-titative PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the relative expression of N-WASP mRNA in placental tissues.Western blotting and immu-nohistochemistry were used to detect the expression and position of N-WASP protein in placental tissues from each group.Results RT-qPCR revealed significantly lower N-WASP mRNA expression levels in the placental tissue of the early-onset preeclampsia group compared to those in the early-onset control group(0.50±0.19 vs.0.93±0.73,P＜0.05).The N-WASP mRNA expression levels in late-onset preeclampsia placenta were significantly lower than those in the late-onset control group(0.83±0.34 vs.1.15±0.34,P＜0.05).Western blotting revealed significantly lower N-WASP protein expression in the placental tissue of early-onset preeclampsia compared to that in the early-onset control group(0.35±0.17 vs.0.72±0.21,P＜0.05).The N-WASP protein expression in late-onset preeclampsia placenta was significantly lower than that in the late-onset control group(0.39±0.16 vs.0.76±0.20,P＜0.05).The N-WASP mRNA expression in the placenta negatively correlated with the occurrence of early-onset(r =-0.37,P = 0.042)and late-onset preeclampsia(r =-0.39,P = 0.019).Immunohistochemistry revealed that N-WASP protein was localized in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblasts,cytotrophoblasts,villous stromal cells,and vascular endothelial cells.Conclusion The low expression of N-WASP may be closely associated with preeclampsia.

Objective To investigate the authentic experience in social participation among the patients with enterostomy,and explore the primary obstacles in social participation,so as to provide a basis for targeted guidance and measures for psychological intervention.Methods A method of descriptive phenomenological research was used in this qualitative research.Ten patients discharged from our hospital after enterostomy surgery were enrolled in this study.The participants were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire through the method of purpose sampling.The data acquired from the interviews were analysed and summarised by using the Colaizzi seven-step analysis.Themes were classified and extracted by reading,analysing,reflecting,classifying of the acquired data.Results Three themes were extracted with eight dimensions covering(a)psychosocial disorders with the dimensions of stigma,ostomy-related anxiety and concern,(b)low social participation with the dimensions of low social initiative,estrangement of interpersonal relationships,increased economic burden of social interaction,and(c)poor social adaptability with the dimensions of negative coping style,poor operative skills in ostomy care and poor utilisation of information about ostomy.Conclusions Patients with enterostomy usually encounter various difficulties in social participation and are lack of corresponding support.Medical staff should pay attention to the positive psychological guidance over the period of hospitalisation as well as training in operation skills for stoma.Moreover,healthcare workers should provide the patients with high-quality and continuous care after the patients have returned home and increase psychological and social supports,as well as consultations to improve the quality of life of the patients with enterostomy.

Objective:To investigate the impact of circular RanGTPase activating protein 1 (circRANGAP1) on the biological behavior of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia and its potential mechanisms.Methods:Placental tissues were collected from preeclampsia patients and age- and gestational age- matched control pregnant women admitted to Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from August 2020 to December 2022 (eight cases each in the early-onset preeclampsia group and early-onset control group, and 24 cases each in the late-onset preeclampsia group and late-onset control group). The expression levels of circRANGAP1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) mRNA in placental tissues were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and EIF4A3 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. In HTR-8/Svneo cells, the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were evaluated by cell counting assay, scratch assay, Transwell invasion assay, and the regulatory effect of EIF4A3 on circRANGAP1 was examined by RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP). Changes of circRANGAP1 expression in HTR-8/Svneo cells were detected by RT-qPCR after EIF4A3 knockdown. Statistical analysis was performed using independent sample t-test, non-parametric Chi-square test, or Pearson correlation analysis. Results:(1) There was no significant difference in circRANGAP1 expression between the early-onset preeclampsia group and the early-onset control group. However, circRANGAP1 expression was higher in the late-onset preeclampsia group compared to the late-onset control group [(3.764±3.297) vs. (0.960±0.720), t=4.07, P<0.001]. In late-onset preeclampsia patients, circRANGAP1 expression was positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (systolic: r=0.639, P<0.01; diastolic: r=0.800, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in EIF4A3 mRNA and protein expression between the early-onset preeclampsia group and the early-onset control group, but EIF4A3 mRNA and protein expression were higher in the late-onset preeclampsia group compared to the late-onset control group [mRNA: (2.963±3.081) vs. (1.149±0.667), t=2.30, P=0.028; protein: (2.504±1.008) vs. (0.258±0.180), t=4.39, P=0.005]. (2) After small interfering (si) RNA knockdown, there was no significant difference in mRANGAP1 expression, but circRANGAP1 expression decreased [(1.000±0.004), (0.465±0.031), and (0.621±0.030)], with si-1 showing the highest knockdown efficiency ( t=23.59, P=0.002). Specific knockdown of circRANGAP1 resulted in increased proliferation [(1.297±0.058) vs. (1.456±0.030), t=－5.97, P<0.001], invasion [(94.400± 6.504) vs. (219.000±19.870), t=－13.32, P<0.001], and migration [(25.493±3.498)% vs. (58.456±3.277)%, t=－15.38, P<0.001] abilities of trophoblast cells. (3) There are six binding sites for EIF4A3 in the upstream region of circRANGAP1 pre-mRNA. EIF4A3 can bind through regions a and b, but not region c. After siRNA knockdown, EIF4A3 expression decreased [(1.003±0.101), (0.276±0.060), (0.398±0.074), and (0.184±0.017)], with si-3 showing the highest knockdown efficiency. After EIF4A3 knockdown, circRANGAP1 expression in trophoblast cells decreased [(1.004±0.118) vs. (0.480±0.039), t=5.96, P=0.027]. Conclusion:circRANGAP1, regulated by EIF4A3, inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of trophoblast cells, thereby participating in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Objective To compare the differences in the levels of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine kinase(CK),and neuron-specific enolase(NSE)in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)between the patients with purulent meningitis(PM)and those with tuberculous meningitis(TBM)and evaluate the utility of the three biomarkers in the differentiation of PM and TBM.Methods Thirty-five PM patients and 45 TBM patients who attended the Department of Neurology from December 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study.The CSF samples were collected from the patients before treatment.The levels of LDH,CK,NSE,and glucose,protein,and chloride in CSF were measured and compared between PM and TBM patients.The correlation between the biomarkers in CSF was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient.Linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of TBM.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to evaluate the discriminative value of CSF LDH,CK,NSE alone or in combination in differential diagnosis of PM and TBM.Results Patient age,gender,clinical features such as fever,pathological signs,vomiting,limb twitching,and CSF levels of glucose and protein did not show significant difference between TBM patients and PM patients(P＞0.05).TBM was associated with significantly higher LDH and NSE levels in CSF and significantly lower CK level and chloride in CSF compared to PM(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that LDH level in CSF was negatively correlated with CK and chloride(r＜0,P＜0.05),and positively correlated with NSE(r＞0,P＜0.05).CK was negatively correlated with NSE(r＜0,P＜0.05),and positively correlated with chloride(r＞0,P＜0.05).NSE was negatively correlated with chloride(r＜0,P＜0.05).Linear regression analysis showed that LDH,CK,NSE,and chloride levels in CSF were all associated with the occurrence of TBM(P＜0.05).ROC curves demonstrated that the AUCs of CSF levels of LDH,CK,NSE alone and in combination for differentiation between PM and TBM were 0.849(95％CI:0.768-0.930),0.858(95％CI:0.779-0.937),0.851(95％CI:0.771-0.931),and 0.954(95％CI:0.911-0.996),respectively.Conclusions The clinical features are similar for PM and TBM patients.However,the levels of LDH,CK,and NSE in CSF are different between PM and TBM.LDH,CK,NSE in combination may improve the differential diagnosis between PM and TBM.

Objective To investigate the impact of the Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) model on blood glucose levels and self-management behaviors in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A total of 87 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM at the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Endocrinology Outpatient Departments of the Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from October 2021 to October 2022 were enrolled and divided into treatment group (n=44) and control group (n=43). The treatment group received SMA-based GDM management, while the control group underwent routine outpatient follow-up. Baseline data, flash glucose monitoring (FGM)-related indicators before and after treatment, and self-management behavior scale scores were compared between the two groups. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (P>0.05). After treatment, the time in range (TIR) of glucose was higher in the treatment group than that in the control group, while mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), coefficient of variation (CV), and mean blood glucose (MBG) were lower in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Within the treatment group, post-treatment TIR was higher, and MAGE, CV, SDBG, and MBG were lower than pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05). In the control group, post-treatment TIR was higher, and SDBG and MBG were lower than pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total score and scores for dietary management, exercise management, medication management, and blood glucose monitoring management in the self-management behavior scale were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, post-treatment scores for all self-management behaviors were higher than pre-treatment levels, while post-treatment total scores and scores for medication management and blood glucose monitoring management in the control group were higher than pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion SMA management model can comprehensively improve blood glucose levels and enhance self-management behavior capabilities in GDM patients.

Background Experimental studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones can cause adverse effects on male reproductive health, including decreased semen quality and altered sex hormones. However, the results of epidemiological studies on the relationship between mobile phone use and male semen quality are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are few epidemiological studies on the association of mobile phone use with sex hormones. Objective To explore the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Methods A total of 2045 men visited the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in Wuhan and ordered infertility examination were recruited from December 2018 to January 2020. Information on mobile phone use was obtained using a questionnaire. Among them, 1232 and 1694 men were eligible for semen quality analyses and sex hormone analyses, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, there was no statistically significant associations of mobile phone use with sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, sperm concentration, sperm count, or serum luteinizing hormone (P>0.05). However, serum total testosterone showed a declined tendency with increasing daily duration of mobile phone use (P_trend=0.08). Compared with men with daily mobile phone use of 0-2 h, men with daily mobile phone use of 2.1-5, 5.1-8, and >8 h showed decreased serum total testosterone concentrations by 6.29% (95%CI: 0.40%-11.84%), 6.01% (95%CI: 0.60%-12.19%), and 7.87% (95%CI: 0.40%-14.79%), respectively. Conclusion Mobile phone use is not associated with male semen quality and serum luteinizing hormone, but increasing daily duration of mobile phone use is potentially associated with a tendency to lower male serum total testosterone.

Objective:To reevaluate the systematic review/Meta-analysis of effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .Methods:Systematic reviews/Meta-analyses of the effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with IBD were searched through computers on China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and CINAHL. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to April 30, 2022. After independently selecting and extracting data from the article, two researchers used the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) to evaluate the methodological quality of the included study. The Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to grade the main outcome indicators of the included study by two researchers. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with IBD.Results:A total of six systematic reviews/Meta-analyses were included. The AMSTAR 2 evaluation results showed that the methodological quality of one study was low, while the methodological quality of five studies was extremely low. The main reasons for the low methodological quality of various studies were the failure to report the previous research protocol, the list of excluded studies during the full text reading stage, the funding sources of included studies, and publication bias. The results of the GRADE system evaluation showed that a total of 10 outcome indicators were involved in the six studies for Meta-analysis, with three indicators having a GRADE system rating of intermediate, four indicators having a GRADE system rating of low, and three indicators having a GRADE system rating of extremely low. The main degradation factors were research limitations, followed by inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias.Conclusions:Systematic reviews/Meta-analyses of the effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with IBD have low methodological quality and outcome indicators, and the reliability of conclusions is low. More high-quality systematic reviews/Meta-analyses are needed in the future to confirm the effectiveness of telemedicine in patients with IBD.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway during intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods:Thirty-six clean grade healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-250 g, aged 2 months, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) by a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), intestinal I/R group (I/R group) and remifentanil group (R group). Intestinal I/R was produced by occlusion of superior mesenteric artery for 1 h followed by reperfusion in anesthetized rats.At 30 min before ischemia, 0.2 μg·kg -1·min -1 of remifentanil was infused intravenously for 5 min , followed by infusion of normal saline for 5 min, repeating for 3 cycles in group R. At 2 h of reperfusion, blood samples were collected from right ventricle to measure the concentration of diamine oxidase (DAO). The animals were then sacrificed and the intestinal tissues were obtained for examination of pathological changes and scored according to Chiu, for calculation of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis rate (by TUNEL), for determination of the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), cleaved caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) in nucleoprotein and for calculation of p-ERK/ERK ratio, p-JNK/JNK ratio and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio in the intestinal tissues. Results:Compared with group Sham, Chiu′s scores, serum DAO concentration, apoptosis rate, p-ERK/ERK ratio, p-JNK/JNK ratio and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 in the intestinal tissues were significantly increased in group I/R, and Chiu′s scores was increased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in serum DAO concentration, apoptosis rate, p-ERK/ERK ratio, p-JNK/JNK ratio, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 in the intestinal tissues in group R ( P>0.05). Compared with group I/R, Chiu′s scores, apoptosis rate, serum DAO concentration, p-ERK/ERK ratio and expression of cleaved caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 were significantly decreased in group R ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which remifentanil inhibits intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis induced by intestinal I/R is related to promoting activation of ERK in rats.

Objective:To explore the value of cardiovascular MR (CMR) T 1 mapping in evaluating myocardial injury in patients recovered from COVID-19. Methods:The clinical and image data of 15 patients with COVID-19 (9 with moderate clinical manifestation, 6 with severe clinical manifestation) who underwent CMR screening at 3 months after being discharged from the Second People′s Hospital of Fuyang City during May 2020 to June 2020 were prospective collected. Fifteen COVID-19 patients were selected as case group, and another 11 healthy volunteers were selected as control group. A standardized CMR protocol included cine, native and enhanced T 1 mapping, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Cardiac functional parameters, native T 1 value of left ventricular and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) were measured. One way ANOVA was used to assess the difference between CMR parameters among moderate and severe manifestation groups and control group, and LSD- t was used to assess the difference between the three groups. Results:LGE value was negative in all subjects. ECV values were higher in recovered COVID-19 patients with either moderate (27.9%±2.7%) or severe manifestation (30.0%±3.7%) than control group (23.2±1.9%) ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference of ECV values between recovered COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe manifestation ( P=0.100). There was no difference of native T 1 values and other functional and morphologic parameters of left ventricular and right ventricular among recovered COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe manifestation and control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:CMR myocardial tissue ECV increase in patients who recovered from COVID-19, suggesting subclinical myocardial injury.