A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for recurrent plastic bronchitis (PB) among children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). METHODS: The clinical data of children with MPP complicated by PB who underwent bronchoscopy at Gansu Province Maternity and Child Health Hospital between July 2023 and January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped into a single-episode PB group and a recurrent PB group according to the number of PB episodes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for recurrent PB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of individual and combined predictors. RESULTS: A total of 264 children were included; 188 (71.2%) had a single episode of PB and 76 (28.8%) had recurrent PB. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that decreased serum albumin, atelectasis, and fever persisting beyond 72 hours after the initial bronchoscopy were significantly associated with recurrent PB (all P<0.05). The combination of these predictors yielded a sensitivity of 82.9%, specificity of 61.7%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.777 (95%CI: 0.714-0.839), outperforming any single predictor (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In children with MPP complicated by PB, decreased serum albumin, the presence of atelectasis, and fever persisting beyond 72 hours after the initial bronchoscopy are associated with an increased risk of PB recurrence. In such cases, early repeat or multiple bronchoscopic interventions should be considered.
Humans ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Recurrence ; Child, Preschool ; Bronchitis/etiology* ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Logistic Models ; Infant ; ROC Curve ; Adolescent

This consensus will introduce the characteristics of fillers used in the surgical cavities of domestic nasal surgery patients based on relevant literature and expert opinions. It will also provide recommendations for the selection of cavity fillers for different nasal diseases, with chronic sinusitis as a representative example.
Humans ; Nasal Cavity/surgery* ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; China ; Consensus ; Sinusitis/surgery* ; Dermal Fillers

OBJECTIVE To explore the pharmacodynamic related substances and mechanism of Weining San(WNS) against gastric ulcer(GU) according to fingerprint and network pharmacology. METHODS Twelve batches of WNS fingerprints were established by HPLC, and methodological investigation was carried out. Combined with reference substances, characteristic peaks were identified, pharmacodynamic related substances were screened, and network pharmacological analysis was carried out. Using TCMIP and Swiss Target Prediction database to retrieve component targets; Using OMIM, GeneCards and Drugbank databases to retrieve GU disease targets, taking the intersection targets of components and diseases, using String database to construct protein-protein interaction network diagram, and analyzing topological parameters; Using Cytoscape 3.8.2 software to construct "component-disease-target" network diagram; GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of intersection targets were carried out by Metascape website. Then the alcoholic GU mouse model was established by intragastric administration of absolute ethanol to verify the results of network pharmacology prediction. RESUITS　The precision, stability and repeatability of HPLC fingerprint method were good. By comparison and comprehensive analysis of control substances, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, militarine, ginsenoside Rb1, schisandrin, schisandrol B, deoxyschizandrin and schisantherin A were identified as pharmacodynamic related substances in WNS, which may play their role by regulating core targets such as AKT1, IL-6, STAT3, TNF, IL1B and key signal pathways such as PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT. The gastric ulcer index, ulcer inhibition rate and HE staining showed that WNS could improve gastric mucosal injury in GU mice. The results of ELISA, WST-1 and TBA showed that WNS could decrease the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and MDA, and increase the levels of SOD and PGE2, suggesting that the anti-GU effect of WNS was related to the inhibition of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress mechanism, which further verified the prediction of network pharmacology. CONCLUSION This study combines fingerprint analysis, network pharmacology, and animal experimental validation to explore the pharmacodynamic related substances and mechanisms of WNS anti-GU efficacy, providing reference for quality control and clinical research of WNS.

Objective:To explore whether the degree of skeletal muscle atrophy in obese individuals under the influence of colorectal cancer is more severe than that in non-obese individuals.Methods:The clinical data of patients who underwent radical resection of colorectal cancer in our department from Jul 2020 to Dec 2021 was collected. Sixty-four obese patients were included and 64 non-obese patients were matched according to propensity score. At the same time, 51 obese patients were collected from non-tumor patients and matched with 51 non-obese patients. The psoas muscle index (PMI) of included patients was analyzed and compared.Results:The PMI of patients with colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that of corresponding non-tumor patients, regardless of gender and body weight (both P<0.05). The PMI of obese patients with colorectal cancer was significantly lower than that of non-obese patients ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The impact of colorectal cancer on skeletal muscle atrophy in obese individuals is greater than that in normal weight individuals. Therefore, the skeletal muscle status of obese patients with colorectal cancer should be evaluated more comprehensively.

Objective:To observe the genetic variation of SH2B3 in patients with myeloid neoplasms.Methods:The results of targeted DNA sequencing associated with myeloid neoplasms in the Department of Hematology,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University from November 2017 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,and the patients with SH2B3 gene mutations were identified.The demographic and clinical data of these patients were collected,and characteristics of SH2B3 gene mutation,co-mutated genes and their correlations with diseases were analyzed.Results:The sequencing results were obtained from 1 005 patients,in which 19 patients were detected with SH2B3 gene mutation,including 18 missense mutations(94.74％),1 nonsense mutation(5.26％),and 10 patients with co-mutated genes(52.63％).Variant allele frequency(VAF)ranged from 0.03 to 0.66.The highest frequency mutation was p.Ile568Thr(5/19,26.32％),with an average VAF of 0.49,involving 1 case of MDS/MPN-RS(with SF3B1 mutation),1 case of MDS-U(with SF3B1 mutation),1 case of aplastic anemia with PNH clone(with PIGA and KMT2A mutations),2 cases of MDS-MLD(1 case with SETBP1 mutation).The other mutations included p.Ala567Thr in 2 cases(10.53％),p.Arg566Trp,p.Glu533Lys,p.Met437Arg,p.Arg425Cys,p.Glu314Lys,p.Arg308*,p.Gln294Glu,p.Arg282Gln,p.Arg175Gln,p.Gly86Cys,p.His55Asn and p.Gln54Pro in 1 case each.Conclusion:A wide distribution of genetic mutation sites and low recurrence of SH2B3 is observed in myeloid neoplasms,among of them,p.Ile568Thr mutation is detected with a higher incidence and often coexists with characteristic mutations of other diseases.

Objective:To investigate the expression of cGAS-STING signaling pathway molecules in labial gland specimen of primary Sj?gren′s syndrome (pSS) patients and its correlation with disease characteristics.Methods:Clinical data and labial gland specimens were collected from 19 patients diagnosed with pSS who visited Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2021 to December 2021, along with a control group of 7 gender-and age-matched individuals with isolated xerostomia.We performed immunofluorescence staining for cGAS on labial gland specimens, and Western blot analysis was further utilized to confirm the expression levels of cGAS-STING signaling pathway-related molecules (cGAS, pSTING, pIRF3 and pTBK1) in the labial gland tissues of both groups. For normally distributed data, t test was employed for comparison between groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for non-normally distributed data. And Spearman's correlation analysis was utilized to explore the correlation between clinical characteristics and molecular expression levels. P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Immun-ofluorescence analysis showed significant infiltration of cGAS-positive cells in the labial gland tissues of the pSS group, while the control group exhibited no or minimal expression of cGAS-positive cells and there was a statistical difference between the two groups ( t=3.87, P=0.001). Moreover, the expression level of cGAS in labial gland tissues of pSS patients had a positive correlation with the focus scores ( r=0.55, P=0.014). Western blot analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the expression of cGAS and pSTING between the pSS group and the control group in labial gland tissues (0.73±0.39 vs. 0.18±0.05, t=2.38, P=0.049 and 0.91±0.17 vs. 0.23±0.10, t=2.17, P=0.043). Additionally, a correlation between the expression levels of cGAS and pSTING in labial gland tissues was found according to Spearman correlation analysis ( r=0.823, P=0.001). However, there was no correlation between the expression level of cGAS in labial gland tissues and clinical features, serological indicators (IgG level, titer of rheumatoid factor, C3 level and autoantibody positive rate) or disease activity (EULAR Sj?gren′s syndrome disease activity index scores). Conclusion:The cGAS-STING signaling pathway is activated in the labial gland tissue of pSS patients, which may be involved in its pathogenesis.

This study aims to investigate the effect of Linggui Zhugan Decoction(LGZGD) on autophagy in the mouse model of chronic heart failure(CHF) induced by myocardial infarction(MI), as well as the regulatory effect of LGZGD on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) signaling pathway, based on bioinformatics and animal experiments. The active ingredients and corresponding targets of LGZGD were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology and Analysis Database, and GEO, GeneCards, and DisGeNET were searched for the disease targets. Cytoscape was used to establish a "drug-component-target" network. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis was performed on STRING. R language was used for Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encycloperfia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses. Molecular docking was adopted to validate the core targets. The mouse model of MI-induced CHF was established by surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The modeled mice were assigned into the sham, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose(2.34, 4.68, and 9.36 g·kg~(-1), respectively) LGZGD, and captopril(3.25 mg·kg~(-1)) groups. After continuous administration for 6 weeks, a Doppler ultrasound imaging system was used to examine the heart function indicators: left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS), left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVIDs), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVIDd). The myocardial tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin for the observation of morphological changes. The mRNA levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta(LC3B), Beclin1, p62, HIF-1α, and HO-1 in the myocardial tissue were determined by RT-qPCR. The protein levels of LC3B, beclin1, p62, autophagy-related protein 5(ATG5), HIF-1α, and HO-1 were determined by Western blot. The results showed that 103 active components of LGZGD, corresponding to 224 targets, were obtained. A total of 3 485 and 6 165 targets related to MI and CHF, respectively, were retrieved. The GSE16499 dataset obtained 3 263 differentially expressed genes. There were 31 common targets. The top 3 core active components were quercetin, naringenin, and 1-methoxyphaseollidin. The topology analysis results showed that the core targets were MAPK3, HMOX1(HO-1), MYC, ADRB2, PPARD, and HIF1A(HIF-1α). The molecular docking results showed strong binding between the core targets and the main active components of LGZGD. LGZGD significantly improved the heart function and alleviated the pathological changes in the myocardial tissue of mice. Western blot and RT-qPCR results showed that the HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling pathway and autophagy were activated in the model group. LGZGD up-regulated the levels of LC3B, Beclin1, ATG5, HIF-1α, and HO-1 while down-regulating the mRNA and protein levels of p62. In summary, LGZGD can enhance autophagy and improve the heart function in the mouse model of CHF after MI by upregulating the HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy* ; Heart Failure/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Computational Biology ; Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal

AIM: To observe changes in fundus microcirculation of myopic adolescents after wearing orthokeratology by applying optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 40 cases(40 eyes)of adolescents with low to moderate myopia who chose orthokeratology to correct visual acuity at our hospital from April 2021 to June 2022 were collected. The uncorrected distant visual acuity and axial length were evaluated at 1, 3 and 6mo before and after wearing orthokeratology, respectively. Furthermore, the changes in superficial vessel density(SVD), deep vessel density(DVD), central retinal thickness(CRT), foveal avascular zone area(FAZ-A), foveal avascular zone perimeter(FAZ-P), retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness and radial peripapillary capillaries density(RPCD)were observed by applying OCTA.RESULTS: The uncorrected distant visual acuity was significantly improved at 1, 3 and 6mo after wearing orthokeratology(P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in axial length before and after wearing orthokeratology(P>0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in both SVD of fovea quadrant and DVD of fovea and lower quadrant(P<0.01), but there were no differences in CRT, FAZ-A and FAZ-P, RNFL thickness and RPCD(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Wearing orthokeratology can significantly improve visual acuity and increase local retinal vessel density in the macula in adolescents with low to moderate myopia.

Objectives To analyze the risk factors and their predictive value for postoperative hypoxemia in Type-A aortic dissection(TAAD).Methods A single-center retrospective study was conducted among 146 consecutive patients diagnosed as TAAD and undergone aortic arch surgery from January 2018 to June 2021 in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University.According to the lowest postoperative PaO2/FiO2 ratio within 24 hours,the patients were classified into two groups:hypoxemia group(PaO2/FiO2≤200 mmHg)and non-hypoxemia group(PaO2/FiO2>200 mmHg).The difference of preoperative oxygen index,duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality in hospital were analyzed between the two groups.The independent risk factors for postoperative hypoxemia were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression and the predictive value was analyzed by receiver operator character(ROC)curves.Results For TAAD patients,the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia was 45.9%.Compared to non-hypoxemia group,hypoxemia group exhibited longer duration of mechanical ventilation(P<0.001)and longer intensive care unit(ICU)length of stay(P<0.05).Moreover,patients with hypoxemia presented higher mortality during hospital(P=0.011).Multivariate regression analysis identified BMI as independent risk factor(OR=1.701,P<0.001)and preoperation PaO2/FiO2 ratio as protective factors for postoperative hypoxemia in patients with TAAD(OR=0.987,P=0.004).Area under the ROC curve of BMI was 0.848,the optimal cut-off point of BMI was 25.8 kg/m2.Area under the ROC curve of pre-operation PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 0.808,the optimal cut-off point of preoperation PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 265 mmHg.Conclusions BMI higher than 25.8 kg/m2 is an independent risk factor and preoperation PaO2/FiO2 ratio higher than 265 mmHg is a protective factor for postoperative hypoxemia in patients with TAAD.Subjects with hypoxemia had longer duration of mechanical ventilation,ICU stay and higher mortality.