Objective:To observe the effect of Guilu Taohong Formula on semen quality in varicocele(VC)models of rats,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(sham group,model group,Guilu Taohong Formula group and L-carnitine group).After the establishment of models,the rats were treated with intra-gastric administration for eight consecutive weeks.The general condition of the rats was observed.After the gavage,the testicular and epididymal indices were calculated.Semen quality was assessed using an automatic semen analyzer.Apoptosis of testicular cells was assessed by TUNEL staining.And the expression levels of B-cell lymphocytoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and cys-teine aspartate protease-3(caspase-3)in testicular tissue were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the sham group,testicular index,epididymal index,sperm concentration,the percentage of progressive motility of sperm(PR％)and the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased in model group(P＜0.01).An increased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were observed in model group as well(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR％and the expression level of Bcl-2 in Guilu Taohong Formula group increased significantly(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).A decreased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were de-tected in Guilu Taohong Formula group as well(P＜0.01).Similarly,the L-carnitine group showed increased testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR％and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),where showed decreased ap-optosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins compared with model group(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Guilu Taohong Formula improves semen quality in VC model rats and reduces the apoptosis rate of spermato-genic cells in testicular tissue,which may be related to the promotion of Bcl-2 protein expression and the inhibition of Bax and caspase-3 protein expression levels.

Pregnancy with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in stages 4-5, carries high risks of adverse outcomes including maternal renal failure, preeclampsia/eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth. This report described a 26-year-old woman with congenital solitary kidney, polycystic ovaries, and uterine septum due to PAX2 gene variant, complicated by CKD stage 4. Through multidisciplinary team precision management and individualized treatment strategies, including timely initiation of dialysis, the patient successfully maintained pregnancy until 34 +1 weeks and delivered a female infant via cesarean section. This case summarizes key management experiences for end-stage renal disease in pregnancy, highlighting early risk assessment, precise nutritional management, hemodialysis protocol optimization, and the crucial role of multidisciplinary collaboration, providing valuable references for managing CKD-complicated pregnancies.

Pregnancy with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in stages 4-5, carries high risks of adverse outcomes including maternal renal failure, preeclampsia/eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth. This report described a 26-year-old woman with congenital solitary kidney, polycystic ovaries, and uterine septum due to PAX2 gene variant, complicated by CKD stage 4. Through multidisciplinary team precision management and individualized treatment strategies, including timely initiation of dialysis, the patient successfully maintained pregnancy until 34 +1 weeks and delivered a female infant via cesarean section. This case summarizes key management experiences for end-stage renal disease in pregnancy, highlighting early risk assessment, precise nutritional management, hemodialysis protocol optimization, and the crucial role of multidisciplinary collaboration, providing valuable references for managing CKD-complicated pregnancies.

To investigate the existence of tick-borne pathogens infection of rodents at the border of China and the Demo-cratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).PCR was used to detect the spotted fever group rickettsiae(SFGR)ompA gene,Ehrlichia chaffeensis(Ec)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Ap)16S rRNA,Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis(CNm)groEL gene,Bartonella(Ba)rpoB gene,and Francisella tularensis(Ft)fopA gene in rodents samples collected from Ji'an of Jilin province and Kuandian of Liaoning Province.The positivity rates of 132 wild rats spleen samples,SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,Ba,and Ft were 9.85％,12.88％,5.30％,3.79％,51.52％,and 6.06％,respectively,with statistical differences in in-fection rates(x2=149.236,P=0.000).The infection rate of Ba was the highest in wild rats in this area.There was no signifi-cant difference in the infection rate of SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,and Ft among different rats species,but there were significant differences in the infection rate of Ba(x2=13.36,P=0.010).The infection rate of Apodemus agrarius was the highest.A-mong 132 wild rats specimens,the coinfection rate of the two pathogens was 15.9％(21/132),with Ba as the main species(15/132),and two cases of coinfection with three pathogens were detected.The infection of six tick-borne pathogens is common in wild rats at the China/DPRK border.Co-infection of two or three pathogens indicates a risk of multiple tick-borne pathogens and mixed natural foci of multiple tick-borne infec-tious diseases.

Aim To investigate the effect of vanillin on the regulation of cyclic guanylate adenylate synthetase(cGAS)/stimulator of interferon gene(STING)signa-ling pathway on hepatic tissue injury in rats with intra-hepatic cholestasis(IC).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,IC group,vanillin group,cGAS overexpression group,and vanillin+cGAS overexpression group,with continuous adminis-tration for seven days.The body weight,liver weight and liver to body weight ratio of rats were measured.Liver function(ALT,AST,ALP,LDH),IC(TBIL,TBA)and liver fibrosis(HA,LN,PC Ⅲ)index were determined by ELISA.Liver pathology and fibrosis were observed using HE and Masson staining,and col-lagen volume fraction was calculated.The expression of cGAS/STING pathway related proteins in liver tissue was detected by Western blot.Results Vanillin could improve liver pathology and fibrosis,increase body weight,and decrease liver weight,ALT,AST,ALP,LDH,TBIL,TBA,HA,LN,PC Ⅲ,collagen volume fraction,cGAS,STING protein in IC rats(P＜0.05).Overexpression of cGAS could reverse the effects of vanillin on the above indicators in IC rats(P＜0.05).Conclusions Vanillin may improve liver function,IC,liver fibrosis,and liver tissue damage in IC rats by downregulating the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of family structure on depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and its mechanism. METHODS: The cluster sampling method was used to select the students from seven middle schools in Shanghai, China. An online questionnaire survey was conducted using a self-made general status questionnaire, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. The methods including one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis, and mediating effect analysis were used to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and the difference in childhood trauma and its mediating effect. RESULTS: Compared with the adolescents from nuclear families, the adolescents from three-generation lineal families had a lower risk of depression symptoms (OR=0.794, 95%CI: 0.649-0.972, P<0.05), while those from host families had a higher risk of depression symptoms (OR=4.548, 95%CI: 1.113-18.580, P<0.05). The adolescents from inter-generational families and host families had a significantly higher score on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscale of emotional neglect (P<0.05). Emotional neglect played a mediating role in the influence of inter-generational families and host families on depression symptoms in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS Parents and grandparents have a certain positive effect in family structures. Separation from parents may make adolescents perceive more emotional neglect, which may increase the occurrence of depression symptoms.
Child ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Family Structure ; Child Abuse/psychology* ; China ; Anxiety/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression and the mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 572 adolescents from 7 middle schools in Shanghai, China, from April to May, 2021. A survey was performed for these adolescents and their mothers. The research tools included a general information questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, short-form of Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran, and Children's Depression Inventory. A structural equation model was established, and the Bootstrap method was used to investigate the mediating effect. RESULTS: The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 12.71% (327/2 572) among the adolescents. The scores of maternal job burnout, maternal depression, and negative parenting style were positively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05), and the score of positive parenting style was negatively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05). Maternal depression and parenting style played a mediating role between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression, including the individual mediating effect of maternal depression, the individual mediating effect of positive parenting style, and the chain mediating effect of maternal depression-negative/positive parenting style. CONCLUSIONS Maternal job burnout may affect adolescent depression through the mediating effect of depression, parenting style, and depression-parenting style, suggesting that the symptoms of adolescent depression can be reduced by alleviating maternal job burnout, improving maternal depression, increasing positive parenting behaviors, and reducing negative parenting behaviors.
Child ; Adolescent ; Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/etiology* ; Parenting ; China ; Burnout, Psychological

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. Due to its high recurrence rate, gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. Up to now, surgical treatment is the only method of cure for patients with early disease, and with the development of endoscopy, neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, 5-year survival rate of patients with early gastric cancer could reach more than 95%. However, no specific symptoms were reported in the early stage of gastric cancer, most patients were diagnosed with middle and late stage when they were symptomatic, and no longer candidates for surgical treatment. In recent years, treatment for gastric cancer has evolved rapidly regarding neoadjuvant chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy as well as new chemotherapeutic regimens. The representative in the first-line chemotherapy includes platinum and fluorouracil, or a combination of these two agents. Meanwhile, targeted therapy is also widely used in this setting due to its specificity. Thus, it is necessary to summarize the therapeutic effects of current targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background/Aims: Esophagogastric junction adenocarci-noma (EJA) is a malignant tumor associated with high mor-bidity and has attracted increasing attention due to a rising incidence and low survival rate. Pathological biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, but noninvasive and effective tests are lacking, resulting in diagnoses at advanced stages.This study explored the diagnostic value of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) in EJA. Methods: A total of 120 EJA patients and 88 normal controls were recruited, and their serum levels of IGFBP7 were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Receiver operating character-istic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic value, and Pearson chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between IGFBP7 and clinical parameters. Ka-plan-Meier survival analysis was carried out to assess the ef-fect of IGFBP7 on overall survival (OS). Results: The levels of IGFBP7 were higher in both early- and late-stage EJA patients than in normal controls (p<0.001). The area under the ROC curve for EJA patients was 0.794 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.733 to 0.854), with a cutoff value of 2.716 ng/mL, a sensitivity of 63.3% (95% CI, 54.0% to 71.8%) and a specific-ity of 90.9% (95% CI, 82.4% to 95.7%). For the diagnosis of early-stage EJA, the same cutoff value and specificity were obtained, but the sensitivity of IGFBP7 was 54.3% (95% CI, 36.9% to 70.8%). Patients with low IGFBP7 protein expres-sion had lower OS than those with high expression (p=0.034).The multivariate analysis showed that IGFBP7 is an inde-pendent prognostic factor for EJA (p=0.011). Conclusions Serum IGFBP7 acts as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for EJA.

Objective To observe the c linical effect of scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia. Methods Sixty-eight patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into treatment group (N = 34)and control group (N = 34). Both groups were given the internal medicine treatment for lowering blood lipids,stabilizing plaque,and nourishing nerves,and took rehabilitation training. And additionally,the treatment group was given scalp acupuncture therapy and the treatment with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument,and the control group was given the treatment with s wallowing speech therapeutic instrument alone. Two weeks constituted one treatment course, and the two groups were treated for 4 weeks. The scores of Standardized Swallowing Assessment(SSA) and Swallowing Quality of Life Instrument (SWAL-QOL) of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and then the curative effects were evaluated by Saito 7-grade dysphagia assessment method. Results (1)Till the end of the trial,7 cases of the 68 patients were excluded for transferring to other departments or loss to follow-up. Of the 7 excluded cases, 3 cases were from the treatment group and 4 were from the control group. (2) The total effective rate of the treatment group was 90.32%and that of the control group was 66.67%,the difference being significant(P < 0.05).(3)After treatment,SSA scores of the 2 groups were decreased(P < 0.01)and SWAL-QOL scores were increased (P < 0.01),and the effect on improving SSA scores and SWAL-QOL scores in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Both groups can relieve dysphagia and improve the quality of life of post-stroke dysphagia patients,and the scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument is more effective for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.