Objective:To explore the correlations of sleep quality and architecture with heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with stenoses of vertebrobasilar artery system and internal carotid artery system.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 72 patients with stenosis or occlusion of the head and neck arteries (not resulting in cerebral infarction) admitted to Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2023 to June 2024 were chosen, including 33 patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system (VB group) and 39 patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery system (ICA group). Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) were used to evaluate the sleep quality and architecture, respectively; and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was used to assess the HRV. Differences in PSQI score, PSG and HRV parameters between the two groups were compared; partial correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations of HRV parameters with PSQI scores and PSG parameters; multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors for HRV.Results:(1) Compared with the ICA group, the VB group exhibited significantly higher PSQI scores, spontaneous arousal index (SAI), ratio of time of stage 1 non-rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T N1/T t), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), while significantly lower ratio of time of rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T R/T t), spindle wave density in stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep (N2), lowest blood oxygen saturation, standard deviation of normal to normal intervals (SDNN) of all sinus beats, low-frequency power (LF), and high-frequency power (HF, P<0.05). (2) In both VB group and ICA group, SDNN was negatively correlated with PSQI score ( r=-0.461, P=0.020; r=-0.378, P=0.036). In the VB group, SDNN was negatively correlated with T N1/T t ( r=-0.467, P=0.019) and SAI ( r=-0.551, P=0.004), and positively correlated with ratio of time of stage 3 non-rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T N3/T t, r=0.686, P<0.001) and spindle wave density in N2 ( r=0.518, P=0.008); LF and HF were negatively correlated with SAI ( r=-0.481, P=0.015; r=-0.564, P=0.003). In the ICA group, HF was negatively correlated with spindle wave density in N2 ( r=-0.369; P=0.041). (3) Multivariate linear regression results indicated that T N3/T t (β=0.348, P=0.018), SAI (β=-0.330, P=0.018), and spindle wave density in N2 (β=0.286, P=0.013) were independent influencing factors for Ln_SDNN in patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system. Conclusion:Patients with stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system exhibit poorer subjective sleep quality, increased light sleep, heightened arousal, and reduced sleep stability compared with those with stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery system, which may be caused by the imbalance of autonomic nerve function.

Objective:To explore the correlations of sleep quality and architecture with heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with stenoses of vertebrobasilar artery system and internal carotid artery system.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 72 patients with stenosis or occlusion of the head and neck arteries (not resulting in cerebral infarction) admitted to Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2023 to June 2024 were chosen, including 33 patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system (VB group) and 39 patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery system (ICA group). Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) were used to evaluate the sleep quality and architecture, respectively; and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was used to assess the HRV. Differences in PSQI score, PSG and HRV parameters between the two groups were compared; partial correlation analysis was used to explore the correlations of HRV parameters with PSQI scores and PSG parameters; multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors for HRV.Results:(1) Compared with the ICA group, the VB group exhibited significantly higher PSQI scores, spontaneous arousal index (SAI), ratio of time of stage 1 non-rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T N1/T t), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), while significantly lower ratio of time of rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T R/T t), spindle wave density in stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep (N2), lowest blood oxygen saturation, standard deviation of normal to normal intervals (SDNN) of all sinus beats, low-frequency power (LF), and high-frequency power (HF, P<0.05). (2) In both VB group and ICA group, SDNN was negatively correlated with PSQI score ( r=-0.461, P=0.020; r=-0.378, P=0.036). In the VB group, SDNN was negatively correlated with T N1/T t ( r=-0.467, P=0.019) and SAI ( r=-0.551, P=0.004), and positively correlated with ratio of time of stage 3 non-rapid eye movement sleep/total sleep time (T N3/T t, r=0.686, P<0.001) and spindle wave density in N2 ( r=0.518, P=0.008); LF and HF were negatively correlated with SAI ( r=-0.481, P=0.015; r=-0.564, P=0.003). In the ICA group, HF was negatively correlated with spindle wave density in N2 ( r=-0.369; P=0.041). (3) Multivariate linear regression results indicated that T N3/T t (β=0.348, P=0.018), SAI (β=-0.330, P=0.018), and spindle wave density in N2 (β=0.286, P=0.013) were independent influencing factors for Ln_SDNN in patients with moderate-to-severe stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system. Conclusion:Patients with stenosis or occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system exhibit poorer subjective sleep quality, increased light sleep, heightened arousal, and reduced sleep stability compared with those with stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery system, which may be caused by the imbalance of autonomic nerve function.

Objective:To explore the expression levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) in follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its correlation with ovarian function and inflammation.Methods:To conduct a cohort study, the data on infertile couples who received an antagonistic regimen of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to promote ovulation from March to December 2023 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Shanxi Children's Hospital (Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital) were collected. PCOS patients were selected as the PCOS group, and patients who underwent IVF/ICSI assisted pregnancy solely due to tubal and/or male factors during the same period were selected as control group. The general clinical data of two groups of patients were analyzed, and the expression of ADM, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-18, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in the follicular fluid were compared between the two groups of patients. And taking the concentration of ADM in follicular fluid as the main research indicator, correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted with other indicators. Simultaneously the ADM mRNA expression, cell cycle and cell apoptosis of granulosa cells were compared between the two groups. Results:This study included 20 cases in the PCOS group and 20 cases in control group. Compared with control group, the expression of ADM in follicular fluid and granulosa cells of patients with PCOS were significantly lower (both P<0.001), while its testosterone, the ratio of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, antral follicle count (AFC), number of retrieved eggs, ovarian sensitivity index, as well as IL-1β, IL-18 and TGF-β in follicular fluid were higher and negatively correlated with ADM ( r=-0.37, P=0.019; r=-0.32, P=0.047; r=-0.50, P<0.001; r=-0.38, P=0.017; r=-0.38, P=0.016; r=-0.44, P=0.005; r=-0.37, P=0.018; r=-0.54, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that AFC, gonadotropin initiation dose, IL-1β and TGF-β were the independent related factors that affect local ADM levels ( r=-0.37, P=0.008; r=-0.27, P=0.035; r=-0.28, P=0.028; r=-0.45, P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the cell cycle of granulocytes between the two groups ( P>0.05), but the apoptosis rate (AR) of granulocytes was higher in the PCOS group than in control group (median AR in the PCOS group was 46.07%, median AR in control group was 28.57%, n=10, P=0.036). Conclusion:The decreased expression of ADM in follicles of PCOS patients is related to ovarian endocrine disorders, multiple vesicles, high ovarian responsiveness and local inflammatory status.

Objective:To explore the expression levels of adrenomedullin (ADM) in follicular fluid of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its correlation with ovarian function and inflammation.Methods:To conduct a cohort study, the data on infertile couples who received an antagonistic regimen of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to promote ovulation from March to December 2023 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Shanxi Children's Hospital (Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital) were collected. PCOS patients were selected as the PCOS group, and patients who underwent IVF/ICSI assisted pregnancy solely due to tubal and/or male factors during the same period were selected as control group. The general clinical data of two groups of patients were analyzed, and the expression of ADM, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-18, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in the follicular fluid were compared between the two groups of patients. And taking the concentration of ADM in follicular fluid as the main research indicator, correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted with other indicators. Simultaneously the ADM mRNA expression, cell cycle and cell apoptosis of granulosa cells were compared between the two groups. Results:This study included 20 cases in the PCOS group and 20 cases in control group. Compared with control group, the expression of ADM in follicular fluid and granulosa cells of patients with PCOS were significantly lower (both P<0.001), while its testosterone, the ratio of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, antral follicle count (AFC), number of retrieved eggs, ovarian sensitivity index, as well as IL-1β, IL-18 and TGF-β in follicular fluid were higher and negatively correlated with ADM ( r=-0.37, P=0.019; r=-0.32, P=0.047; r=-0.50, P<0.001; r=-0.38, P=0.017; r=-0.38, P=0.016; r=-0.44, P=0.005; r=-0.37, P=0.018; r=-0.54, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that AFC, gonadotropin initiation dose, IL-1β and TGF-β were the independent related factors that affect local ADM levels ( r=-0.37, P=0.008; r=-0.27, P=0.035; r=-0.28, P=0.028; r=-0.45, P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the cell cycle of granulocytes between the two groups ( P>0.05), but the apoptosis rate (AR) of granulocytes was higher in the PCOS group than in control group (median AR in the PCOS group was 46.07%, median AR in control group was 28.57%, n=10, P=0.036). Conclusion:The decreased expression of ADM in follicles of PCOS patients is related to ovarian endocrine disorders, multiple vesicles, high ovarian responsiveness and local inflammatory status.

Numerous studies have reported that the resistance of biofilm bacteria to antibiotics can be up to 10-1 000 fold higher than that of planktonic bacteria. Bacterial biofilms are reported to be responsible for more than 80% of human microbial infection, posing great challenges to the healthcare sector. Many studies have reported that plant extracts and their active ingredients can inhibit the formation and development of bacterial biofilms, including reducing biofilm biomass and the number of viable bacteria in biofilms, as well as eradicating mature biofilms. This review summarized the plant extracts and their active ingredients that are inhibitory to bacterial biofilms, and analyzed the underpinning mechanisms. This review may serve as a reference for the development of plant drugs to prevent and treat biofilm infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Humans ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Quorum Sensing

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum cystatin C (Cys C) and left ventricular geometry in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) complicated with prehypertension(PH).Methods:A total of 408 patients with PH and OSAS diagnosed by polysonogram monitoring in the sleep monitoring room of Respiratory Department, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from July 2018 to June 2021 were collected. Serum Cys C concentration and echocardiography were performed in all patients. According to the classification of left ventricular geometry, all patients were divided into four groups: normal configuration (NG) group( n=297), concentric remodeling (CR) group( n=49), eccentric hypertrophy (EH) group( n=33), and concentric hypertrophy (CH) group( n=29). General clinical data, sleep parameters, blood biochemical parameters, Cys C concentration and echocardiographic parameters were compared among the four groups, and the correlation between serum Cys C and left ventricular geometry was analyzed. Results:①The serum Cys C concentration increased successively from NG group, CR group, EH group to CH group, and the increase in CH group was the most obvious ( P<0.05). In addition, there were statistically significant differences in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), severity of OSAS, the percentage of the time that the blood oxygen saturation was less than 90% of the total sleep time (T90), lowest oxygen saturation (Lowest-SaO 2), mean oxygen saturation (Mean-SaO 2), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), inter-ventricular septal diameter (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness diameter (LVPWT), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and E/A among all groups (all P<0.05). ②Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Cys C was independently correlated with CR (β=0.721, OR=2.057, P=0.047), EH(β=0.961, OR=2.614, P=0.017) and CH (β=1.180, OR=3.254, P=0.010). Conclusions:There is a correlation between serum Cys C and left ventricular geometry in OSAS patients with PH, suggesting that serum Cys C might be involved in the change of left ventricular geometry.

Objective:To analyze the abnormal vestibular function of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and to explore its diagnostic value.Methods:WE patients who visited the Vertigo Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. All patients were evaluated by clinical neurology. Before treatment, all patients completed video head impulse test (vHIT) and video nystagmusgraphy (VNG) in addition to cranial magnetic resonance and serum thiamine level examination.Results:All 12 patients had a history of eating defects, including 8 cases of alcoholism. All 12 patients had walking instability, 7 cases had dizziness and 8 cases had oscillopsia. Six cases had ophthalmoplegia. All 12 cases showed positive gaze nystagmus. The pathological saccades of bilateral horizontal semicircular canals were found in 12 patients by vHIT before treatment, but there was only 1 patient showing abnormality in vertical semicircular canals, the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). All patients could detect bilateral, horizontal, gaze-evoked nystagmus, including 3 cases with vertical nystagmus, 1 case with abnormal saccade test, 3 cases with abnormal smooth tracking test and 1 case with abnormal optokinetic test. There were abnormalities in the caloric test, including 6 cases of bilateral dysfunction and 2 cases of unilateral dysfunction. Conclusions:WE patients may have abnormal vHIT and bilateral, horizontal, gaze-evoked nystagmus, which is similar to the special abnormal signs of simultaneous damage of both peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction.Vestibular function test is valuable for diagnosis of WE, and it is suitable for patients with a history of nutritional disorders who have dizziness or walking instability and suspected WE.

Objective:To explore the effect of group psychological counseling on the improvement of negative emotion and vision-related quality of life in patients with primary glaucoma during the perioperative period.Methods:A total of 96 patients who underwent primary glaucoma surgery in Ophthalmology Ward of Beijing Tongren Hospital were selected from June 2018 to December 2019 and they were divided into the intervention group ( n=48) and the control group ( n=48) by the random number table method. The control group was given routine care during the perioperative period of glaucoma, while the intervention group was given group psychological counseling on the basis of the control group. Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) , Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and self-made Vision-related Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to evaluate the patients. Results:The SAS score of the intervention group and the control group before intervention was respectively (56.79±1.86) and (56.77±1.92) , and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) . After the intervention, SAS score of the intervention group and the control group was respectively (41.31±3.37) and (47.45±2.05) , and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01) . The SDS score of the intervention group and the control group before intervention was respectively (66.97±3.27) and (66.64±2.43) , and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) . After the intervention, SDS score of the intervention group and the control group was respectively (44.91±2.04) and (52.52±1.86) , and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01) . The sleep quality and self-care ability in the intervention group were better than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Group psychological counseling can help to reduce negative emotions of patients, improve their sleep quality and self-care ability and improve their quality of life.

As an important course in medical laboratory science, clinical immunology is composed of advanced immunological knowledge and advanced testing technology, which are closely related to many disciplines, such as basic medicine, clinical medicine and so on. Medical educators introduced case-based teaching into clinical immunology, selected the typical, enlightening and interesting clinical cases, designed some reasonable questions for students majoring in medical laboratory science and improved students' participation via pre-class discussion and answering their questions during class, so as to help them study actively. Case-based teaching has been proved through practice as one of the important ways to improve the learning efficiency of medical students and promote their overall development, and it is a successful method for teaching reform.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of adult hearing loss.Methods:From March 2018 to November 2019, 8, 439 adult physical examinees were screened for hearing (i.e., 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz pure tone air conduction audiometry), while some were examined for hearing diagnosis (i.e., 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1, 000 Hz, 2, 000 Hz, 4 000 Hz, and 8 000 Hz pure tone bone air conduction audiometry). Prevalence, location, frequency and type of hearing loss in different age and gender groups were analyzed using SPSS 25.0.Results:The prevalence of hearing loss was 32.2%, which increased with age. The prevalence in males was higher than that of females (40.1% vs. 21.6%). The rate of single frequency damage was higher in male than in female, while the rate of multiple frequency damage was higher in women than in men ( P<0.001). The high frequency (4 000 Hz) damage rate in male was higher than that of females, while the low-middle frequency (500-2 000 Hz) damage rate in females was higher than that of males ( P<0.001). Sensorineural hearing loss accounted for 90.8%, while conductive hearing loss was 3.9%, mixed hearing loss was 5.0%, and others were 0.3%. Conductive hearing loss was mainly concentrated in the younger age group. Conclusion:Physical examination population has a relatively high prevalence of hearing loss. The characteristics of hearing loss differed with age and gender.