This study aims to establish the S_(180) tumor-bearing mice model, and to investigate the influence of Shenqi Erpi Granules(SQEPG) on immune function, as well as the drug's tumor-suppressive effect and mechanism. SPF grade KM mice(half male and half female) were randomly divided into 6 groups: a control group, a model group, a cyclophosphamide group(50 mg·kg~(-1)), as well as SQEPG groups in low-, medium-, and high-dose(5.25, 10.5, 21 g·kg~(-1)). The control group and the model group were given distilled water, and the other 4 groups were given the corresponding drugs by gavage. The administration continued for 10 days before the mice were sacrificed. The antitumor and immune regulation effects of SQEPG were evaluated. The effect of SQEPG on delayed type hypersensitivity reaction(DTH), carbon clearance index, and serum hemolysin antibody level was observed to reflect the effect on the immune function of tumor-bearing mice. Tumor weight was recorded to calculate the tumor suppression rate and the immune organ index. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to detect morphological changes in tumor tissues. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the percentage of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T-cells in the spleen tissues and the tumor tissue apoptosis levels. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect the KI67 protein expression level of tumor tissues. ELISA resorted to the detection of the following expression levels in tumor tissues: tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-2(IL-2), interferon-γ(IFN-γ). Western blot was performed to detect the expression levels of caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cyclin-dependent kinases 4(CDK4), G_1/S-specific cyclin D1(cyclin D1), and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA). The results showed that, compared with the model group, the SQEPG could increase the swelling of the auricle of the tumor-bearing mice; significantly increase the phagocytic index of carbon granule contour(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the middle dose of SQEPG could significantly increase the antibody level of hemolysin(P<0.05); different doses of SQEPG significantly inhibit the growth of the tumor, and decrease the mass of the tumor tissues(P<0.05 or P<0.01); the low dose of SQEPG significantly decreased spleen index(P<0.05), low and high doses of SQEPG increased thymus index, while medium doses of SQEPG decreased thymus index. High doses of SQEPG significantly elevated the levels of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T-cells in the spleens of the homozygous mice(P<0.01 or P<0.001), and increased the apoptosis rate of the cells of the tumor tissues(P<0.05); Meanwhile, high-dose SQEPG elevated the levels of immunity factors such as IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the serum of tumor-bearing mice(P<0.01); medium-and high-dose SQEPG significantly lowered the rate of positive expression of KI67 protein in tumor tissues(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, high-dose SQEPG significantly up-regulated the expression of caspase-3 and Bax proteins in tumor tissues(P<0.05), and significantly down-regulated the expression of CDK4, cyclin D1, and VEGFA proteins(P<0.05 or P<0.01). In conclusion, SQEPG has the effect of improving immune function and inhibiting tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Its mechanism of tumor-suppressive effects may be related to apoptosis promotion, cell cycle progression block, and tumor cell proliferation inhibition.
Animals ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Female ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Sarcoma 180/genetics* ; Humans

PURPOSE: Assessing fluid responsiveness relying on central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO₂) yields varied outcomes across several studies. This study aimed to determine the ability of the change in ScvO₂ (ΔScvO₂) to detect fluid responsiveness in ventilated septic shock patients and potential influencing factors. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center study, all patients conducted from February 2023 to January 2024 received fluid challenge. Oxygen consumption was measured by indirect calorimetry, and fluid responsiveness was defined as an increase in cardiac index (CI) ≥ 10% measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of oxygen consumption, arterial oxygen saturation, CI, and hemoglobin on ScvO₂ and its change before and after fluid challenge. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used for the normality of continuous data. Data comparison between fluid responders and non-responders was conducted using a two-tailed Student t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Chi-square test. Paired t-tests were used for normally distributed data, while the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for skewed data, to compare data before and after fluid challenge. RESULTS: Among 49 patients (31 men, aged (59 ± 18) years), 27 were responders. The patients had an acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score of 24 ± 8, a sequential organ failure assessment score of 11 ± 4, and a blood lactate level of (3.2 ± 3.1) mmol/L at enrollment. After the fluid challenge, the ΔScvO₂ (mmHg) in the responders was greater than that in the non-responders (4 ± 6 vs. 1 ± 3, p = 0.019). Multivariate linear regression analysis suggested that CI was the only independent influencing factor of ScvO₂, with R² = 0.063, p = 0.008. After the fluid challenge, the change in CI became the only contributing factor to ΔScvO₂ (R² = 0.245, p < 0.001). ΔScvO₂ had a good discriminatory ability for the responders and non-responders with a threshold of 4.4% (area under the curve = 0.732, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION ΔScvO₂ served as a reliable surrogate marker for ΔCI and could be utilized to assess fluid responsiveness, given that the change in CI was the sole contributing factor to the ΔScvO₂. In stable hemoglobin conditions, the absolute value of ScvO₂ could serve as a monitoring indicator for adequate oxygen delivery independent of oxygen consumption.
Humans ; Shock, Septic/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Oxygen Saturation ; Aged ; Fluid Therapy ; Oxygen/blood* ; Oxygen Consumption ; Adult

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a critical endocrine mediator implicated in male reproductive physiology. To investigate the correlation between IGF2 protein levels and various aspects of male infertility, specifically focusing on sperm quality, inflammation, and DNA damage, a cohort of 320 male participants was recruited from the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) between 1 st January 2024 and 1 st March 2024. The relationship between IGF2 protein concentrations and sperm parameters was assessed, and Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were employed to evaluate the independent associations between IGF2 protein levels and risk factors for infertility. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IGF2 protein levels in seminal plasma, alongside markers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]). The relationship between seminal plasma IGF2 protein levels and DNA damage marker phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) was also explored. Our findings reveal that IGF2 protein expression decreased notably in patients with asthenospermia and teratospermia. Correlation analysis revealed nuanced associations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, and low IGF2 protein concentrations correlated with increased inflammation and DNA damage in sperm. The observed correlations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, along with its connection to inflammation and DNA damage, underscore the importance of IGF2 in the broader context of male reproductive health. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential therapeutic interventions targeting IGF2-related pathways to enhance male fertility.
Humans ; Male ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; DNA Damage ; Adult ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for short-term efficacy and prognosis in newly treated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). METHODS: The general data, laboratory indicators, disease stage and other clinical data of 91 newly treated PTCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the patients were stratified into groups based on these cutoffs to compare clinical features and short-term efficacy between the different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were 45.30 and 1.74×10⁹/L, respectively. Patients in different PNI groups showed statistically significant differences in age, Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for PTCL-not otherwise specified (PIT), pathological subtypes, and complete response (CR) rate (P < 0.05). PTCL patients in different SIRI groups exhibited significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, IPI score, PIT score, and CR rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥60 years old (OR =2.750), Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR =5.200), IPI score ≥2 (OR =7.650), low PNI (OR =3.296), and high SIRI (OR =3.130) were independent risk factors affecting treatment efficacy in PTCL patients (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that low PNI and elevated β₂-microglobulin (β₂-MG) levels were independent risk factors affecting OS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNI and SIRI have certain application value in evaluating short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with PTCL. Compared with SIRI, PNI demonstrates greater predictive value for patient prognosis.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Nutrition Assessment ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Inflammation

To clarify the species, pathogenicity, and distribution of the pathogens causing the root rot of Atractylodes lancea in Hubei province, the tissue separation method was used to isolate the pathogens from root rot samples in the main planting areas of A. lancea in Hubei. Based on the preliminary identification of the Fusarium genus by the internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequence, three housekeeping genes, EF1/EF2, Btu-F-FO1/Btu-F-RO1, and FF1/FR1, were amplified and sequenced. Subsequently, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on these TEF gene sequences to classify the pathogens. The pathogenicity of these strains was determined using the root irrigation method. A total of 194 pathogen strains were isolated using the tissue separation method. Molecular identification using the three housekeeping genes identified the pathogens as F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. commune, F. equiseti, F. tricinctum, F. redolens, F. fujikuroi, F. avenaceum, F. acuminatum, and F. incarnatum. Among them, F. solani and F. oxysporum were the dominant strains, widely distributed in multiple regions, with F. solani accounting for approximately 54% of the total isolated strains and F. oxysporum accounting for approximately 34%. Other strains accounted for a relatively small proportion, totaling approximately 12%. The results of pathogenicity determination showed that there were certain differences in pathogenicity among strains. The analysis of the pathogenicity differentiation of the widely distributed F. solani and F. oxysporum strains revealed that these dominant strains in Hubei were mainly highly pathogenic. This study determined the species, pathogenicity, and distribution of the pathogens causing the root rot of A. lancea in Hubei province. The results provide a scientific basis for further understanding the root rot of A. lancea and its epidemic occurrence and scientifically preventing and controlling this disease.
Plant Diseases/microbiology* ; Atractylodes/microbiology* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology* ; Fusarium/classification* ; China ; Virulence ; Fungal Proteins/genetics*

Ovarian tumor (OT) is the most lethal form of gynecologic malignancy, with minimal improvements in patient outcomes over the past several decades. Metastasis is the leading cause of ovarian cancer-related deaths, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Psychological stress is known to activate the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), a factor associated with poor prognosis in OT patients. However, the precise mechanisms linking NR3C1 signaling and metastasis have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that chronic restraint stress accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in OT through an NR3C1-dependent mechanism involving nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1). Mechanistically, NR3C1 directly regulates the transcription of NUPR1, which in turn increases the expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (SNAI2), a key driver of EMT. Clinically, elevated NR3C1 positively correlates with NUPR1 expression in OT patients, and both are positively associated with poorer prognosis. Overall, our study identified the NR3C1/NUPR1 axis as a critical regulatory pathway in psychological stress-induced OT metastasis, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for intervention in OT metastasis.

With the growing emphasis on maternal and child oral health, the significance of managing oral health across preconception, pregnancy, and infancy stages has become increasingly apparent. Oral health challenges extend beyond affecting maternal well-being, exerting profound influences on fetal and neonatal oral development as well as immune system maturation. This expert consensus paper, developed using a modified Delphi method, reviews current research and provides recommendations on maternal and child oral health management. It underscores the critical role of comprehensive oral assessments prior to conception, diligent oral health management throughout pregnancy, and meticulous oral hygiene practices during infancy. Effective strategies should be seamlessly integrated across the life course, encompassing preconception oral assessments, systematic dental care during pregnancy, and routine infant oral hygiene. Collaborative efforts among pediatric dentists, maternal and child health workers, and obstetricians are crucial to improving outcomes and fostering clinical research, contributing to evidence-based health management strategies.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant ; Consensus ; Mouth Diseases/therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Oral Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Delphi Technique ; Oral Hygiene

As a serious cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis (AS) causes chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the body and poses a threat to human health. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a member of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) family, and its elevated levels have been shown to contribute to AS. Lp-PLA2 is closely related to a variety of lipoproteins, and its role in promoting inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in AS is mainly achieved by hydrolyzing oxidized phosphatidylcholine (oxPC) to produce lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC). Moreover, macrophage apoptosis within plaque is promoted by localized Lp-PLA2 which also promotes plaque instability. This paper reviews those researches of Chinese medicine in treating AS via reducing Lp-PLA2 levels to guide future experimental studies and clinical applications related to AS.
Humans ; 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Atherosclerosis/drug therapy* ; Lipoproteins ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Biomarkers

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of surgery,chemotherapy and surgery combined chemotherapy for retinoblastoma(RB),and analyze the prognostic factors of RB patients.Methods Clinical data of 1188 RB patients registered in the Surveillance,Epidemiology and End Results(SEER)database from January 2000 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.The baseline characteristics of patients treated with surgery,chemotherapy or surgery combined with chemotherapy were balanced by inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW).Log-rank test analysis was used to compare the survival probability of patients in the 3 groups,and Cox regression models were used to analyse the factors influencing the prognosis of RB patients.Results A total of 1188 RB cases were included in this study,including 426 cases in surgery group,200 cases in chemotherapy group and 562 cases in surgery combined with chemotherapy group.After IPTW weighting,baseline data such as age,sex and race were balanced(P＞0.05).Log-rank test results showed that the survival curves of the three groups were significantly different before and after weighting(P＜0.05).After weighted,the survival of patients in surgery group was significantly better than that in chemotherapy group and surgery combined chemotherapy group(P＜0.05),and there was no statistical significance between chemotherapy group and surgery combined chemotherapy group(P＞0.05).The weighted patient survival probability at 1st,3rd and 5th years were 99.7%,98.9%and 98.6%in surgery group;97.4%,95.8%and 95.8%in chemotherapy group;and 97.9%,95.8%and 95.0%in surgery combined chemotherapy group.Cox regression analysis showed that compared with surgery group,the specific risk ratio of death was 1.367(95%CI 1.100-1.700)in chemotherapy group and 1.132(95%CI 0.963-1.330)in combined chemotherapy group.Compared with patients with 1 RB lesion,the patient-specific mortality risk ratio for patients with 2 or more RB lesions was 0.399(95%CI 0.268-0.594).Conclusions Patients with RB have higher survival rates probability after treatment.After controlling the influence of age,sex and other factors,the effect of surgery was better among the three treatment methods.Multifocality may be an independent prognostic factor in RB patients.

Objective:To investigate the safety and anti-reflux effect of a highly bionic modi-fied esophagogastric anastomosis in the reconstruction of the digestive tract after proximal gas-trectomy,with the aim of providing a safe and simple new option with good anti-reflux effect for the reconstruction of the digestive tract after proximal gastrectomy.Methods:In this retrospec-tive study,30 patients(Study group)who underwent modified esophagogastric anastomosis after proximal gastrectomy in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Shandong Provincial Hospi-tal Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to September 2023 were compared with 27(Control group)patients who underwent double-tract reconstruction which is currently recognized as having good anti-reflux effect during the same period,the main compari-sons were made between the surgery-related indexes,the quality of life after the surgery,the postoperative complications,and the anti-reflux effect of the surgery.Results:The study group was significantly better than the control group in terms of operation time and postoperative hospi-talization time,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05),and the difference between the two groups was comparable in terms of intraoperative bleeding and the anti-reflux effect of the opera-tion,with no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05);in terms of postoperative complications,the incidence of anastomotic fistula and intestinal obstruction was slightly lower in the study group compared with the control group,but in terms of total incidence,the difference was not statistically significant;in terms of quality of life,the difference was not statistically significant when comparing the quality of life of the two groups after treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Highly bionic modified esophagogastric anastomosis is safe and feasible in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction with excellent anti-reflux effect,but the procedure needs further high-quality randomized controlled studies and in-depth exploration.