Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Gastric contrast-enhanced ultrasound includes oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound (OCUS) and double contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS),which can provide valuable clinical information about tumor morphology,vascular characteristics,and treatment responses.OCUS can clearly identify the gastric wall structure and the extent and depth of lesions by applying oral contrast agents.DCEUS,based on OCUS combined with venography,can display the anatomical and perfusion characteristics of lesions.In recent years,gastric contrast agents and imaging techniques have developed rapidly.However,the clinical application of gastric contrast-enhanced ultrasound is still in the developmental stage.This article reviews the clinical status of OCUS and DCEUS in the screening,diagnosis,staging,pathological typing,and treatment evaluation of gastric cancer.Studies have shown that gastric contrast-enhanced ultrasound has high sensitivity and specificity in the assessment of diagnosis and T-staging of gastric cancer.Furthermore,gastric contrast-enhanced ultrasound has the advantages of being cost-effective,convenient,non-invasive,free from radiation exposure,real-time,and easy to repeat.In the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer,it is expected to become one of the important imaging assessment tools.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Contrast Media ; Ultrasonography/methods*

Purpose To explore the clinicopathological features of EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma.Methods Clinical and pathological data of 5 cases were collected.The expression of CD3,CD56,TIA-1,Granzyme B and other markers were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of EBER was detected by in situ hybrid-ization.The gene rearrangement and clonality were analyzed by PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The litera-tures were reviewed.Results The primary lesions of the 5 patients were all located in lymph nodes.All patients pres-ented with multiple lymphadenopathy,B symptoms,elevated lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and C-reactive protein(CRP),and were in stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ.Histopathologically,the lesions show a diffuse infiltration of large to medium monot-onous tumor lymphocytes.Cell apoptosis,necrosis,and vascular invasion were not significant.Tumor cells of all cases were positive for CD3 but negative for CD56.All cases were positive for the cytotoxic markers.In situ hybridization de-tection showed that the majority of tumor cells were diffusely positive for EBER.Nevertheless,only 4 cases were posi-tive for TCR gene clonal rearrangement.Three patients received chemotherapy,2 patient declined the treatments.The median overall survival was only 3 months.Conclusions EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma is an EBV-positive lymphoma of cytotoxic T-or NK-cell lineage presenting primarily with nodal disease,which is more common in elderly males.The patient has obvious symptoms and signs,rapid disease progression,and poor prognosis.Under-standing the clinicopathological features of EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma can help differentiate it from other EBV-positive T-and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas.

This study was aimed at establishing a method of ultra-fast quantitative PCR for Brucella detection.We used an exogenous recombinant plasmid as the internal reference and targeted the T4SS secretion system,an important Brucella viru-lence factor,to design specific primers and probes.The sensitivity,specificity,and repeatability of this method were evaluated,and a standard curve was constructed.The coincidence rate of detection findings with this method versus quantitative PCR was determined.This method markedly decreased the detection time to only 10 minutes.The standard curve demonstrated a good linear relationship(Y=-3.410 7x+38.357,R2=0.998 5)with a low minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL.The method exhibited good specificity and did not specifically amplify several common clinical bacteria other than Brucella.The de-tection of three concentrations of positive plasmids yielded coefficients of variation(CVs)of 0.20％to 0.91％,thus demonstra-ting the method's excellent repeatability.Furthermore,140 clinical samples were analyzed concurrently with the fluorescence PCR method,which yielded a 100％compliance rate and consistent results.Our findings indicated that the Brucella ultra-fast quantitative PCR was ultrafast;had high sensitivity,high specificity,and good specificity;and can be used for the clinical de-tection of Brucella and emergency investigation of epidemics.Therefore,this method is valuable for the early diagnosis of Bru-cella.

Purpose To explore the clinicopathological features of EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma.Methods Clinical and pathological data of 5 cases were collected.The expression of CD3,CD56,TIA-1,Granzyme B and other markers were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of EBER was detected by in situ hybrid-ization.The gene rearrangement and clonality were analyzed by PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The litera-tures were reviewed.Results The primary lesions of the 5 patients were all located in lymph nodes.All patients pres-ented with multiple lymphadenopathy,B symptoms,elevated lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and C-reactive protein(CRP),and were in stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ.Histopathologically,the lesions show a diffuse infiltration of large to medium monot-onous tumor lymphocytes.Cell apoptosis,necrosis,and vascular invasion were not significant.Tumor cells of all cases were positive for CD3 but negative for CD56.All cases were positive for the cytotoxic markers.In situ hybridization de-tection showed that the majority of tumor cells were diffusely positive for EBER.Nevertheless,only 4 cases were posi-tive for TCR gene clonal rearrangement.Three patients received chemotherapy,2 patient declined the treatments.The median overall survival was only 3 months.Conclusions EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma is an EBV-positive lymphoma of cytotoxic T-or NK-cell lineage presenting primarily with nodal disease,which is more common in elderly males.The patient has obvious symptoms and signs,rapid disease progression,and poor prognosis.Under-standing the clinicopathological features of EBV-positive nodal T-and NK-cell lymphoma can help differentiate it from other EBV-positive T-and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas.

This study was aimed at establishing a method of ultra-fast quantitative PCR for Brucella detection.We used an exogenous recombinant plasmid as the internal reference and targeted the T4SS secretion system,an important Brucella viru-lence factor,to design specific primers and probes.The sensitivity,specificity,and repeatability of this method were evaluated,and a standard curve was constructed.The coincidence rate of detection findings with this method versus quantitative PCR was determined.This method markedly decreased the detection time to only 10 minutes.The standard curve demonstrated a good linear relationship(Y=-3.410 7x+38.357,R2=0.998 5)with a low minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL.The method exhibited good specificity and did not specifically amplify several common clinical bacteria other than Brucella.The de-tection of three concentrations of positive plasmids yielded coefficients of variation(CVs)of 0.20％to 0.91％,thus demonstra-ting the method's excellent repeatability.Furthermore,140 clinical samples were analyzed concurrently with the fluorescence PCR method,which yielded a 100％compliance rate and consistent results.Our findings indicated that the Brucella ultra-fast quantitative PCR was ultrafast;had high sensitivity,high specificity,and good specificity;and can be used for the clinical de-tection of Brucella and emergency investigation of epidemics.Therefore,this method is valuable for the early diagnosis of Bru-cella.

OBJECTIVE To observe the preventive and therapeutic effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder on cancer-related fatigue in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy patients with breast cancer, and to provide a basis for using traditional Chinese medicine processed by modern processing to effectively improve the quality of life of cancer patients. METHODS Seventy-four female patients who received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from November 2021 to March 2023 were randomly divided into either treatment(n=37) or control group(n=37). Both groups were given 4 cycles of epirubicin(or liposomal doxorubicin) combined with cyclophosphamide adjuvant chemotherapy and corresponding symptomatic treatment: the treatment group was treated with sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore powder 2 g·d–1, and the control group was treated with placebo. The incidence and severity of cancer-related fatigue, the changes in T lymphocyte subsets, serum inflammatory factors, intestinal flora, and the effects of drugs on blood routine, liver, and kidney function were compared between the two groups after treatment. RESULTS The incidence of cancer-related fatigue and the score of the Piper correction scale in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05), the proportion of CD3+, CD4+, and CD3-CD56+ was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05), while the proportion of CD8+ was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05). The counts of IL-2 and IL-10 were higher than those in the control group, while the counts of IL-6, IL-8, and CRP were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). The counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets in the control group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05), and the abundance of intestinal microflora in the control group was higher than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in liver and kidney function between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore powder can significantly reduce the incidence and level of cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy, inhibit inflammatory factors, regulate intestinal flora and body immunity.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.

Objective This study aimed to observe the effect of Jiang Tang San Hao Formula(JTSHF)on systemic and intestinal inflammation,as well as on the NLRP3 inflammasome in type 2 diabetic mice(T2DM),and to elucidate its anti-diabetic molecular mechanisms.Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice were used to establish the T2DM model using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection.The diabetic mice were randomly divided into the model,metformin,and JTSHF groups.A control group was also set to provide baseline comparisons.Each group of mice was orally administered with the corresponding medication daily.The metformin group was orally administered with 0.20 g/kg metformin,the JTSHF group was orally administered with 4.26 g/kg JTSHF,and the control group and model group were orally administered with an equal amount of sterile water continuously for 8 weeks.After an 8-week drug intervention via gavage,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin 1 beta(IL-1β),and interleukin 6(IL-6)serum and colon levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological morphology of the colon was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),caspase-1,zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,and G-protein coupled receptor 43(GPR43)protein expression in the colon were assessed using immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,caspase-1,ZO-1,Occludin,and GPR43 in the colon were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The ELISA data revealed significant differences in inflammatory markers among the groups.Compared with the model group,the JTSHF group exhibited notably reduced LPS,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the model group,JTSHF treatment upregulated ZO-1,occludin,and GPR43 protein and mRNA expression in the colon and downregulated NLRP3,ASC,and Caspase-1 protein and mRNA expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The inflammatory reaction of T2DM mice is apparent.JTSHF effectively alleviates the systemic and intestinal inflammatory response of T2DM mice by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetes effects of JTSHF.