Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum placental growth factor(PLGF)/soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1(sFlt-1),combined with the placental three-dimensional energy Doppler index(3D-PDI)in preeclampsia(PE).Methods From January 2021 to December 2022,120 pregnant women with PE risk factors were selected and followed up until 1 week after delivery.Serum PLGF and sFlt-1 levels were measured at routine prenatal check-ups at 14 to 20 weeks gestation.The PLGF/sFlt-1 ratio was calculated,and placental 3D-PDI was detected by ultrasound,including the vascularization index(VI),blood flow index(FI),and vascularization-blood flow index(VFI).Based on whether PE occurred after 20 weeks of pregnancy,cases were divided into PE(55 cases)and control groups(65 cases).The PE group was further divided into mild PE(35 cases)and severe PE groups(20 cases)based on the severity of the di-sease.The differences in PLGF/sFlt-1 and 3D-PDI between the groups were compared in terms of a statistical analysis of the correlation between PLGF,sFlt-1,and 3D-PDI.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was plotted,and the predictive value of each index on PE alone or in combination was analyzed.Results The systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),24 h protein-uria level,preterm birth rate,NICU admission rate,and preconception BMI in the PE group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The two groups had no differences in age,gestational age,pregnancy history,and fertility history(P＞0.05).The serum PLGF/sFlt-1 of the PE group was lower than that of the control group,and the serum PLGF/sFlt-1 of the severe group was lower than that of the mild group(P＜0.05).The 3D-PDI index of the PE group was lower than that of the control group,and the 3D-PDI index of the severe group was lower than that of the mild group(P＜0.05).Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that PLGF and VFI were signifi-cantly positively correlated(P＜0.01),and sFlt-1 was significantly negatively correlated with VFI(P＜0.01).ROC curve analysis showed that PLGF/sFlt-1,VI,FI,and VFI all had predictive value for PE and the value of VI,FI,and VFI jointly predicted PE,and was higher than that of various parameters(AUC = 0.951).Serum PLGF/sFlt-1,VI,FI,and VFI combined predicted the highest value(AUC=0.987).Conclusion In patients with PE,serum PLGF,sFlt-1,and placental VFI are significantly correlated.Serum PLGF/sFlt-1,placenta VI,FI,and VFI are reduced in early pregnancy,and the combined application of the four indicators has the highest efficacy in predicting PE,providing a possible reference for the early clinical screening or prediction of PE.

Male infertility is a significant cause of psychosocial and marital distress in approximately 50% of couples who are unable to conceive, with male factors being the underlying cause. Guijiajiao (Colla Carapacis et Plastri, CCP) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine commonly used to treat male infertility. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the preventive effects of CCP on male infertility. An infertile male rat model was established using cyclophosphamide (CTX), and CCP was administered for both treatment and prevention. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was also performed to explore the role of gut microbiota in the CCP-mediated prevention of male infertility in rats. Sperm motility and concentration were determined using a semi-automatic sperm classification analyzer. Subsequently, histopathological analysis using HE staining was performed to examine the changes in the small intestine and testis. Moreover, the serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and testosterone were measured by ELISA. In addition, immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect CD3 expression in the small intestine, while RT-qPCR was employed to assess the expressions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL-10) in the small intestine and epididymis. Finally, gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. CCP improved sperm motility, number, and concentration in CTX-induced infertile male rats. CCP increased the serum testosterone level, inhibited the immune cell infiltration of the intestinal lamina propria, and promoted the aggregation of CD3⁺ T cells in CTX-induced male infertility rats. CCP also inhibited the expressions of MCP-1, CXCL-10, and IL-1β in the epididymis of male infertility rats. At the genus level, CTX led to a reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus, Clostridia_UCG.014, and Romboutsia in the intestinal tract of rats. In contrast, CCP decreased the abundance of Ruminococcus and increased the abundance of Romboutsia in infertile male rats. Additionally, FMT experiments proved that the gut microbiota of CCP-treated rats facilitated testicular tissue recovery and spermatogenesis while also reducing the serum LPS level in infertile male rats. CCP improves the spermatogenic ability of infertile male rats by restoring gut microbiota diversity and inhibiting epididymal inflammation.
Humans ; Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Infertility, Male/prevention & control* ; Testosterone

Objective:To investigate the correlation between TNFAIP3 gene polymorphism and osteoporotic fractures in the elderly and bone metabolism indexes.Methods:A total of 115 patients with senile osteoporotic fractures admitted to Peace Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Changzhi Medical College from Jan. 2019 to Jun. 2021 were enrolled as the observation group, and 120 patients with senile osteoporotic fractures matched with gender, age and body mass index of the observation group were selected as the control group. The levels of blood calcium, blood phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other bone metabolism indexes of all subjects were recorded. The genotypes of rs10499194 and rs13207033 in TNFAIP3 gene were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis and fragment analysis (SNaPshot) . The mRNA relative expression level of TNFAIP3 gene in peripheral blood of all subjects was determined by quantitative real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:There were statistically significant differences in genotype distribution and gene frequency of RS10499194 and RS13207033 between the observation group and the control group ( P<0.05) . For rs10499194, CT genotype carriers had a significantly higher risk of fracture than wild-type CC genotype carriers [OR=3.253 (1.223-8.652) , P=0.014]. The dominant model was also statistically significant ( P=0.003) . For rs13207033, GA carriers had a significantly higher risk of fracture than wild-type GG carriers [OR=3.775 (1.192-11.952) , P= 0.016]. The dominant model was statistically significant ( P=0.009) . The blood calcium level in AA+GA group was significantly higher than that in GG group at rs13207033 site ( P=0.006) . The mRNA expression level of TNFAIP3 gene in the observation group was 1.41±0.09, which was significantly lower than that in the observation group (2.07±0.12, t=6.69, P<0.001) . TNFAIP3 mRNA expression level of rs10499194 site TT+CT group was 1.35±0.11, significantly lower than CC group 1.43±0.13 ( t=2.82, P=0.007) . Conclusion:The polymorphism of TN-FAIP3 gene is related to the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures and bone metabolism, and may affect the gene expression level.

The goal of the study was to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Artemisia argyi ethanol extract on chemotherapeutic vancomycin (VAN)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).The acute kidney injury model of male ICR mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection (ip) of VAN.Thirty mice were divided into the blank group, model group, high dose group, middle dose group and low dose group, which were given medicine by gastric perfusion (ig).Serum levels of cystain C (Cys C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured, which could reflect renal function of mice.Serum oxidative stress and inflammation indices were also determined, including muscular dystrophy association (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and high-sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP).In addition, hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) was employed for measuring the damage of renal tissues and the content of apoptosis b-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 assaciated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 were measured too.All results showed that Artemisia argyi extract exhibits protective effect on chemotherapeutic VAN-induced AKI, whose mechanism could be related to the oxidative stress, inflammatory reaction and apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Guilu Erxianjiao on improving reproductive injury in diabetic rats and its possible mechanism. MethodFifty-three SD male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups， with 1 group as the normal group and the other 4 groups as the modeling groups. Rats in the modeling groups were fed with a high-fat diet combined with 30 mg·kg^-1 streptozotocin （STZ） intraperitoneal injection to induce diabetes， with the random blood glucose >16.7 mmol·L^-1 for 3 consecutive times as the criteria for inclusion in the model of diabetic reproductive injury. The rats with diabetic reproductive injury were then randomly divided into a model group， a Guilu Erxianjiao group （2 g·kg^-1）， a Vitamin E group （0.03 g·kg^-1）， and a Wuzi Yanzong pill group （0.6 g·kg^-1） according to the blood glucose level. The rats were given the corresponding drug dose intragastric administration， once a day for 4 weeks， and their body weight and blood glucose were measured weekly. After 4 weeks， samples were collected for index determination. Morphological changes in testis and epididymis were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and apoptosis of testis cells was observed by in situ end labeling （TUNEL） staining. Sperm concentration and motility were detected by the semen analyzer. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， and testosterone （T） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The content of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， propylene glycol （MDA）， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） in the testicular tissue was determined by ELISA. The expressions of nuclear respiratory factor-2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase 1 （HO-1）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax） in the testicular tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultAs compared with the normal group， testicular tissue atrophy， decreased spermatogenic tubules， epididymal wall hyperplasia， and lumen stenosis were observed in the model group. Sperm concentration and motility decreased （P<0.01）， and serum levels of T， FSH， and LH decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. The content of ROS and MDA in the testis increased （P<0.01）， while that of SOD and GSH-Px decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. The expression of Bax increased （P<0.01）， and the expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and Bcl-2 decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. As compared with the model group， the pathological changes in the testis and epididymis in the Guilu Erxianjiao group were improved to some extent. Sperm concentration and motility increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the Guilu Erxianjiao group， serum levels of T and LH increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while FSH levels showed no significant difference. The content of ROS and MDA in the testis decreased （P<0.01）， while that of SOD and GSH-Px increased （P<0.01） in the Guilu Erxianjiao group. The expression of Bax decreased （P<0.01）， and the expressions of Nrf2， HO-1， and Bcl-2 increased （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the Guilu Erxianjiao group. ConclusionGuilu Erxianjiao improves the reproductive injury and sperm quality of diabetic rats to a certain extent， and the mechanism may be related to the improvement of oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis.

Objective: To explore the utility of pharyngeal pH monitoring which positive standard is Ryan index in diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Methods: In a retrospective study, clinical data of 590 patients who had symptoms laryngopharyngeal reflux disease from February 2016 to March 2017 were analyzed. All patients were received electronic laryngoscopy, assessment of reflux symptom index(RSI) and reflux finding score(RFS), and pharyngeal pH monitoring. SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyze the date. Results: There were 94 patients whose Ryan index were positive(15.93%). Among the 94 patients, 70 were positive during upright, 12 during supine and 12 during both upright and supine. There were 40 patients(6.78%)with pH decline events related to symptoms, while those Ryan index were normal. There were 536(90.85%), 417(70.68%), 233(39.49%) and 117(19.83%) patients with pH<6.5, pH<6.0, pH<5.5 and pH<5.0 events respectively. The positive rate of RSI, RFS, RSI and RFS, RSI or RFS were 44.24%, 16.78%, 7.12%, 53.90% respectively. The RFS score in Ryan index positive group was higher than that in Ryan index negative group[(8.2±2.4) vs (4.0±2.9), u=5.424, P<0.05], while the RSI score in Ryan index positive group was not statistically different from that in Ryan index negative group[(11.3±6.2) vs (12.7±5.8), t=1.247, P=0.167]. Conclusions Pharyngeal pH monitoring is an objective and non-invasive method which can reflect laryngopharyngeal reflux directly. However, with the Ryan index as a criterion for the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, partial patients may be missed. Further studies are needed to obtain more accurate and objective laryngopharyngeal pH statistical index for diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the epidemic condition and molecular subtyping of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella Indiana (S. Indiana) isolated from retail chicken carcasses in six provinces of China.

METHODSA total of 2 647 Salmonella strains isolated from retail chicken carcasses collected from six provinces of China were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All Salmonella isolates co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime were further characterized by serotyping, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing strains screening and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing.

RESULTSAmong 2 629 Salmonella isolates tested, 227 (8.52%) isolates were co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime/cefotaxime (Beijing: 11.67% (99/874), Jilin: 8.20% (60/726), Guangdong: 1.39% (7/502), Jiangsu: 15.61% (42/260), Shaanxi: 8.56% (16/186), Inner Mongolia: 0 (0/81)), and 224 of them were identified as S. Indiana. 213 (95.10%) isolates of S. Indiana were ESBLs producing strains. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates developed a multi-drug resistant profile and 17.86% (40/224) of them were resistant to all antibiotics tested except carbapenems, and 50.89% (114/224) of them resistant to 9 antibiotics, additionally, 25.45% (57/224) of them showed multi-drug resistance to 8 antibiotics. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates were divided into 32 PFGE clusters and 150 PFGE patterns. Strains of S. Indiana from same or different sampling site and time seemed to either share the same PFGE patterns or be differential to each other in different regions.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that chicken carcasses collected from parts of China were heavily contaminated by ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana and could serve as an important reservoir of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella. Molecular subtyping results indicated that cross contamination or common pollution source might be in these strains.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Cefotaxime ; pharmacology ; Chickens ; microbiology ; China ; Ciprofloxacin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Food Contamination ; Food Microbiology ; Meat ; microbiology ; Salmonella ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Serotyping ; beta-Lactamases

Objective To elucidate the epidemic condition and molecular subtyping of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella Indiana(S. Indiana)isolated from retail chicken carcasses in six provinces of China. Methods A total of 2 647 Salmonella strains isolated from retail chicken carcasses collected from six provinces of China were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All Salmonella isolates co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime were further characterized by serotyping, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing strains screening and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. Results Among 2 629 Salmonella isolates tested, 227 (8.52%) isolates were co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime/cefotaxime (Beijing:11.67%(99/874),Jilin:8.20%(60/726), Guangdong: 1.39%(7/502),Jiangsu: 15.61%(42/260),Shaanxi: 8.56%(16/186),Inner Mongolia: 0(0/81)), and 224 of them were identified as S. Indiana. 213(95.10%)isolates of S. Indiana were ESBLs producing strains. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates developed a multi-drug resistant profile and 17.86%(40/224)of them were resistant to all antibiotics tested except carbapenems, and 50.89%(114/224)of them resistant to 9 antibiotics, additionally, 25.45%(57/224)of them showed multi-drug resistance to 8 antibiotics. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates were divided into 32 PFGE clusters and 150 PFGE patterns. Strains of S. Indiana from same or different sampling site and time seemed to either share the same PFGE patterns or be differential to each other in different regions. Conclusion The results indicated that chicken carcasses collected from parts of China were heavily contaminated by ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana and could serve as an important reservoir of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella. Molecular subtyping results indicated that cross contamination or common pollution source might be in these strains.

Objective To elucidate the epidemic condition and molecular subtyping of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella Indiana(S. Indiana)isolated from retail chicken carcasses in six provinces of China. Methods A total of 2 647 Salmonella strains isolated from retail chicken carcasses collected from six provinces of China were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All Salmonella isolates co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime were further characterized by serotyping, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing strains screening and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. Results Among 2 629 Salmonella isolates tested, 227 (8.52%) isolates were co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime/cefotaxime (Beijing:11.67%(99/874),Jilin:8.20%(60/726), Guangdong: 1.39%(7/502),Jiangsu: 15.61%(42/260),Shaanxi: 8.56%(16/186),Inner Mongolia: 0(0/81)), and 224 of them were identified as S. Indiana. 213(95.10%)isolates of S. Indiana were ESBLs producing strains. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates developed a multi-drug resistant profile and 17.86%(40/224)of them were resistant to all antibiotics tested except carbapenems, and 50.89%(114/224)of them resistant to 9 antibiotics, additionally, 25.45%(57/224)of them showed multi-drug resistance to 8 antibiotics. All ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana isolates were divided into 32 PFGE clusters and 150 PFGE patterns. Strains of S. Indiana from same or different sampling site and time seemed to either share the same PFGE patterns or be differential to each other in different regions. Conclusion The results indicated that chicken carcasses collected from parts of China were heavily contaminated by ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant S. Indiana and could serve as an important reservoir of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime co-resistant Salmonella. Molecular subtyping results indicated that cross contamination or common pollution source might be in these strains.

Objective To study the protein expression and gene amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(Her-2)in adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction and its association with the clinicopathological features .Methods Immunohistochemical method and fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH) were used to detect Her -2 expression and gene amplification in 80 surgically resected gastroesophageal junction cancer tissue .We further analyzed the relationship between the gastroesophageal junction cancer histolog -ical differentiation ,as well as depth of invasion ,clinical stage and lymph node metastasis .Results Her-2 am-plification of gastroesophageal junction carcinoma by FISH was 22.5%,while the overexpression by IHC was 15%.Her-2 gene amplification and protein overexpression were correlated with the differentiation ,clinical TNM stage,invasive depth and lymph node metastasis of the carcinoma (all P<0.05).Her-2 expression was not asso-ciated with the patients age,gender,invasive depth and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).Conclusion Her -2 protein expression and gene amplification may be a prognostic indicator for the patients with gastroesophageal junction cancer .The joint detection of Her -2 protein expression level and the gene amplification can guide the prognosis and therapy for adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction .