OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal flora in the rats with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) based on 16S rDNA technique. METHODS: Ten rats were randomized from 58 SPF-grade male SD rats to be the blank group. The remained 48 rats were prepared to be IBS-D models by the modified method of acetic acid enema combined with binding tail-clip stress. Forty successfully-modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, with 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, the needle was inserted at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and remained for 15 min in each rat. In the moxibustion group, the suspending moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 15 min. The rats in the western medication group were given pinaverium bromide suspension (10 mL/kg) by intragastric administration. The above interventions were performed once daily for consecutive 14 days. The body mass and the score of fecal trait were compared before and after modeling, as well as after intervention in each group. Fecal water content, diarrhea index and colon transit time (CTT) were measured after modeling and intervention in the rats of each group separately. After intervention, the colonic morphology of rats in each group was observed, and using 16S rDNA technique, the intestinal flora was detected. RESULTS: After modeling, compared with the blank group, the body mass and CTT were reduced (P<0.01); fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the other 4 groups. After intervention, the body mass and CTT of the rats decreased (P<0.01), and fecal trait score, fecal water content and diarrhea index increased (P<0.01) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. In the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group, when compared with the model group, the body mass and CTT were elevated (P<0.01), while fecal trait scores, fecal water contents and diarrhea index declined (P<0.01). Compared with the western medication group, fecal water content decreased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), while CTT increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the body mass increased and fecal trait score was dropped in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). The colonic mucosa structure was clear and complete, and there was no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration in the blank group. The mild interstitial edema of intestinal mucosa was presented with the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the model group. There was the infiltration of few inflammatory cells in the mucosa of the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group. Compared with the blank group, the indexes of Richness, Chao1, ACE and Shannon decreased in the model group (P<0.05). Indexes of Richness, Chao1 and ACE increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05), and the Richness index in the western medication group increased (P<0.05) when compared with those in the model group. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella increased (P<0.05), and that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae decreased (P<0.05) in the model group compared with those in the blank group. When compared with the model group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella was reduced (P<0.05), while that of Firmicutes and Muribaculaceae increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group; and that of Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium increased in the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the relative abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis was elevated (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. The relative abundance of LPS biosynthesis was dropped (P<0.05), and that of folate biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, zeatin biosynthesis, ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group compared with those of the model group. CONCLUSIONS Either acupuncture or moxibustion can relieve the symptoms of IBS-D and protect intestinal mucosa, which may be associated with regulating the structure of intestinal flora and promoting nutrient metabolism and biosynthesis.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy* ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Thioctic Acid ; Ubiquinone ; Zeatin ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Diarrhea/therapy* ; Terpenes ; Water ; Folic Acid ; Acupuncture Points

Objective:To investigate the effects of placenta previa on the surgical and pregnancy outcomes in patients with total/subtotal or segmental hysterectomy attributed to placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS).Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled 510 patients who gave birth and underwent total/subtotal hysterectomy or segmental hysterectomy (local implantation site) due to PAS at the third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022. These subjects were divided into the placenta previa group (427 cases) and non-placenta previa group (83 cases). According to the type of hysterectomy, they were further divided into the total/subtotal hysterectomy and placenta previa subgroup (221 cases), total/subtotal hysterectomy and non-placenta previa subgroup (23 cases), segmental hysterectomy and placenta previa subgroup (206 cases), and segmental hysterectomy and non-placenta previa subgroup (60 cases). Nonparametric test or Chi-square test were used to compare the differences in the clinical features, surgical and pregnancy outcomes between different groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of placenta previa on the risk of additional surgical procedures and adverse maternal outcomes. Results:(1) Compared with the non-placenta previa group, the hemorrhage volume within 24 h postpartum [1 541 ml (1 036-2 368 ml) vs 1 111 ml (695-2 000 ml), Z=－3.91] and the proportion of women requiring additional surgical procedures [84.8% (362/427) vs 69.9% (58/83), χ2=10.61], with total/subtotal hysterectomy [51.8% (221/427) vs 27.7% (23/83), χ2=16.10], cystoscopy and/or ureteral stenting [60.7% (259/427) vs 31.3% (26/83), χ2=24.25], total adverse pregnancy outcomes [86.9% (371/427) vs 65.1% (54/83), χ2=17.75], hemorrhage volume>1 500 ml within 24 h postpartum [54.1% (231/427) vs 33.7% (28/83), χ2=29.94], transfusion of blood products [75.9% (324/427) vs 47.0% (39/83), χ2=28.27] were all higher in the placenta previa group (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis found that for PAS patients with hysterectomy, regardless of the hysterectomy type (total/subtotal/segmental), placenta previa was risk factor for requiring additional surgical procedures ( aOR=3.26, 95% CI: 1.85-5.72) and adverse pregnancy outcomes ( aOR=5.59, 95% CI: 2.01-6.42), even if adjusting for the confounding factors such as maternal age, number of previous cesarean sections, parity, gestational weight gain, twin pregnancy, and the use of assisted reproductive technology. (2) In patients with total/subtotal hysterectomy, the proportion of women requiring additional surgical procedures was higher in those with placenta previa [82.8% (183/221) vs 56.5% (13/23), χ2=9.11] than those without placenta previa, especially the proportion of cystoscopy and/or ureteral stenting [67.9% (150/221) vs 34.8% (8/23), χ2=9.99] (both P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in adverse pregnancy outcomes [89.6% (198/221) vs 87.0% (20/23), χ2<0.01, P=0.972] between the two groups. In patients with segmental hysterectomy, higher proportions of women requiring additional surgery [86.9% (179/206) vs 75.0% (45/60), χ2=4.94], with adverse pregnancy outcomes [84.0% (173/206) vs 56.7% (34/60), χ2=25.31], cystoscopy and/or ureteral stenting [52.9% (109/206) vs 30.0% (18/60), χ2=9.78], vascular occlusion [94.2% (194/206) vs 71.7% (43/60), χ2=24.23], hemorrhage volume>1 500 ml within 24 h postpartum [46.6% (96/206) vs 23.3% (14/60), χ2=10.37], and transfusion of blood products [68.9% (142/206) vs 33.3% (20/60), χ2=24.73] were found in the placenta previa group (all P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with placenta previa had more hemorrhage volume within 24 h postpartum [1 368 ml (970-2 026 ml) vs 995 ml (654-1 352 ml), Z=－3.66, P<0.001] in the segmental hysterectomy subgroup. After adjusting for the confounding factors such as age, number of previous cesarean sections, parity, gestational weight gain, twin pregnancy, and the use of assisted reproductive technology, binary logistic regression analysis found that placenta previa did not increase the risk of additional surgical operations ( aOR=2.71, 95% CI: 0.99-7.42) and adverse pregnancy outcomes ( aOR=2.14, 95% CI: 0.54-8.42) in patients with total/subtotal hysterectomy but were risk factors of the two outcomes for those with segmental hysterectomy ( aOR=4.67, 95% CI: 2.15-10.10; aOR=3.80, 95% CI: 1.86-7.77). Conclusions:Placenta previa increases the risk of additional surgical procedures and adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with total/subtotal or segmental hysterectomy caused by PAS. Appropriate preparation is required after the clinical diagnosis of PAS with placenta previa.

Objective:To investigate whether the number of previous cesarean sections affects the outcomes of patients with placental implantation disease undergoing hysterectomy.Methods:Using a retrospective cohort study design, the study samples were from the obstetric clinical database of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, and the study subjects were patients with placental implantation disease who underwent hysterectomy. Patients were grouped according to different previous cesarean section frequencies, and their clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and adverse maternal outcomes were compared in each group; The impact of previous cesarean sections on adverse outcomes in pregnant women was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.Results:Among the 244 enrolled patients, 26 had no previous history of cesarean section (11%), 132 had a previous cesarean section once (54%), and 86 had a previous cesarean section ≥2 times (35%). There was no statistically significant difference in the usage rates of uterine artery embolization, suture hemostasis, and internal iliac artery embolization among the three groups of patients (all P>0.05). Among the adverse outcomes of pregnant and postpartum women, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of shock, bladder injury, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage >1 500 ml, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and transfusion of blood products among the three groups (all P>0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of previous cesarean sections did not increase the risk of adverse outcomes, such as shock, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage ≥1 500 ml, entry into the ICU, and transfusion of blood products. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the number of previous cesarean sections did not increase the risk of adverse outcomes in pregnant women. Conclusions:For patients with placental implantation disease undergoing hysterectomy, the number of previous cesarean sections may not be the main factor determining maternal outcomes. It is necessary to consider other possible influencing factors more comprehensively, including previous uterine surgery history, basic health status of pregnant women, comorbidities, and availability of medical resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare different methods for calculating sample size based on confidence interval estimation for a single proportion with different event incidences and precisions. METHODS: We compared 7 methods, namely Wald, AgrestiCoull add z2, Agresti-Coull add 4, Wilson Score, Clopper-Pearson, Mid-p, and Jefferys, for confidence interval estimation for a single proportion. The sample size was calculated using the search method with different parameter settings (proportion of specified events and half width of the confidence interval [ω=0.05, 0.1]). With Monte Carlo simulation, the estimated sample size was used to simulate and compare the width of the confidence interval, the coverage of the confidence interval and the ratio of the noncoverage probability. RESULTS: For a high accuracy requirement (ω =0.05), the Mid-p method and Clopper Pearson method performed better when the incidence of events was low (P < 0.15). In other settings, the performance of the 7 methods did not differ significantly except for a poor symmetry of the Wald method. In the setting of ω=0.1 with a very low p (0.01-0.05), failure of iteration occurred with nearly all the methods except for the Clopper-Pearson method. CONCLUSION Different sample size determination methods based on confidence interval estimation should be selected for single proportions with different parameter settings.
Confidence Intervals ; Sample Size ; Computer Simulation ; Monte Carlo Method ; Probability

OBJECTIVE: To explore risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and improve the under standing for reducing infection. METHODS: Clinical data of 2 591 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 1 265 males and 1 326 females, aged from 25 to 82 years old with an average age of (51.5±15.6) years old. They were divided into infection group(n=18) and uninfected group(n=2 573) according to whether or not patients had postoperative infection. Gender, age, smoking, diabetes, body mass index, local closure within 1 month before operation, operation time, preventive use of antibiotics, and internal fixation implantation between two groups were recorded. Univariate Logistic regression analysis screened factors associated with infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Theresultswere entered into the multivariate logistic regression analysis, screening the high risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. RESULTS: In 2 591 patients, 18 patients were infected after operation, infection rate was 0.69%. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, operation time, antibiotic prophylaxis, internal fixation implantation were risk factors for infections after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed male(OR=14.227), age≥65 years(OR=34.313), operation time≥2 h (OR=15.616), without antibiotic prophylaxis(OR=4.891), and internal fixation implantation(OR=5.103) were major risk factors for infection after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Male, age≥65 years, operation time≥2 h, without antibiotic prophylaxis and internal fixation implantation were independent risk factors for infection after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Early diagnosis and timely treatment should be carried out to reduce the incidence of infection.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Rotator Cuff ; Rotator Cuff Injuries/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Arthroscopy/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a domestic human plasma derived coagulation Factor Ⅸ concentrate (pd-FⅨ) in patients with hemophilia B. Methods: The study was a multicenter, open-label and single-arm study. The efficacy of pd-F Ⅸ was evaluated by objective performance criteria. The doses of pd-FⅨ were calculated according to the bleeding symptom and disease severity. The infusion efficiency of pd-FⅨ and improvement of bleeding symptoms were measured at 30 minutes and (24±4) h after the first infusion, respectively. Adverse events were recorded. Viral infection and FⅨ inhibitor were detected 90 d after the first infusion. Results: All 36 subjects with hemophilia B were enrolled in the study. The median age of these patients was 31 years old and the median injection doses were 4 (1-17) times. The hemostatic effect of 27/36 (75.00%) and 9/36 (25.00%) acute bleeding events were rated as "excellent" and "better" , respectively. The recovery rate was 111.92% (65.55%-194.28%) at 30 minutes after infusion of FⅨ. There was no adverse event related to FⅨ. No reactivation of HBV, HCV or HIV and FⅨ inhibitor was detected at 90-104 d after the first FⅨ infusion. Conclusion: This domestically made human plasma derived FⅨ concentrate is safe and effective in the treatment of acute bleeding in patients with hemophilia B. Clinical trial registration: China food and Durg Administration, 2016L08027.
Adult ; China ; Factor IX ; Hemophilia A ; Hemophilia B/therapy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Plasma

AIM:To investigate whether rebamipide repairs the small intestinal epithelial barrier in aspirin-induced small intestinal injury (SII) in mice and its mechanism.METHODS:Small intestinal injury was induced by aspirin (200 mg · kg-1 · d-1 for 5 d) in BALB/c mice.Based on the treatment with aspirin and/or rebamipide (320 mg ·kg-1 · d-1),the mice were divided into 4 groups (n =18 in each group).The living mice in each group (n =6) were sacrificed via cervical dislocation method at day 0,day 5,and day 10.The structure and function of intestinal barrier and the levels of the signaling pathway factors were measured by transmission electron microscopy,immunohistochemistry,qPCR,and Western blot.RESULTS:Tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells improved significantly after rebamipide treatment.The expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the injured small intestine showed a gradually increasing trend after rebamipide administration (P ＜ 0.05).There was a decreased trend of D-lactate level in rebamipide-treated SII mice (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of cyolooxygenase-2 (COX-2),β-catenin,and c-Myc,and prostaglandin E2 concentration in small intestinal tissues were significantly increased in rebamipide treatment group (P ＜ 0.05).However,down-regulated COX-1 expression in the SII mice was sustained at a low level after rebamipide administration.CONCLUSION:Rebamipide repairs the injury of small intestinal mucosa and improves the structure and function of small intestinal barrier in aspirininduced SII mice by up-regulating the expression of COX-2.

BACKGROUNDThe Notch-regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) is recently found to promote proliferation of breast cancer cells. The role of NRARP in carcinogenesis deserves extensive investigations. This study attempted to investigate the expression of NRARP in thyroid cancer tissues and assess the influence of NRARP on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and invasion in thyroid cancer.

METHODSThirty-four cases with thyroid cancer were collected from the Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between 2011 and 2012. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of NRARP in cancer tissues. Lentivirus carrying NRARP-shRNA (Lenti-NRARP-shRNA) was applied to down-regulate NRARP expression. Cell viability was tested after treatment with Lenti-NRARP-shRNA using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometry. Cell invasion was tested using Transwell invasion assay. In addition, expressions of several cell cycle-associated and apoptosis-associated proteins were examined using Western blotting after transfection. Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or Kaplan-Meier were used to analyze the differences between two group or three groups.

RESULTSNRARP was highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissues. Lenti-NRARP-shRNA showed significantly inhibitory activities against cell growth at a multiplicity of infection of 10 or higher (P < 0.05). Lenti-NRARP-shRNA-induced G1 arrest (BHT101: 72.57% ± 5.32%; 8305C: 75.45% ± 5.26%) by promoting p21 expression, induced apoptosis by promoting bax expression and suppressing bcl-2 expression, and inhibited cell invasion by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

CONCLUSIONDownregulation of NRARP expression exerts significant antitumor activities against cell growth and invasion of thyroid cancer, that suggests a potential role of NRARP in thyroid cancer targeted therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology

To investigate the effect of compound Chinese traditional medicine PC-SPES II I in inhibiting proliferation of human prostate cancer cell LNCaP based on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The effect of PC-SPES II on LNCaP cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. According to the findings, at the mass concentration of 180-1 440 mg x L(-1), PC-SPES II significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells; the IC50 of PC-SPES II at 24 h and 48 h were 311.48, 199.01 mg x L(-1), respectively. The flow Cytometry detection showed 240 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II arrested cells in G2/M phase, and an obvious apoptotic peak appeared before G0/G1 peak and rose over time. Meanwhile, Hoechst 33258 staining revealed apoptotic cellular morphology. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining manifested an increase in apoptotic cell ratio at the PC-SPES II concentration of 480 mg x L(-1) in a dose dependent manner. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion of LNCaP cells was tested by PSA ELISA kit. Besides, compared with 25 mg x L(-1) Bic, 480 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II significantly reduced the cell secretion of PSA. The AR and PSA mRNA and protein expressions were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. According to the results, after the induction of LNCaP cells with synthetic androgen 25 μg x L(-1) R1881, 240-480 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II notably down-regulated the AR and PSA mRNA and protein expressions and inhibited the translocation of AR from cytoplasm to nucleus. In summary, PC-SPES II significantly can inhibit the in vitro proliferation of LNCaP cells and arrest cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Its mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of the AR and PSA expressions and the inhibition of AR nuclear translocation.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydroquinone (HQ) on expression of topoisomerase IIα (TOPOIIα) in human bone marrow mononuclear cells, and to explore the role and possible regulatory mechanism of TOPOIIα involved in toxicity of HQ to hematopoietic cells.

METHODSAfter human bone marrow mononuclear cells were exposed to 50 µmol/L HQ (used the cells which were exposed to sterile distilled water as control); the activity of TOPOII was measured by TOPOII assay kit; the expression levels of TOPOIIα mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR technique and Western blotting method respectively; the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was carried out to study the possible mechanism of TOPOIIα expression changes.

RESULTS(1) The activity of TOPOII was inhibited obviously; the protein and mRNA expression of TOPOIIα were 0.017 ± 0.029 and 0.610 ± 0.128, significantly lower than that in the control with the significant difference (P < 0.01) after treated with HQ for 10 h; (2) The decreased content of TOPOIIα was associated with descended level of histone H4 acetylation than in the control, from 1.198 ± 0.056 to 0.324 ± 0.229, with the significant difference (P < 0.01), without accompanied descended level of histone H3 acetylation, from 1.253 ± 0.045 to 1.177 ± 0.025 (P > 0.05); (3) TOPOIIα mRNA expression decreased gradually after HQ processing, and the chemical modification (histone H4 acetylation) of TOPOIIα promoter happened prior to the mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONHQ could repress the expression of TOPOIIα in human bone marrow mononuclear cells; the change of histone chemical modification plays an important role in the benzene's hematopoietic toxicity.

Acetylation ; Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; toxicity ; Male ; Young Adult