ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of Erzhi Tiangui prescription on repeated implantation failure （RIF） of kidney deficiency syndrome. MethodSeventy patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome who underwent natural cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer （FET） in the Reproductive and Genetic Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were enrolled and randomly divided into a treatment group （35 cases） and a control group （35 cases）. Patients in the treatment group took oral Erzhi Tiangui prescription from the third day of each menstrual cycle two months before the FET cycle and continued to take it until the day of transplantation from the third day of the menstrual cycle in the month of transplantation. Those in the control group did not accept traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In addition，10 patients who successfully achieved clinical pregnancy after the first natural cycle FET were screened from the reproductive medical record bank of this hospital and assigned to the normal group. Peripheral blood samples of patients in the three groups on the day of embryo transfer were collected from the specimen bank of the Reproductive and Genetic Center. Serum soluble programmed death molecule-1 （sPD-1），soluble programmed death molecule-ligand 1 （sPD-L1），transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β），interleukin-17 （IL-17）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The changes in kidney deficiency syndrome scores， the final biochemical pregnancy rates， clinical pregnancy rates， and embryo implantation rates of the treatment group and the control group before and after treatment were observed. ResultCompared with the normal group，the model group showed increased serum levels of sPD-1 and IL-17（r=0.347，P<0.05），decreased levels of IL-10 and TGF-β （P<0.01），and non-significant change in sPD-L1 level. Serum sPD-1 was positively correlated with IL-17 （P<0.05） and negatively correlated with IL-10（r=-0.521，P<0.01） and TGF-β（r=-0.457，P<0.01） in RIF patients with kidney deficiency syndrome. After TCM treatment，compared with the control group， the treatment group showed improved TCM syndrome score （P<0.05） and increased clinical pregnancy rate and embryo transfer rate（P<0.05），but there was no statistically significant difference in the biochemical pregnancy rate between the two groups. ConclusionAbnormal expression of sPD-1 in patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome breaks the balance of T helper 17 （Th17）/regulatory T cell （Treg），which is not conducive to embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Erzhi Tiangui prescription，a TCM for tonifying the kidney，can significantly improve the symptoms of kidney deficiency in patients with RIF of kidney deficiency syndrome，reduce the concentrations of sPD-1 and IL-17 in the peripheral serum，increase the levels of TGF-β and IL-10，regulate the peripheral Th17/Treg immune balance，and increase the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate，which has a high clinical value.

【Objective】 To investigate the feasibility of prostatic exosomal protein (PSEP) detection kit in the diagnosis of histological prostatitis (HP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to explore the correlation between PSEP and other clinical parameters. 【Methods】 A total of 104 patients with BPH or BPH plus HP treated during Nov.2021 and Nov.2022 were involved. The patients were instructed to fill out the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) scale independently before surgery. Clinical data such as prostate volume, residual urine volume, free prostate specific antigen (fPSA), total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), and fPSA/tPSA were collected. Preoperative midstream morning urine was collected for PSEP detection. 【Results】 The sensitivity and specificity of PSEP in the diagnosis of BPH were 93.51% and 70.37%, respectively, which were highly consistent with the postoperative pathological diagnosis results (Kappa=0.663). Serum PSEP level was positively correlated with tPSA level (r=0.242, P=0.040). 【Conclusion】 PSEP has a high clinical diagnostic value in the diagnosis of HP, which can provide a reliable basis for the diagnosis of HP in BPH patients and improve the diagnosis rate.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of fresh embryo transfers (ETs) and frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) after a freeze-all cycle in women ≥40 years old with poor ovarian response (POR). Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective, case-control study of patients who underwent in vitro fertilization between January 2014 and June 2019. We included a total of 192 patients aged 40 years or older from whom 3 or fewer oocytes had been retrieved and who were receiving cleavage-stage ET in this study. Of these patients, 101 and 91 patients underwent fresh ET and FET, respectively. The primary outcome was the live birth rate (LBR) after the first ET. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the IVF outcomes and neonatal characteristics between the fresh ET and FET groups, adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, luteinizing hormone, and the number of good quality embryos transferred. Results: The mean maternal ages and number of oocytes retrieved (43.2 years and 2.3 in both groups, P=0.902 and P=0.927, respectively) were similar in the fresh ET and FET groups. No significant difference was observed between the LBRs of the fresh ET and FET groups (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–5.70). The clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates, and neonatal characteristics (birth weights and premature infant rates) were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions FET after the freeze-all strategy had no beneficial impact on the clinical outcomes of women ≥40 years with POR.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of fresh embryo transfers (ETs) and frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) after a freeze-all cycle in women ≥40 years old with poor ovarian response (POR). Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective, case-control study of patients who underwent in vitro fertilization between January 2014 and June 2019. We included a total of 192 patients aged 40 years or older from whom 3 or fewer oocytes had been retrieved and who were receiving cleavage-stage ET in this study. Of these patients, 101 and 91 patients underwent fresh ET and FET, respectively. The primary outcome was the live birth rate (LBR) after the first ET. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the IVF outcomes and neonatal characteristics between the fresh ET and FET groups, adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, luteinizing hormone, and the number of good quality embryos transferred. Results: The mean maternal ages and number of oocytes retrieved (43.2 years and 2.3 in both groups, P=0.902 and P=0.927, respectively) were similar in the fresh ET and FET groups. No significant difference was observed between the LBRs of the fresh ET and FET groups (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–5.70). The clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates, and neonatal characteristics (birth weights and premature infant rates) were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions FET after the freeze-all strategy had no beneficial impact on the clinical outcomes of women ≥40 years with POR.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Suchan-Yishen Decoction combined with western routine medicine on proteinuria due to chronic glomerulonephritis. Methods:A total of 86 patients with urinary protein, who met the inclusion criteria in Zhongshan people's hospital from January of 2017 to December of 2018, were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method with 43 patients in each group. The control group took valsartan capsule orally on the basis of conventional western medicine, and the observation group took Suchan-Yishen Decoctionon the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated continuously for two months. The CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 + were determined by flow cytometry; the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined by ELISA method. Results:The total effective rate was 88.4% (38/43) in the observation group and 67.4% (29/43) in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=4.324, P=0.038). After the treatment, levels of urinary protein (0.82 ± 0.13 g vs. 1.04 ± 0.17 g, t=6.009), BUN (6.12 ± 0.71 mmol/L vs. 6.60 ± 0.75 mmol/L, t=6.411) and SCr (82.87 ± 10.43 μmol/L vs. 94.11 ± 11.17 μmol/L, t=17.433) in the observation group at 24 h were all significantly lower than those of the control group ( P<0.01). After the treatment, levels of CD3 + and CD4 + in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( t values were 7.981, 8.904, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and level of CD8 + was significantly lower than that of the control group ( t=8.933, P<0.01). Serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group ( t values were 10.983, 49.005, 13.994, respectively, all Ps<0.01). Conclusions:The Suchan-Yishen Decoction combined with conventional western medicine can relieve the clinical symptoms of chronic glomerulonephritis patients, increase the therapeutic effect of proteinuria, correct the imbalance of T cell subgroup, and down-regulate serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of pediatric methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates. Methods:The clinical data of children with MRSA infection and antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates from 11 children′s hospitals in Infectious Diseases Surveillance of Paediatrics (ISPED) group of China between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 were collected retrospectively. The children′s general condition, high-risk factors, antimicrobial therapy and prognosis, differences in clinical disease and laboratory test results between different age groups, and differences of antibiotic sensitivity between community-acquired (CA)-MRSA and hospital-acquired (HA)-MRSA were analyzed. The t test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical analysis of the quantitative data and Chi-square test were used for comparison of rates. Results:Among the 452 patients, 264 were males and 188 were females, aged from 2 days to 17 years. There were 233 cases (51.5%) in the ≤1 year old group, 79 cases (17.5%) in the>1-3 years old group, 29 cases (6.4%) in the >3-5 years old group, 65 cases (14.4%) in the >5-10 years old group, and 46 cases (10.2%) in the>10 years old group. The main distributions of onset seasons were 55 cases (12.2%) in December, 47 cases (10.4%) in February, 46 cases (10.2%) in November, 45 cases (10.0%) in January, 40 cases (8.8%) in March. There were 335 cases (74.1%) CA-MRSA and 117 (25.9%) cases HA-MRSA. Among all cases, 174 cases (38.5%) had basic diseases or long-term use of hormone and immunosuppressive drugs. During the period of hospitalization, 209 cases (46.2%) received medical interventions. There were 182 patients (40.3%) had used antibiotics (β-lactams, glycopeptides, macrolides, carbapenems, oxazolones, sulfonamides etc) 3 months before admission. The most common clinical disease was pneumonia (203 cases), followed by skin soft-tissue infection (133 cases), sepsis (92 cases), deep tissue abscess (42 cases), osteomyelitis (40 cases), and septic arthritis (26 cases), suppurative meningitis (10 cases). The proportion of pneumonia in the ≤1 year old group was higher than the >1-3 years old group,>3-5 years old group,>5-10 years old group,>10 years old group (57.5% (134/233) vs. 30.4% (24/79), 31.0% (9/29), 38.5% (25/65), 23.9% (11/46), χ 2=17.374, 7.293, 7.410, 17.373, all P<0.01) The proportion of skin and soft tissue infections caused by CA-MRSA infection was higher than HA-MRSA (33.4% (112/335) vs. 17.9% (21/117), χ 2=10.010, P=0.002), and the proportion of pneumonia caused by HA-MRSA infection was higher than CA-MRSA (53.0% (62/117) vs. 42.1% (141/335), χ 2=4.166, P=0.041). The first white blood cell count of the ≤1 year old group was higher than that children > 1 year old ((15±8)×10 9/L vs. (13±7)×10 9/L, t=2.697, P=0.007), while the C-reactive protein of the ≤1 year old group was lower than the 1-3 years old group,>5-10 years old group,>10 years old group (8.00 (0.04-194.00) vs.17.00 (0.50-316.00), 15.20 (0.23-312.00), 21.79(0.13-219.00) mg/L, Z=3.207, 2.044, 2.513, all P<0.05), there were no significant differences in procalcitonin (PCT) between different age groups (all P>0.05). After the treatment, 131 cases were cured, 278 cases were improved, 21 cases were not cured, 12 cases died, and 10 cases were abandoned. The 452 MRSA isolates were all sensitive to vancomycin (100.0%), linezolid (100.0%), 100.0% resistant to penicillin, highly resistant to erythromycin (85.0%, 375/441), clindamycin (67.7%, 294/434), less resistant to sulfonamides (5.9%, 23/391), levofloxacin (4.5%, 19/423), gentamicin (3.2%, 14/438), rifampicin (1.8%, 8/440), minocycline (1.1%, 1/91). The antimicrobial resistance rates were not significantly different between the CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The infection of MRSA is mainly found in infants under 3 years old. The prevalent seasons are winter and spring, and MRSA is mainly acquired in the community. The main clinical diseases are pneumonia, skin soft-tissue infection and sepsis. No MRSA isolate is resistant to vancomycin, linezolid. MRSA isolates are generally sensitive to sulfonamides, levofloxacin, gentamicin, rifampicin, minocycline, and were highly resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. To achieve better prognosis. clinicians should initiate anti-infective treatment for children with MRSA infection according to the clinical characteristics of patients and drug sensitivity of the isolates timely and effectively.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of invasive Haemophilus influenzae (HI) infection in children. Methods: The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and treatment outcomes of 84 children with HI infection confirmed by bacterial culture in 7 tertiary children′s hospitals from 2014 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Among the 84 cases, 50 were males. The age was 1.54 years (ranged from 5 days to 13 years).Twenty cases (24%) had underlying diseases and 48 cases (57%) had not received antibiotics before collecting specimens. Eighty-two cases (98%) had fever and 75 cases (89%) had clear infection foci, among which 31 cases (37%) had meningitis and 27 cases (32%) had pneumonia. Blood culture was positive in 62 cases (74%), cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive in 10 cases (12%), blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid culture were both positive in 11 cases (13%). Antibiotics susceptibility test showed that 27% (22/82) of all HI strains produced β-lactamases and 48% (37/77) strains were resistant to ampicillin. The drug resistance rates to cefuroxime, ampicillin-sulbactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin were 25% (20/80) , 20% (9/45) , 71% (44/62) and 19%(11/58), respectively. All strains were sensitive to meropenem, levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. After sensitive antibiotic therapy, 83% (70/84) of all patients were cured and improved, the mortality rate and loss of follow-up rate were 13% (11/84) and 4% (3/84) respectively. Conclusions Meningitis and pneumonia are common presentation of invasive HI infections in children. Mortality in HI meningitis children is high and the third generation of cephalosporins, such as ceftriaxone can be used as the first choice for the treatment of invasive HI infection.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of invasive Haemophilus influenzae (HI) infection in children. Methods The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and treatment outcomes of 84 children with HI infection confirmed by bacterial culture in 7 tertiary children′s hospitals from 2014 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 84 cases, 50 were males. The age was 1.54 years (ranged from 5 days to 13 years).Twenty cases (24%) had underlying diseases and 48 cases (57%) had not received antibiotics before collecting specimens. Eighty‐two cases (98%) had fever and 75 cases (89%) had clear infection foci, among which 31 cases (37%) had meningitis and 27 cases (32%) had pneumonia. Blood culture was positive in 62 cases (74%), cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive in 10 cases (12%), blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid culture were both positive in 11 cases (13%). Antibiotics susceptibility test showed that 27% (22/82) of all HI strains produced β‐lactamases and 48% (37/77) strains were resistant to ampicillin. The drug resistance rates to cefuroxime, ampicillin‐sulbactam, trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin were 25% (20/80), 20% (9/45), 71%(44/62) and 19% (11/58), respectively. All strains were sensitive to meropenem, levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. After sensitive antibiotic therapy, 83% (70/84) of all patients were cured and improved, the mortality rate and loss of follow‐up rate were 13% (11/84) and 4% (3/84) respectively. Conclusions Meningitis and pneumonia are common presentation of invasive HI infections in children. Mortality in HI meningitis children is high and the third generation of cephalosporins, such as ceftriaxone can be used as the first choice for the treatment of invasive HI infection.

Objective To study the clinical features,experience of diagnosis and treatment in the IgG4 related pancreatitis and cholangitis.Methods Clinical date of sixteen cases of IgG4 related pancreatitis and cholangitis were analyzed as the observation group collecting from March 2006 to August 2016 of General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.The clinical symptoms,imaging features and pathological findings were studied.Ten cases of bile duct carcinoma or pancreatic cancer with normal IgG4 value and no related immunodeficiency disease were selected as control group during the same period.Serum IgG4 values of two groups were observed.The patients were followed up in outpatient department after their discharged.The serum bilirubin,liver enzymes,serum IgG4,CA19-9 and CEA antibodies were checked up every 6 months,including imaging studies.The longest follow-up period was 6 years.Measurement data with normal distribution was represented as (x ± s) and comparison between the two groups was analyzed using t test.The count data were described as n (％).Results In observation group,cases with jaundice accounted for 68.75％ (11/16),abdominal pain and distension,loss of appetite and weight loss accounted for 43.75％ (7/16),62.50％ (10/16) and 37.50％ (6/16),respectively.Comparing different imaging methods,there were advantage in displaying the morphological signs of bile duct and pancreatic duct by MRCP.MRI was superior to the other methods in demonstrating pancreatic swelling and peripheral edema.Serum IgG4 value was an important basis for the diagnosis of the disease,the average value of serum IgG4 in the observation group was (105.7 ±21.6) g/L in 12 cases.The mean serum IgG4 level of 10 cases of control group (bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer) was (9.1 ± 0.05) g/L,There was significant difference between the two groups (P =0.004).The pathological features of IgG4 associated cholangitis were massive lymphocytes,plasma cell infiltration,bile duct fibrosis,occlusive phlebitis,and IgG4 positive plasma cell infiltration.The observation group was followed up for 16 cases,12 cases survival,4 cases lost,the longest follow-up period was 6 years.Except for 3 patients who suffered jaundice again during hormone therapy,all the clinical symptoms of the remaining patients disappeared,all the indexes were normal.Conclusions The diagnosis of IgG4 related pancreatitis and cholangitis should be carefully diagnosed,serum IgG4 examination is an important criterion.The image data are an important means to confirm the diagnosis.Surgical intervention should be performed in failure of the hormone treatment.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of endoscopic biliary metallic stent drainage (EBMSD) in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). MethodsA total of 48 patients with MOJ who underwent EBMSD in the General Hospital of Beijing Military Command from January 2012 to April 2014 were included in the study. Liver function parameters, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), and glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), were compared before and after treatment. Comparison of continuous data was made by t test. ResultsPlacement of the stent was successfully performed in 44 (91.67%) of the 48 patients; single-stent drainage was performed in 34 cases, and double-stent drainage in 10 cases. The patients had significantly reduced levels of TBil, DBil, ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT after EBMSD (all P＜0.01); the patients treated by double-stent drainage had significantly more improvements in these liver function indices than those treated by single-stent drainage (all P＜0.01). Thirty-eight cases were successfully followed up after operation, and the 3- and 6-month survival rates of these patients were 94.25% and 73.39%, respectively. ConclusionEBMSD has remarkable efficacy in the treatment of MOJ. This operation can effectively relieve jaundice and improve quality of life in MOJ patients, and double-stent drainage is superior to single-stent drainage.