Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to preliminarily identify the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome element characteristics of FMT in the treatment of T2DM. Methods: Between March 25, 2023 and September 30, 2024, T2DM patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Participants received oral microbiota capsules as an adjunct to metformin therapy. Information obtained by four diagnostic methods of TCM, along with clinical and laboratory parameters, was collected before and after the intervention. Metagenomic sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiota, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between laboratory indicators and differential bacterial genera. According to the post-treatment reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), patients were categorized into a response (R) group and a non-response (NR) group. Treatment outcomes, safety indicators, gut microbiota changes, and TCM syndrome element features were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 53 T2DM patients were included in the final analysis, and 30 patients were assigned to R group and 23 to NR group. After treatment, the R group exhibited significant reductions in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The NR group also showed significant decreases in HbA1c and FPG levels P < 0.01 or P < 0.05. Compared with the NR group, after treatment, FPG level in the R group demonstrated significant reductions (P < 0.01). As compared with before treatment, pancreatic islet function demonstrated enhancement in the R group, a significant increase in the 2-hour pastprandial C-peptide (2hC-P) levels in R group (P < 0.05), whereas no marked change was observed in the NR group. Regarding body composition indicators, the R group showed significantly lower waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral fat (VF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) levels compared with the NR group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NR group exhibited a significant elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (P < 0.05). Other safety-related indicators fluctuated within normal reference ranges, and no other adverse events, such as diarrhea, fever, or nausea, were reported. Metagenomic sequencing showed that FMT improved the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota, remodeling its overall structure. At the phylum level, the abundance of p_Firmicutes decreased significantly (P < 0.01), while the abundances of p_Bacteroidota and p_Proteobacteria increased significantly (P < 0.01). At the family level, among the 125 identified taxa, the abundances of f_Bacteroidaceae, f_Lactobacillaceae, and f_Sutterellaceae were significantly elevated, whereas six families, including f_Lachnospiraceae, f_Ruminococcaceae, and f_Coriobacteriaceae, were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Among the 367 taxa at the genus level, the top 10 differential genera showed significantly increased abundances of g_Bacteroides and g_Sutterella, and significantly decreased abundances in eight genera, including g_Faecalibacterium, g_Ruminococcus, g_Blautia, and g_Collinsella (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis suggested that the phylum p_Bacillota was positively correlated with improvements in T2DM laboratory parameters, g_norank_f_Prevotellaceae was significantly positively correlated with fasting C-peptide (FC-P) and 2hC-P (P < 0.05). HbA1c demonstrated a significantly positive correlation with g_Blautia and g_Gemmiger (P < 0.05) and a significantly negative correlation with g_Bacteroides and g_Collinsella (P > 0.05). Analysis of syndrome element characteristics revealed that the R group was primarily characterized by pathological patterns of dampness, phlegm, and Yang deficiency. Before treatment, statistically significant reductions in syndrome element scores were observed for dampness, Yang deficiency, spleen, phlegm, Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, and Yin deficiency (P < 0.01), as well as for heat and liver (P < 0.05). The NR group was mainly featured with Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency. Statistically significant changes in their syndrome element scores after treatment were noted for Qi deficiency (P < 0.01), and for spleen, Qi stagnation, liver, and blood deficiency (P < 0.05). In this group, the score changes for Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency, heat, and dampness were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion The principles of syndrome element differentiation can be effectively applied to predict treatment efficacy and facilitate patient selection for FMT in the treatment of T2DM. Patients with T2DM presented with specific TCM syndrome element characteristics, notably dampness, phlegm, and Yang deficiency, represent a highly responsive population to FMT therapy.

Objective To establish the method of simultaneous determination of four main components of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction,including phellodendrine,palmatine,calycosin,and ferulic acid and provide reference for the quality control of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction.Methods Based on the HPLC-MS/MS analysis method,the positive ion data acquisition mode were adopted for the mass spectrometry detection and the four main components were quantified with multiple reaction monitoring mode(MRM)by ESI source.The chromatographic column was Agilent Extend-C18(5 μm,4.6 mm×250 mm),and gradient elution was performed with methanol and 0.5%formic acid in water.Results The linear range of phellodendrine was from 2-200 nmol/ml,and the linear range of palmatine,calycosin and ferulic acid was from 20-2 000 nmol/ml.The contents of the four components in the seven batches of Danggui Liuhuang Decoction were relatively stable,among which ferulic acid was mainly found in Phellodendrine and Coptidis;Phellodendrine was only detected in cortex phellodendri;the content of calycosin in Scutellaria baicalensis and Astragalus was higher;palmatine was detected in both Phellodendron and Astragalus.Conclusion The method had high sensitivity,good specificity and sample stability,which could meet the requirements of quantitative analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine compounds,and could provide reference for further pharmacokinetics study on the content changes of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in biological samples.

Objective:To develop a laparoscopic surgery flushing waste liquid collection device,to collect a large amount of waste liquid generated when flushing fluid was used in urological laparoscopic surgery.Methods:The structure of the laparoscopic surgical flushing waste collection device was composed of a lifting mechanism,a liquid waste collector and a liquid waste discharger.The height of the waste liquid collector can be adjusted by changing the height of the lifting mechanism to suit the body position of the patient and the needs of the surgeon.The waste liquid generated during the operation can be led to the waste liquid collection tank through the collection trough,and then the waste liquid is discharged to the non-operative area container through the discharge tube.A total of 80 patients who underwent transurethral resection of prostate in the operating room of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from June 2022 to December 2022 were selected and divided into observation group and control group by random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.In the observation group,a brain protective film with an open bottom was used to collect the waste fluid and specimens in combination with the laparoscopic surgical flushing waste collection device.In the control group,samples were collected by knotting and perforating the lower end of brain protective membrane and waste fluid was collected by ordinary bucket.The incidence of intraoperative flushing fluid contamination of the ground environment and the time taken for waste fluid to be drawn out of the surgical area were compared between the two groups,and the intraoperative specimen collection rate was calculated.Results:The total incidence of overflow of flushing waste fluid and contamination of the ground environment in the observation group was 7.5%,which was significantly lower than that of the control group(27.5%),the difference was statistically significant(x2=6.135,P<0.05).The operation time of observation group was better than that of control group,the difference was statistically significant(t=7.966,P<0.001).The collection rate of surgical specimens in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(x2=6.135,P<0.05).Conclusion:The laparoscopic surgery waste liquid collection device can meet the requirements of surgical waste liquid collection,which simple to operate,time-saving and labor-saving,can reduce the environmental pollution of the surgical ground,and improve the collection rate of surgical specimens.

Objective:To document any effect of environmental enrichment on nerve regeneration in a mouse model of sciatic nerve compression and explore its mechanism.Methods:A crushed sciatic nerve model was successfully established in 22 C57BL/6 mice, and they were then randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. The mice of the intervention group were raised in a cage with an enriched environment, while those of the control group were kept in a standard cage. Two weeks later, both groups′ gait was analyzed and the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the sciatic nerve was measured. The proportion of myelinated sciatic nerve fibers was examined using toluidine blue staining, and the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP), growth associated protein-43 (GAP43) and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75 NTR) was measured using immunofluorescence intensity. Results:①The latency of the CMAP [(1.05±0.04)ms] was significantly shortened in the intervention group compared with the control group and the amplitude was significantly higher. ②Gait analysis showed a significant increase in the average contact intensity, stride length and stride rate of the intervention group compared with the control group. However, the step axis angle of the intervention group was significantly smaller than in the control group on average. ③The stained nerve fibers in the intervention group were orderly and dense, and the average number of myelinated fibers was significantly greater than in the control group. ④Quantitative analysis of the immunofluorescence showed that the levels of MBP, GAP43 and p75 NTR in the sciatic nerves of the intervention group were, on average, significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion:An enriched environmental can promote the regeneration and functional recovery of crushed sciatic nerves by promoting the proliferation and myelination of Schwann cells.

Objective:To establish the biology reference interval (RI) of peripheral blood procalcitonin (PCT) for children between 3 days and 6 years old in China.Methods:Totally 3 353 reference individuals with apparent health or no specific diseases were recruited in 18 hospitals throughout the country during October 2020 to May 2021. Reference individuals were divided into four groups: 3-28 days, 29 days - 1 year, 1-3 years and 4-6 years. Vein blood or capillary blood were collected by percutaneous puncture from every reference individual. The PCT level in serum and the capillary whole blood were assayed by Roche Cobas e601 and Norman NRM411-S7 immunoanalyzer. Outliers were deleted and 95th percentiles of every group were provided as RIs. Man-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test were used performed to assess the difference among different gender, age or method groups. Results:The difference of PCT distribution between male and female is not statistically significant, but the difference between serum and capillary whole blood is statistically significant. The differences between age groups are significant too. For Roche e601, serum PCT RI of 3-28 days group is <0.23 μg/L, 29 days - 6 years are <0.11 μg/L. For NRM411, Serum PCT RI of 3-28 days group is <0.21 μg/L, 29 days - 1 year: <0.09 μg/L, 1 - 6 years: <0.10 μg/L. For whole blood PCT, RI of 3-28 days group is <0.26 μg/L, 29 days - 6 years is <0.15 μg/L.Conclusions:Serum and capillary whole blood PCT have different RIs, however, capillary whole blood PCT testing is valuable in pediatric application. Children in 3-28 days show higher PCT levels than other age group. To establish the RIs and understand the differences among different groups are essential for the interpretation and clinical application of peripheral blood PCT testing results.

Objective: To study the effect of high-dose methylprednisolone intravenous pulse therapy on immunoglobulins and CD series in patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves′ orbitopathy. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves′ orbitopathy were enrolled in this study. All the patients received iv methylprednisolone pulse therapy for 12 weeks according to the 2016 European Thyroid Association/European Group on Graves′Orbitopathy(EUGOGO) Guidelines. Serum thyroidal autoantibodies, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb), anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb), and serum immunoglobulins, such as IgG, IgE, IgA, IgM were evaluated at the baseline, at the end of 4th and 12th week. Percentages of CD3⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells and CD19⁺ B cells, CD16⁺ or CD56⁺ NK cells were also evaluated at each time point. Results: TRAb, TPOA and IgE, IgG, IgA were significantly decreased both after 4th week and after 12th week (all P<0.05). Percentages of CD3⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ /CD8⁺ ratio were gradually decreased after treatment. However, change of CD8⁺ T cells was not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion High-dose methylprednisolone may exert an immunosuppressive effect not only by modifying humoral and cellular immune functions, but also by decreasing serum immunoglobulins.

Objective To assess vitamin D levels in eastern China by a standard measurement. Methods The data were from a 2014 Survey on the Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors-China data base. There were 12662 subjects included in this cross-sectional study from February 2014 to June 2016. We assessed the vitamin D levels of natural population by a standard classification in which serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD)<50 nmol/ L was defined as vitamin D deficiency. Results The average serum 25-OHD level was (40. 5 ± 12. 5)nmol/ L, and there were 80. 3% subjects who would be classified as vitamin D deficiency; The average serum 25-OHD level of women was significantly lower than that of men (P< 0. 05); The serum 25-OHD concentrations of the <30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, ≥70 age groups were 37. 81(31. 98-43. 52)nmol/ L, 39. 46(33. 87-45. 72) nmol/ L, 41. 17(34. 10-48. 65) nmol/ L, 40. 67(34. 20-49. 02) nmol/ L, 44. 00 (35. 67-53. 93) nmol/ L, 44. 14 (34. 61-55. 85)nmol/ L for males, and 36. 86 (30. 52-43. 75) nmol/ L, 37. 11 (31. 68-43. 23) nmol/ L, 36. 94 (30. 72-43. 71) nmol/ L, 38. 42(32. 08-46. 41) nmol/ L, 38. 58(31. 04-46. 21) nmol/ L, 37. 31(29. 34-47. 17) nmol/ L for females in corresponding subgroups. Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of natural population in eastern China was common, the levels of vitamin D in women were lower than those of men. However, the vitamin D levels were tended to be increasing with the advance of age.

BACKGROUNDLymphocyte function and homeostasis is associated with immune defence to infection. Apoptosis of lymphocytes might be a considerably important component which has an impact on immunity to infections in people with hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to explore the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of lymphocyte in diabetic patients.

METHODSSixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and fifty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Annexin V and propidiumiodide (PI) were joined in the isolated lymphocytes and the rate of lymphocyte apoptosis was calculated with flow cytometry. Observation of the lymphocytes was done using transmission electron microscopy; mitochondria had been extracted and then mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected to assess mitochondrial function; the mRNA level of Bcl-2, cytochrome c (Cyt-C), caspase-9 and caspase-3 were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSApoptosis rate of lymphocyte was significantly higher in diabetic group than that in normal control group (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy showed lymphocyte shrinkage and breakage, chromatin condensation and less mitochondria; a fall in MMP levels was also evident; Bcl-2 concentration was reduced and the expressions of caspase-9, caspase-3 and Cyt-C were elevated (P < 0.05) in diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe rate of lymphocyte apoptosis was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than that in normal population. Mitochondrial apoptosis pathway may play a very important role in decreasing function of lymphocyte in diabetes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo understand the level of hemoglobin (Hb) and determine the risk factors of Hb concentration among the Tibetan pregnant women in rural Lhasa.

METHODSBetween August 2008 and May 2011, a hospital-based study was conducted among 1 530 Tibetan pregnant women after getting their informed consent in agricultural and pastoral areas in maternity clinic or hospital in city, county and township level of Lhasa. Their blood samples were tested and related socio-demographic information was collected. Blood was collected on tip of finger and the Hb concentration was measured using B-Hemoglobin photometer. American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) method was used to adjust the Hb measurements based on altitude for estimating the prevalence of anemia. Anemia was assessed according to WHO criteria. A hemoglobin concentration of less than 110 g/L in a pregnant woman was considered an indication of anemia.

RESULTSFrom August 2008 to May 2011, 1 530 Tibetan pregnant women living at (3 716.4 ± 69.1) m above sea level in rural Lhasa were examined. The findings indicated that average Hb concentration was (122.0 ± 17.5) g/L; the Hb concentration of 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) trimester were (125.5 ± 18.0), (122.5 ± 16.9) and (120.6 ± 17.4) g/L, respectively. The Hb concentration of pregnant women decreased with the increase of gestational age(P < 0.05). Based onCDC method and the adjusted Hb level, the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women were 85.6% (1 310/1 530), the prevalence of anemia of 1(st), 2(nd), and 3(rd)rd trimester were 79.5% (206/259) , 86.1% (395/459)and 87.3% (698/800), respectively (P < 0.05) . The rate of moderate and severe anemia were 46.7% (612/1 310) among pregnant women. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that high Hb level was associated significantly with low family income status (β = 2.74, 95%CI:1.73-3.74), no bad habits (drinking or smoking) (β = 7.34, 95%CI:4.87-9.81) and fewer times of pregnancies(β = -1.62, 95%CI:-2.93--0.31) after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONHb concentration level in pregnancy was rather low in rural Lhasa. The increase of family income, reduction the intervals of pregnancies and no bad habits might benefit for the improvement of Hb level of pregnant women in this region.

Altitude ; Anemia ; Demography ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Income ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy Trimesters ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Tibet

Objective To explore the measure of the peri-operative care in patients undergoing nephroureterectomy with transvaginal NOTES-assisted hybrid endoscopy.Methods Nursing measures and the effect of 3 patients who underwent transvaginal NOTES-assisted hybrid endoscopy in nephroureterectomy were retrospectively analyzed.Results All procedures were successfully completed.There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.All patients were cured and discharged.Conclusions For the patients receiving transvnginal NOTES-assisted hybrid endoscopy in nephroureterectomy,good psychological care,adequate preoperative preparation,postoperative care,and health education can reduce postoperative complications and play an important role in the success of the operation.