OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture on endometrial blood flow parameters by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound in women undergoing in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Seventy patients undergoing IVF-ET were equally randomized into traditional or sham acupuncture treatment group for totally 4 days (from the day of oocyte aspiration to the day of embryo transfer) of treatment by random envelope method at the Reproductive Medicine Center and Outpatient Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients in the traditional acupuncture group accepted traditional acupuncture methods with manual acupuncture, and Zhongji (CV3), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR 3), Tianshu (ST 25), Guilai (ST 29) and Zusanli (ST 36) were chosen. Patients at the sham acupuncture group accepted shallow acupuncture methods at 4 non-meridian points at each shoulder and upper arm. Outcome measures included endometrial ultrasonic indices such as vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI), endometrial thickness and volume, subendometrial VI (sVI), subendometrial FI (sFI), subendometrial VFI (sVFI), implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births. RESULTS: Finally, 34 patients in the traditional acupuncture group and 35 in the sham acupuncture group completed this trial. VI, FI and VFI of the traditional acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, sVI, sFI, sVFI, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Manual acupuncture performed after oocyte aspiration and before transplantation improved the endometrial blood flow parameters VI, RI and VFI in women who underwent IVF-ET, instead of sVI, sFI and sVFI. Therefore, acupuncture might be beneficial in women undergoing IVF-ET by increasing endometrial blood flow and endometrial receptivity. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100053354).
Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro/methods* ; Single-Blind Method ; Embryo Transfer ; Pregnancy Rate ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Endometrium/blood supply*

Objective To observe the effectiveness of fluorescence labeling-based assay bundle intervention in the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant organism(MDRO)infection.Methods Patients who were detected MDRO in a hospital from January to December 2022 were selected as the research subjects.MDRO monitoring data and implementation status of prevention and control measures were collected.Fluorescence labeling assay was adopted to monitor the cleaning and disinfection effectiveness of the surrounding object surface of the bed units.Based on the bundled prevention and control measures as well as management mode of the pre-intervention group,the post-intervention group implemented enhanced rectification measures for the problems found by the pre-interven-tion group.Changes in relevant indicators between January-June 2022(before intervention)and July-December 2022(after intervention)were compared.Results There were 136 MDRO-infected patients in the pre-intervention group,208 MDRO strains were detected and 10 healthcare-associated infection(HAI)occurred.There were 128 MDRO-infected patients in the post-intervention group,198 MDRO strains were detected and 9 HAI occurred.Af-ter intervention,the total detection rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-re-sistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB),and total MDRO from patients decreased significantly compared to before intervention(all P＜0.05).After intervention,the detection rates of MRSA,carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA),CRAB,and total MDRO from the surrounding object surface were all lower than those before intervention(all P＜0.05).The detection rate of MDRO from surrounding object surface before intervention was 34.52％,which showed a decreased trend after intervention(P＜0.05).The clearance rate of fluorescent labeled markers before intervention was 41.84％,which showed an upward trend after implementing intervention measures(from July to December),and increased to 85.00％at the end of intervention(November-December).The comp-liance rates of issuing isolation medical orders,placing isolation labels,using medical supplies exclusively,and cor-rectly handling medical waste after intervention have all increased compared to before intervention(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Adopting fluorescence labeling-based assay bundle intervention can effectively improve the effectiveness of MDRO infection prevention and control.

AIM: To investigate the annual eye examination of diabetic patients in Shenyang and analyze the associated factors by using the Chinese version of the Compliance with Annual Diabetic Eye Exam Survey(CADEES)questionnaire.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. The diabetic patients who first visited Shenyang He Eye Specialist Hospital from November 2021 to October 2022 were collected. The Chinese version of the CADEES questionnaire was used to investigate the previous annual eye examinations of these patients, and no fundus examination in the past 1a was defined as poor participation. Factors associated with poor participation in annual eye examinations were identified by multivariate binary logistic regression analyses.RESULTS: A total of 468 patients were collected, including 192 males and 276 females, with an average age of 67.42±10.66 years. There were 330 patients without diabetic retinopathy(DR)and 138 patients with DR, among which 88 patients had vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy(VTDR)and 50 patients had non-vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy(NVTDR). 34.2%(160 cases)of patients had poor annual eye examination. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling gender, age and other influencing factors, patients in rural area(OR=1.704, 95%CI: 1.019～2.850, P=0.042), VTDR(OR=1.948, 95%CI: 1.145～3.313, P=0.014), the item 7(I have felt blue, downhearted, or depressed over the past 4wk; OR=0.624, 95%CI: 0.401～0.971, P=0.037)and item 42(I receive a reminder from my eye doctor's office when it is time to schedule an exam; OR=0.618, 95%CI: 0.387～0.989, P=0.045)of CADEES questionnaire were risk factors for poor participation in the annual ophthalmic examination.CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of diabetic patients in the Shenyang region may not follow the guidelines for DR annual eye examination. Healthcare providers should improve DR health education, increasing eye exam participation through necessary reminders.

Objective: To investigate the surgical indications and perioperative clinical outcomes of pelvic exenteration (PE) for locally advanced, recurrent pelvic malignancies and complex pelvic fistulas. Methods: This was a descriptive study.The indications for performing PE were: (1) locally advanced, recurrent pelvic malignancy or complex pelvic fistula diagnosed preoperatively by imaging and pathological examination of a biopsy; (2)preoperative agreement by a multi-disciplinary team that non-surgical and conventional surgical treatment had failed and PE was required; and (3) findings on intraoperative exploration confirming this conclusion.Contraindications to this surgical procedure comprised cardiac and respiratory dysfunction, poor nutritional status,and mental state too poor to tolerate the procedure.Clinical data of 141 patients who met the above criteria, had undergone PE in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to September 2022, had complete perioperative clinical data, and had given written informed consent to the procedure were collected,and the operation,relevant perioperative variables, postoperative pathological findings (curative resection), and early postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: Of the 141 included patients, 43 (30.5%) had primary malignancies, 61 (43.3%) recurrent malignancies, 28 (19.9%) complex fistulas after radical resection of malignancies,and nine (6.4%)complex fistulas caused by benign disease. There were 79 cases (56.0%) of gastrointestinal tumors, 30 cases (21.3%) of reproductive tumors, 16 cases (11.3%) of urinary tumors, and 7 cases (5.0%) of other tumors such mesenchymal tissue tumors. Among the 104 patients with primary and recurrent malignancies, 15 patients with severe complications of pelvic perineum of advanced tumors were planned to undergo palliative PE surgery for symptom relief after preoperative assessment of multidisciplinary team; the other 89 patients were evaluated for radical PE surgery. All surgeries were successfully completed. Total PE was performed on 73 patients (51.8%),anterior PE on 22 (15.6%),and posterior PE in 46 (32.6%). The median operative time was 576 (453,679) minutes, median intraoperative blood loss 500 (200, 1 200) ml, and median hospital stay 17 (13.0,30.5)days.There were no intraoperative deaths. Of the 89 patients evaluated for radical PE surgery, the radical R0 resection was achieved in 64 (71.9%) of them, R1 resection in 23 (25.8%), and R2 resection in two (2.2%). One or more postoperative complications occurred in 85 cases (60.3%), 32 (22.7%)of which were Clavien-Dindo grade III and above.One patient (0.7%)died during the perioperative period. Conclusion: PE is a valid option for treating locally advanced or recurrent pelvic malignancies and complex pelvic fistulas.
Humans ; Pelvic Exenteration/methods* ; Pelvic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications

Purpose: Acute respiratory viral infections pose significant morbidity and mortality, making it essential to diagnose respiratory viral infections rapidly. In this study, the diagnostic efficacy of the Luminex xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel (RVP) FAST v2 test was evaluated on respiratory viral infections. Materials and Methods: Information was retrieved from electronic databases, including Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, for systematic review. Studies that fulfilled predefined inclusion criteria were included. After the extraction of information, statistical software was utilized for quality evaluation, data analysis, and assessment of publication bias. Results: Eighty groups in fourfold tables from nine articles were included to perform statistical analyses. Therein, the mean specificity and mean sensitivity of Luminex xTAG RVP FAST v2 test for the detection of respiratory viral infections were 0.99 (0.98–0.99) and 0.88 (0.87–0.90), respectively. Additionally, the negative and positive likelihood ratios were 0.14 (0.11–0.19) and 87.42 (61.88– 123.50), respectively. Moreover, the diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve of summary receiver operating characteristic were 714.80 and 0.9886, respectively. Conclusion The Luminex xTAG RVP FAST v2 test could be a reliable and rapid diagnostic method for multiple respiratory viral infections.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between heart rate index (HRI), systolic blood pressure(SBP) peak-to-SBPrest ratio (SBPR) and peak oxygen consumption (peakVO₂) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and discuss the possibility of using HRI and SBPR collected during exercise to assess the exercise tolerance of CHF patients in the absence of gas analysis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 547 patients with CHF who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET) in Tongji Hospital Heart Rehabilitation Center Affiliated to Tongji University from March 2007 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively, focusing on their clinical data including age, gender, type of heart failure,BMI as well as data collected during their CPETs, such as peakVO₂, HRI and SBPR. Spearman univariate correlation analysis was used for statistical analysis, to unveil the correlations between peakVO₂ and those parameters, and multiple linear regression analysis was also conducted. Results: A total of 547 CHF patients conducting CPET were included in this research, of which 447 were male, at age of 63(56, 69). Univariate analysis indicates that HRI, SBPR and peakVO₂ showed significant positive correlation (r=0.323, 0.263, respectively, all P<0.001); Age and peak VO₂ showed significant negative correlation(r=-0.207, P<0.001); Male patients showed peakVO₂ higher than female(r=-0.229, P<0.001); PeakVO₂ of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF) was lower than heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction(HFmrEF)and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF) (r=0.181, P<0.001). Body mass index (BMI) had no significant correlation with peakVO₂ (P>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the HRI, SBPR were positively correlated with peakVO₂(t=7.68, 5.08, respectively, all P<0.05), while age and BMI showed negative correlation with peakVO₂(t=-5.43, -0.31, respectively, all P<0.05). PeakVO₂ of male was higher than female(t=-6.03, P<0.05), and peakVO₂ of HFrEF was lower than those of HFmrEF and HFpEF(t=3.17, 4.48, respectively, all P<0.05). A linear equation (F=33.52, adjusted R²=0.29) could be constructed: peakVO₂=10.65(male) or 8.53(female)+4.26HRI+3.31SBPR-0.07age-0.13BMI+0(HFrEF) or 1.05 (HFmrEF) or 1.62(HFpEF). Conclusion: HRI and SBPR are positively correlated with peakVO₂. In the absence of gas analysis, it is possible to apply HRI and SBPR during exercise to predict exercise tolerance in patients with CHF.
Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption/physiology* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume/physiology*

Objective: To explore the action mechanism of hsa_circ_0000231 in the occurrence and development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods: Tissue samples of 60 TSCC patients were examined. The patients, including 32 males and 28 females, aged from 36 to 84 years old, underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University from December 2014 to December 2017. Saliva samples were obtained from healthy volunteers (5 males and 5 females, aged from 40 to 75 years old) and 10 TSCC patients. The TSCC cell lines (CAL-27, Tca-8113 and HN-4) were used. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0000231 in 60 pairs of freshly matched TSCC and para-carcinoma tissue samples, 10 pairs of saliva samples and 3 TSCC cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). hsa_circ_0000231 gene interference and lentiviral transfection were constructed, hsa_circ_0000231 in TSCC cell lines CAL-27 and Tca-8113 was knocked down, and the expressions of hsa_circ_0000231 in hsa_circ_0000231 interference group (sh-circ) and no-load lentivirus group (negative control) were tested with qRT-PCR. Cells with the highest knock-down efficiency were selected for CCK-8 test, colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay and scratch assay. The expressions of EMT-related proteins including E-cadherin, snail protein, N-cadherin and vimentin and proteins related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway including β-catenin, C-myc, Bcl-2, MMP-9 and Cyclin D1 were measured by western blot. After TSCC cells in the interference group were co-cultured with Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator LiCl, the expressions of above proteins were re-measured by western blot. TSCC cells in interference group and control group were subcutaneously injected into nude mice to compare the effect of hsa_circ_0000231 knockdown on the growths of the tumors grafted subcutaneously in the nude mice. Statistical analysis software 25.0 was used for data analysis, and t-test or chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results: hsa_circ_0000231 was highly expressed in the tissue and saliva samples of TSCC patients and cell lines CAL-27, Tca-8113 and HN-4, but lowly expressed in paired para-carcinoma tissues, saliva samples of healthy people and normal human oral keratinocytes (all P<0.05). Log-rank univariate analysis showed that hsa_circ_0000231 expression level, tumor differentiation degree and T stage were related to the survival of TSCC patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox risk regression model analysis suggested that hsa_circ_0000231 expression level (χ²=5.77,P=0.016) and T stage (χ²=5.27,P=0.029) were independent factors for the poor prognosis of TSCC patients. Western blot showed the expressions of snail protein, N-cadherin and vimentin were down-regulated, but E-cadherin was up-regulated in interference group compared with control group. In interference group, the expressions of β-catenin, C-myc, Bcl-2, MMP-9 and CyclinD1 were down-regulated, which were reversed after TSCC cells were co-cultured with LiCl. The knockdown of hsa_circ_0000231 reduced the proliferation, invasion and metastasis abilities of CAL-27 and Tca-8113 cells, which were reversed after TSCC cells were co-cultured with LiCl. The growth rate and volume of the tumors grafted subcutaneously in interference group using LiCl were greater than those in negative control group. Conclusion: hsa_circ_0000231 is an independent prognostic factor of TSCC. Highly expressed hsa_circ_0000231 can promote the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of TSCC cells.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Vimentin ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; RNA, Circular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Tongue

Although herbal medicines(HMs)are widely used in the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders,the key constituents exhibiting anti-obesity activity and their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood.Recently,we assessed the inhibitory potentials of several HMs against human pancreatic lipase(hPL,a key therapeutic target for human obesity),among which the root-extract of Rhodiola crenulata(ERC)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity.In this study,we adopted an integrated strategy,involving bioactivity-guided fractionation techniques,chemical profiling,and biochemical assays,to identify the key anti-hPL constituents in ERC.Nine ERC fractions(retention time=12.5-35 min),obtained using reverse-phase liquid chromatography,showed strong anti-hPL activity,while the major constituents in these bioactive fractions were subsequently identified using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS).Among the identified ERC constituents,1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose(PGG)and catechin gallate(CG)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity,with pIC50 values of 7.59±0.03 and 7.68±0.23,respectively.Further investigations revealed that PGG and CG potently inhibited hPL in a non-competitive manner,with inhibition constant(Ki)values of 0.012 and 0.082 μM,respectively.Collectively,our integrative analyses enabled us to efficiently identify and characterize the key anti-obesity constituents in ERC,as well as to elucidate their anti-hPL mechanisms.These findings provide convincing evidence in support of the anti-obesity and lipid-lowering properties of ERC.

After one-month of oral treatment with traditional Chinese medicine decoction, without using other drugs, the lung inflammatory exudate, pulmonary fibrosis and quality of life of a 61-year-old female patient with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were significantly improved. No recurrence or deterioration of the patient's condition was found within seven weeks of treatment and follow-up, and no adverse events occurred, indicating that oral Chinese medicine decoction was able to improve the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in a patient recovering from COVID-19, but further research is still needed.
Administration, Oral ; COVID-19/virology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation/etiology* ; Lung/pathology* ; Magnoliopsida ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/etiology* ; SARS-CoV-2