Objective Recombinase-aided polymerase chain reaction(RAP)is a sensitive,single-tube,two-stage nucleic acid amplification method.This study aimed to develop an assay that can be used for the early diagnosis of three types of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus(SA),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA),and Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)in the bloodstream based on recombinant human mannan-binding lectin protein(M1 protein)-conjugated magnetic bead(M1 bead)enrichment of pathogens combined with RAP. Methods Recombinant plasmids were used to evaluate the assay sensitivity.Common blood influenza bacteria were used for the specific detection.Simulated and clinical plasma samples were enriched with M1 beads and then subjected to multiple recombinase-aided PCR(M-RAP)and quantitative PCR(qPCR)assays.Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency between the two assays. Results The M-RAP method had sensitivity rates of 1,10,and 1 copies/μL for the detection of SA,PA,and AB plasmids,respectively,without cross-reaction to other bacterial species.The M-RAP assay obtained results for<10 CFU/mL pathogens in the blood within 4 h,with higher sensitivity than qPCR.M-RAP and qPCR for SA,PA,and AB yielded Kappa values of 0.839,0.815,and 0.856,respectively(P<0.05). Conclusion An M-RAP assay for SA,PA,and AB in blood samples utilizing M1 bead enrichment has been developed and can be potentially used for the early detection of bacteremia.

Objective:To investigate the psychological status of the outpatients in the andrology clinic and the effect of risk warning combined with multidisciplinary team(MDT)intervention on their satisfaction.Methods:Using convenience sampling,we enrolled 600 outpatients seeking medical attention in the Department of Andrology of our hospital from July to October 2022.We ran-domized the patients into a control(n=300)and an observation group(n=300),obtained their basic information,evaluated their psychological status with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),and assessed their satisfaction with the Xijing Hospital Outpatients'Satisfaction Questionnaire(HOSQ).The controls followed the routine procedure of treatment,while the patients in the ob-servation group received early warning before intervention based on their HADS scores.We provided normal medical care for those with HADS scores≤7,employed empathetic communication for those with HADS scores of 8-10,and conducted MDT intervention for those with HADS scores≥1l,followed by comparison of the patients'satisfaction with the outpatient service between the two groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in general conditions between the groups of patients(P＞0.05).The mean prevalence rate of anxiety and depression was 47.83％among the male subjects,lower in the control than in the observation group(47.00％vs 48.67％,P＞0.05),but higher in the patients with the education of junior high school or below(60.99％)than in those with that of senior high school(22.34％)and university or above(16.67％),and also higher in those aged 18-40 years(67.38％)than in those aged 41-60 years(51.82％)and over 60 years old(38.33％).A significantly higher rate of satisfaction with the outpatient service was found in the observation group than in the controls(97.18％vs 90.39％,P＜0.05).Conclusion:Anxie-ty and depression are prevalent among the outpatients in the andrology clinic,with a higher prevalence rate in those with lower educa-tion and at a younger age.Early risk warning combined with MDT intervention can improve the satisfaction of the patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of Shugan Bushen Decoction combined with laparoscopic surgery on ovarian volume,serum homeobox gene A10(HOXA10)expression and pregnancy rate in patients with refractory polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods A total of 80 patients with refractory PCOS of liver stagnation and kidney deficiency type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional laparoscopic surgery and conventional medicine treatment.The observation group was treated with Shugan Bushen Decoction on the basis of treatment for the control group.One menstrual cycle constituted one course of treatment,and 3 continuous courses of treatment were given.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,ovarian volume,follicular diameter,serum HOXA10 expression and levels of sex hormones of luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),progesterone(P),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)and testosterone in the two groups before and after treatment were observed.Moreover,the pregnancy outcomes of the two groups during the follow-up for half a year were monitored.Results(1)After treatment,the ovarian volume in the two groups was decreased to different degrees(P＜0.05),and the follicular diameter was increased to different degrees(P＜0.05).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of ovarian volume and the increase of follicular diameter in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(2)After treatment,the levels of LH,FSH and testosterone in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the levels of HOXA10,E2 and P were significantly higher than those before treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of LH,FSH and testosterone levels and the increase of HOXA10,E2 and P levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the overall TCM syndrome scores and the scores of the syndrome manifestations of abnormal menstrual volume,abnormal menstrual cycle,soreness and weakness of waist and knees,darkish red tongue,deep and unsmooth pulse in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of overall TCM syndrome scores and the scores of each of the syndrome manifestations in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.01).(4)The pregnancy rate of the observation group was 55.00%(22/40),which was significantly higher than that of 32.50%(13/40)in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of refractory PCOS of liver depression and kidney deficiency type,Shugan Bushen Decoction combined with laparoscopic surgery can effectively improve the ovarian function of the patients,promote the recovery of sex hormone levels,increase the expression level of HOXA10,improve the endometrial receptivity,and enhance the pregnancy rate of the patients.

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition(EndMT)is a process in which endothelial cells lose their endothelial pheno-type and function and gain mesenchymal phenotype and func-tion.During the embryonic period,EndMT is an essential mech-anism for the development of heart valves,pulmonary arteries and aorta.In recent years,numerous studies have shown that EndMT is also involved in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis,cardiac fibrosis,pulmonary hypertension,and cerebrovascular malformation.In addition,EndMT is also an important mechanism of other organ fibrosis and tumors.Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs)refer to RNAs that are transcribed from the genome but do not translate into proteins.Studies have shown that the abnormal expression of ncRNAs can participate in various diseases by regulating End-MT.Such ncRNAs with regulatory functions mainly include mi-croRNA(miRNA),long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)and cir-cular RNA(circRNA).This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs regulate EndMT in various disea-ses,looking forward to the application prospects of ncRNAs in the treatment of EndMT-related diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical efficacy of timing umbilical therapy for neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury based on the midnight-noon and ebb-flow doctrine. METHODS: Sixty patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group, with 30 patients in each group. In the trial group, based on the midnight-noon and ebb-flow doctrine, umbilical therapy was given at the time zone, 15:00 to 17:00. In the control group, umbilical therapy was delivered at any time zones except the period 15:00 to 17:00. The herbal plaster was remained on the umbilicus for 4 h each time, once daily. One course of treatment was composed of 2 weeks and the treatment lasted 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the urodynamic indexes (maximum urinary flow rate [Qmax], maximum detrusor pressure [Pdet-max], residual urine volume [RUV]), voiding diary (average daily number of voiding, average daily number of leakage, average daily voided volume), neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS), the score of urinary symptom distress scale (USDS) and the score of World Health Organization quality of life assessment-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were compared between the two groups; and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was assessed. RESULTS: After treatment, Qmax, Pdet-max, the average daily voided volume and the scores of WHOQOL-BREF were increased (P<0.05); and RUV, the average daily number of voiding, the average daily number of leakage, NBSS and the scores of USDS were all reduced (P<0.05) in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups. When compared with those in the control group, Qmax, Pdet-max, the average daily voided volume and the score of WHOQOL-BREF were all higher (P<0.05); and RUV, the average daily number of voiding, the average daily number of leakage, NBSS and the score of USDS were lower (P<0.05) in the trial group. The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the trial group, higher than that (76.7%, 23/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Timing umbilical therapy, based on the midnight-noon and ebb-flow doctrine, effectively relieves the symptoms of dysuria and improves the quality of life in patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.
Humans ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/therapy* ; Quality of Life ; Umbilicus ; Urinary Bladder ; Spinal Cord Injuries/complications*

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.
Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Uric Acid ; Hyperuricemia ; Biological Availability ; Cytokines

This study aimed to provide scientific evidence for predicting quality markers(Q-markers) of Elephantopus scaber by establishing UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber from different geographical origins and determining the content of 13 major components, as well as conducting in vitro anti-cancer activity investigation of the main components. The chromatographic column used was Waters CORTECS UPLC C_(18)(2.1 mm×150 mm, 1.6 μm), and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution(gradient elution). The column temperature was set at 30 ℃, and the flow rate was 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The injection volume was 1 μL, and the detection wavelength was 240 nm. The UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber was fitted using the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2012 edition) to determine common peaks, evaluate similarity, identify and determine the content of major components. The CCK-8 assay was used to explore the inhibitory effect of the main components on the proliferation of lung cancer cells. The results showed that in the established UPLC fingerprint of E. scaber, 35 common peaks were identified. Thirteen major components, including neochlorogenic acid(peak 1), chlorogenic acid(peak 2), cryptochlorogenic acid(peak 3), caffeic acid(peak 4), schaftoside(peak 6), galuteolin(peak 9), isochlorogenic acid B(peak 10), isochlorogenic acid A(peak 12), isochlorogenic acid C(peak 18), deoxyelephantopin(peak 28), isodeoxyelephantopin(peak 29), isoscabertopin(peak 31), and scabertopin(peak 32) were identified and quantified, and a quantitative analysis method was established. The results of the in vitro anti-cancer activity study showed that deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin, isoscabertopin, and scabertopin in E. scaber exhibited inhibition rates of lung cancer cell proliferation exceeding 80% at a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), higher than the positive drug paclitaxel. These results indicate that the fingerprint of E. scaber is highly characteristic, and the quantitative analysis method is accurate and stable, providing references for the research on quality standards of E. scaber. Four sesquiterpene lactones in E. scaber show significant anti-cancer activity and can serve as Q-markers for E. scaber.
Humans ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Aim To study the effect of salidroside (SAL) on cerebral vascular endothelial cells of rats with ischemic brain injury and its mechanism of action. Methods Twenty-four healthy adult SD male rats were prepared by bolt plugging method to prepare MCAO models,and randomly divided into sham surgery group ( Sham ) , model group ( MCAO ) , and SAL administration group (MCAO + SAL) ,and the concentration of SAL was 50 mg • kg ~ , with a continuous administration for six days. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 , E-se-lectin,and P-selectin in injured brain tissue of rats. In vitro cell experiments using HUVECs were subjected to different concentrations of salidroside (0. 1,1,10 jjunol • L ) and LPS (100 ^g • L ) intervened for 24 hours,and CCK-8 was employed to detect the effects of SAL and LPS on the survival of HUVECs. In vitro an-giogenesis experiments, LPS group ( 100 (jLg • L~ ) and SAL administration group ( LPS + Sal) intervened in HUVECs for 24 hours,and the concentrations of SAL administration were 0. 1,1, and 10 jjunol • L , then the effects of LPS and SAL on their angiogenesis were observed. The protein expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 ,E-selectin,and P-selectin in HUVECs were detected by Western blot. Results SAL could reduce the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin in ischemic brain tissue of MCAO rats. In vitro experimental studies found that salidroside had no effect on the survival of HUVECs. LPS inhibited the angiogenesis of HUVECs, and after the action of SAL, SAL (1,10 jjimol • L ) reversed the effect of LPS and promoted its angiogenesis. Compared with the control group,the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin of HUVECs after LPS stimulation increased, while the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 , E-selectin and P-selectin were significantly reduced after the addition of SAL, which promoted the angiogenesis ability of HUVECs. Conclusions SAL can improve the ability of cell regeneration in rats with ischemic brain injury and promote the ability of blood vessel formation.

Aim To observe cellular damage and astrocyte activation at different time points of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Methods The middle cerebral artery of male SpragueDawley rats was occluded for 90 min followed by different time points of reperfusion. Eighty-five SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (Sham), IR3, 6, 12, 24 and IR48h (MCAO followed by 48 h of reperfusion) group. Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was observed by HE staining, and the structure of astrocytes was estimated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). GFAP expression was detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Results Cerebral ischemia following by different time points of reperfusion led to different degrees of cellular damage, which was the most serious at 24 h of reperfusion. TEM showed destruction of astrocytes structure, swollen organelles and broken mitochondrial ridge. After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the expression levels of GFAP were significant up-regulated in the ischemic penumbra cortex and the highest was at 48 h of reperfusion, indicating astrocytes were activated. In addition, the results showed the gradual decrease in GFAP expression in the infarct core. Conclusions After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, cellular damage is aggravated, and astrocytes are gradually activated in the ischemic penumbra. With the extension of reperfusion time, the boundaries of infarct area and ischemic area are gradually clear, and scarring may occur.

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis