Objective:This study aims to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric appendicovesical fistula (AVF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of a pediatric patient with AVF admitted to our hospital in March 2023. The patient was a 6-year and 11-month old male who was hospitalized on March 21, 2023, due to difficulty urinating accompanied by diarrhea for two weeks. Computed tomography (CT) revealed bladder stones. The preoperative diagnosis was bladder stones. Transurethral cystoscopic lithotripsy with laser was performed under general anesthesia. Two weeks postoperatively, the child presented with recurrent symptoms of frequent urination, urinary pain, and diarrhea. Urine routine examination indicated a urinary tract infection. Over a month of antibiotic treatment was ineffective, and symptoms such as pneumaturia and fecaluria emerged, with exacerbation of diarrhea, suggesting the possibility of a fistulous tract between the child's intestine and bladder. Further bladder ultrasonography with contrast showed microbubbles of contrast medium leaking from the right posterior bladder wall into the intestinal tract. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a small, sharp tube-like shadow at the upper edge of the right posterior bladder, with a strip-like, significantly enhanced shadow within the lumen. The preoperative diagnosis was revised to appendicovesical fistula. During cystoscopic examination, a papillary-like protrusion was identified on the right lateral wall of the bladder, with no evident orificium fistulae or foreign body discharge noted at the protrusion site. Consequently, robot-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy, appendectomy, and lysis of adhesions were performed.Results:The patient was administered antibiotic for a 10-day course of anti-infection and a urinary catheter was maintained for 13 days. The patient recovered entirely and had been discharged after the removal of the urinary catheter. At an 11-month follow-up, there were no reported specific discomforts.Conclusions:Pediatric AVF is rare, and bladder contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and MRI are preferred for initial diagnostic evaluation. The diagnosis can be confirmed by specific clinical presentations such as intermittent pneumaturia and fecaluria, diarrhea with bladder stones. Laparoscopic surgery or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery could be a feasible treatment option.

Objective:To explore the expressions of zinc homeostasis-related proteins,G protein-coupled receptor 39(GPR39)and ANO1 mRNA in the sperm of patients with asthenozoospermia(AS),and analyze their correlation with sperm motility.Methods:We collected semen samples from 82 male subjects with PR+NP＜40％,PR＜32％and sperm concentration＞15 × 106/ml(the AS group,n=40)or PR+NP≥40％,PR≥32％and sperm concentration＞15 × 106/ml(the normal control group,n=42).We analyzed the routine semen parameters and measured the zinc content in the seminal plasma using the computer-assisted sperm analysis system,detected the expressions of zinc transporters(ZIP13,ZIP8 and ZNT10),metallothioneins(MT1G,MT1 and MTF),GPR39,and calcium-dependent chloride channel protein(ANO1)in the sperm by real-time quantitative PCR(RT qPCR),examined free zinc distribution in the sperm by laser confocal microscopy,and determined the expressions of GPR39 and MT1 proteins in the sperm by immunofluorescence staining,followed by Spearman rank correlation analysis of their correlation with semen parameters.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the zinc concentration in the seminal plasma between the AS and normal control groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the controls,the AS patients showed a significantly reduced free zinc level(P＜0.05),relative expressions of MT1G,MTF,ZIP13,GPR39 and ANO1 mRNA(P＜0.05),and that of the GPR39 protein in the AS group(P＜0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed in the relative expression levels of ZIP8,ZNT10 and MT1 mRNA between the two groups(P＞0.05).The relative expression levels of GPR39,ANO1,MT1G and MTF mRNA were positively correlated with sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The expressions of zinc homeostasis proteins(MT1G,MTF and ZIP13),GPR39 and ANO1 mRNA are downregulated in the sperm of asthenozoospermia pa-tients,and positively correlated with sperm motility.

Objective:To explore the potential impact of lipid metabolism-related single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)on semen quality in men.Methods:We selected 284 semen samples from Xingtai Infertility Hospital and Hebei Human Sperm Bank collected between February and October 2023,33 from oligozoospermia(OS),97 from asthenozoospermia(AS)and 54 from oligoas-thenozoospermia(OAS)patients and the other 100 from normal men.We performed computer-assisted semen analysis(CASA)of the samples,extracted blood DNA and,using the Mass ARRAY? System,genotyped the target genes,determined the genotypes of 13 SNPs and compared their distribution,their correlation with BMI and semen quality in different groups.Results:The mutant homozygous(TT)genotype of the FADS2 rs2727270 gene seemed to be a risk factor for AS(OR=4.420,P=0.047),while the APOA2 rs5082-A allele and MC4R rs17782313 heterozygous(TC)genotype important protective factors for OS(OR=0.422 and 0.389;P=0.045 and 0.043,respectively).A significantly higher sperm concentration was found associated with the MC4R rs17782313 heter-ozygous(TC)genotype than with the homozygous(CC)genotype.Stratification analysis showed that the protective effect of the TC genotype was decreased with increased BMI and remained with the interaction of the rs5082 and rs17782313 genotypes.Conclusion:FADS2 rs2727270,APOA2 rs5082 and MC4R rs17782313 were significantly correlated with the risk of abnormal semen parameters.

UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS was used to systematically analyze and compare the alkaloids in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix, Aconiti Radix, and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata. After the samples were pretreated in the solid-phase extraction cartridges, 0.1% ammonium hydroxide(A)-acetonitrile(B) was used for gradient elution. The LC-MS method for characterization of alkaloids in the three herbal medicines was established in ESI positive ion mode to collect high resolution MS data of reference substances and samples. On the basis of the information of reference substance cracking behavior, retention time, accurate molecular mass, and related literature, a total of 155 alkaloids were identified in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix, Aconiti Radix, and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Prae-parata. Specifically, 130, 127, and 92 alkaloids were identified in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix, Aconiti Radix, and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, respectively. Monoester alkaloids and amino-alcohol alkaloids were dominant in the three herbal medicines, and the alkaloids in Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix and Aconiti Radix were similar. This paper can provide a reference for elucidating the pharmacological effects and clinical application differences of the three herbal medicines produced from plants of Aconitum.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Aconitum ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Alkaloids ; Plants, Medicinal

Humans ; Myotonia Congenita/genetics* ; Mutation ; NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel/genetics*

Aim To determine the effect of histamine H

COVID-19 has been prevalent for three years. The virulence of SARS-CoV-2 is weaken as it mutates continuously. However, elderly patients, especially those with underlying diseases, are still at high risk of developing severe infections. With the continuous study of the molecular structure and pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral drugs for COVID-19 have been successively marketed, and these anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs can effectively reduce the severe rate and mortality of elderly patients. This article reviews the mechanism, clinical medication regimens, drug interactions and adverse reactions of five small molecule antiviral drugs currently approved for marketing in China, so as to provide advice for the clinical rational use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the kinetic characteristics of lymphocyte subsets and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) in patients who newly diagnosed intermediate- to high-risk aGVHD and treated with steroids-ruxolitinib as the first line therapy from a single-arm, open clinical trial (NCT04061876). METHODS: We prospectively observed the efficacy of 23 patients having intermediate- to high-risk aGVHD and treated with steroids-ruxolitinib as the first line therapy. The kinetic characteristics of lymphocyte subsets and MDSC were monitored, and then we compared them in steroids-ruxolitinib group (n=23), free-aGVHD group (n=20) and steroids group (n=23). RESULTS: Of the 23 patients, the CR rate was 78.26% (18/23) on day 28 after first-line treatment with steroids-ruxolitinib. On day 28 after treatment, patients had lower level of CD4⁺CD29⁺ T cells (P=0.08) than that of pre-treatment, whereas levels of other lymphocyte subsets in this study were higher than that of pre-treatment; CD4⁺CD29⁺ T cells in CR patients decreased, compared with refractory aGVHD patients. On day 28 of treatment, CD8⁺CD28^- T cells (P=0.03) significantly increased in patients with aGVHD than that in patients without aGVHD, so did CD8⁺CD28^- T / CD8⁺CD28⁺ T cell ratio (P=0.03). Compared with patients without aGVHD, patients with aGVHD had lower level of G-MDSC, especially on day 14 after allo-HSCT (P=0.04). Compared with pre-treatment, M-MDSC was higher in CR patients on day 3 and 7 post-treatment (P₃=0.01, P₇=0.03), e-MDSC was higher on day 28 post-treatment (P=0.01). Moreover, compared with CR patients, M-MDSC was lower in refractory aGVHD patients on day 3 post-treatment (P=0.01) and e-MDSC was lower on day 28 post-treatment (P=0.01). Compared with steroids group, MDSC in steroids-ruxolitinib group was higher, with the most significant difference in M-MDSC (P₃=0.0351; P₇=0.0142; P₁₄=0.0369). CONCLUSION We found that patients newly diagnosed intermediate- to high-risk aGVHD receiving first-line therapy with steroids-ruxolitinib achieved high response rate. Moreover, the novel first-line therapy has a small impact on the immune reconstitution of patients after allo-HSCT. Elevated MDSC might predict a better response in aGVHD patients receiving this novel first-line therapy. M-MDSC responded earlier to steroids-ruxolitinib than e-MDSC, G-MDSC.
Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells ; Nitriles ; Pyrazoles ; Pyrimidines ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids

Guided by the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine and using modern scientific methods, Dao-di herbs pharmacology studies the nature, performance, interaction with the body and its clinical application.It is a bridge between the basic research and clinical application of Dao-di herbs. It can objectively describe the law of efficacy of Dao-di herbs, scientifically explain the mechanism of efficacy of Dao-di herbs, explore and establish the standards and methods of Dao-di herbs based on biological effect and clinical efficacy, and provide scientific basis for the special properties, pharmacology and clinical value of Dao-di herbs.Furthermore, we put forward a new idea of building the standard of Dao-di herbs based on the curative effect rather than the origin.The Dao-di herbs standard should come from the systematic research of traditional Dao-di herbs producing areas and form a new characteristic system, through the extraction of environmental, genetic, character, chemical, pharmacological and other characteristics.This standard originates from the tradition, but it is higher than the tradition. It may not have the origin meaning of strict administrative division, but it can better reflect the pharmacological characteristics and excellent clinical value of Dao-di herbs.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of PR-957 on the formation of A1 reactive astrocytes. METHODS: The cerebral cortices of 1-day-old female rats were obtained and cultured for primary astrocytes. These cells were divided into 3 groups: control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS+PR-957. The LPS group was treated with LPS (at a concentration of 5 μmol/L) for 48 hours; the LPS+PR-957 group was treated with PR-957 (at a final concentration of 200 nmol/L) for 1 hour and then LPS for 48 hours. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the expression of complement 3 (C3, a marker for A1 reactive astrocytes) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the relative mRNA expression of glypican-6 (GPC6), SPARC-like 1 (SPARCL1), and lipocalin-2 (LCN2). All the above experiments were repeated three times independently. RESULTS: C3 expression was almost not observed in the control group, but was observed in both the LPS group and the LPS+PR-957 group, with significantly lower expression observed in the LPS+PR-957 group (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-α was consistent with that of C3. Compared with the control group, the LPS and the PS+PR-957 groups had significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of GPC6 and SPARCL1 but significantly increased mRNA expression level of LCN2 (P<0.001). Compared with the LPS group, the LPS+PR-957 group had significantly increased mRNA expression levels of GPC6 and SPARCL1 but significantly reduced mRNA expression level of LCN2 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS LPS can induce the transformation from astrocytes to A1 reactive astrocytes, and PR-957 can inhibit the formation of LPS-induced A1 reactive astrocytes.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Oligopeptides ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha