ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of basal ATP concentration in CD4 T lymphocytes instead of CD4/CD8 ratio in assessing the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients. MethodsIn this study， the CD4 and CD8 cells in the same volume of whole blood were separated by magnetic beads method， and the basal ATP concentration of CD4 and CD8 cells was calculated to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients. Quantiferon Monitor （QFM） assay was used as a control. ResultsOur study confirmed that traditional CD4/CD8 ratio andCD4 T cell counting methodswerenot suitable for TB patients. Using the basal ATP concentration of CD4 cells to monitor active tuberculosis patients and healthy people， when the cut-off value was 290.7×10^-6 g/L， the sensitivity was 86.21%， and the specificity was 76.19%， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.000 1）.【Conclussions】In this study， to the best of our knowledge， we have for the first time used the basal ATP concentration in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis-infected patients under non-external stimulation conditions. It is suggested that the basal ATP concentration of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes can be better used to evaluate the immune status of tuberculosis patients than CD4/CD8 ratio.

Aim To investigate the eorrelation between angiotensin II (Ang II ) level and clinical indicators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( HA) , and to determine the therapeutic effect of angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs).Methods Plasma samples and personal information were collected from HA patients admitted to our hospital from 2019 to 2021.The level of Ang II in plasma was determined by ELISA to elucidate the correlation between plasma Ang II level and the severity of HA.The pathological changes of synovi-al tissues and T eells subtype in different groups of HA patients were determined by pathological examination and flow cytometry.A rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established and the pathological examination was used to confirm that valsartan could alleviate the disease course in the CIA animal model.Results Compared with control group, the plasma level of Ang II in HA patients significantly increased.After therapy with oral ARBs plasma Ang H levels and anti - cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody ( CCP) titre were significantly lower than those untreated HA patients.The level of Ang II in plasma was positively correlated with CCP and the number of monocytes, but negatively with number of RBC and hemoglobin content.Staining of synovial tissue with HE and Masson found that patients with HA had significant synovial proliferation, pannus formation , and numerous inflammatory cell infiltrates compared with control patients.Immunohistochemical results showed significant infiltration of CD4 4 T cells in synovial tissues of HA patients.Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor ( ATI R ) was significantly up-regulated in CD4 + T cells and synovial tissues of HA patients.The results of animal experiments showed that valsartan harl therapeutic effect on CIA rats and could delay the disease process of CIA.Conclusions Plasma Ang II level is positively correlated with CCP level and HA severity.ARBs can down-regualte CCP level and delay disease progression in HA patients.Animal experiments showed that valsartan blocks the combination of Ang H and ATI R and has therapeutic effect on a CIA rat model.This study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for ARBs to become the preferred antihypertensive drugs for HA patients with hypertension.

Background:Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) are diverse,and only 40 ％ of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after 3 years.Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical.Therefore,our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development.Methods:We performed a prospective,multi-center study from January 2013 to October 2016 among Chinese patients diagnosed with UA in 22 tertiary-care hospitals.Clinical and serological parameters were obtained at recruitment.Follow-up was undertaken in all patients every 12 weeks for 2 years.Predictive factors of disease progression were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.Results:A total of 234 patients were recruited in this study,and 17 (7.3％) patients failed to follow up during the study.Among the 217 patients who completed the study,83 (38.2％) patients went into remission.UA patients who developed RA had a higher rheumatoid factor (RF)-positivity (42.9％ vs.16.8％,x2=8.228,P=0.008),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodypositivity (66.7％ vs.10.7％,x2 =43.897,P ＜ 0.001),and double-positivity rate of RF and anti-CCP antibody (38.1％ vs.4.1％,x2 =32.131,P ＜ 0.001) than those who did not.Anti-CCP antibody but not RF was an independent predictor for RA development (hazard ratio 18.017,95％ confidence interval:5.803-55.938;P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion:As an independent predictor of RA,anti-CCP antibody should be tested at disease onset in all patients with UA.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of low-dose of ionizing radiation on thyroid function of medical occupational group with long-term exposure; furthermore; we analyzed the relationship between the thyroid hormones and the risk factors; such as exposure length; department. Ultimately; providing the scientific basis for setting the ionizing radiation protection standards. Methods: The population who engaged radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy in a tertiary-A hospital were set up as occupational exposure; 724 medical professionals as the research object. We figured out the basic information and general condition of the groups by face-to-face questionnaire survey; By means of the thyroid hormone testing; we analyzed the thyroid hormone levels with different population; occupational exposure factors. Then; obtained the prevalence of thyroid nodules by the thyroid ultrasound. Besides; we used the logistic regression model to analyze the risk factors related to thyroid nodule. Applying Epidata、Excel in data management. All the data was analyzed by statistical software package Stata12.0. Descriptive statistics; single factor analysis of variance and other statistical methods were used for data analysis. Test standard: α=0.05、P<0.05 statistical significant. Results: 1. Based on the work experience; we divided the study population into four groups; such as 1-9; 10-19; 20-29; and>30 years. The difference of the TSH level among the four groups was statistically significant (P<0.05) . 2. The multiple logistic regression showed that sex and seniority were the independent risk factors for the abnormal rate of thyroid nodules. Conclusion Long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiatiom could induce the thyroid damage of medical occupational population; which should be broader concerned.

Microsurgical longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (LIVE) has been widely used to treat epididymal obstructive azoospermia since 2004. Although the deferential vasculature plays an important role in supplying blood to the testis and epididymis, little attention has been paid to the potential benefits of sparing the deferential vessels during the anastomosis in LIVE. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of deferential vessel-sparing LIVE in humans. From December 2013 to December 2015, 69 azoospermic men with epididymal obstruction due to a genital infection, trauma, or idiopathic factors underwent deferential vessel-sparing LIVE in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. The outcomes of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was 31.1 years for men and 28.3 years for their partners. Fifty-nine (85.5%, 59/69) men were followed up after surgery for approximately 16 months. Patency was noted and confirmed by semen analysis (>10 000 sperm/ml) in 83.1% (49/59) of men. The natural pregnancy rate was 40.7% (24/59) by the end of the study, with 87.5% (21/24) of these natural pregnancies achieved within 12 months after surgery. No severe adverse events or complications were observed. In this study, we present a novel technique for sparing the deferential vessels during LIVE. The preliminary outcomes show this technique to be safe with favorable patency and pregnancy rates.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Azoospermia/surgery* ; Epididymis/surgery* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Sparing Treatments/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Analysis ; Testis/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Vas Deferens/surgery* ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:The traditional method of preparing tissue-engineered conduit has the defects of complex shape manufacturing and uncontrolable inner space structure, which cannot meet the requirements of some micro-catheters.
OBJECTIVE:To prepare a bionic spinal catheter and analyze its performance.
METHODS:The data model of the conduit was established using Solid Works software, and platform scan path was generated onthree-dimensionalprinter to produce the bionic spinal catheter with fibroin and colagen as raw materials. Then the water absorption, porosity, mechanical properties and celular compatibility of the conduits were detected. Next, the conduits were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rats and taken out at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively, to observe the degradation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The porosity of the conduit was (53.6±1.0)%, the water absorption was (1347±19.4)%, and the compression modulus was (0.60±0.12) MPa. The micropores distributed uniformly with different size ranging from 10 to 240 μm. Spherical or fusiform stem cels survived in the pores and densely adhered to the conduit with pseudopodia. The degradation rate ofthe conduit was 20%, 59%, 74%and 100% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. These findings indicate that the artificial bionic spinal catheter has good biocompatibility and degradability.

Male infertility is a common and complex disease in urology and andrology, and for many years there has been no effective surgical treatment. With the emergence of microsurgery and assisted reproductive medicine (IVF/ICSI), rapid development has been achieved in the treatment of male infertility. The Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University has been playing an important leading role in developing microsurgical techniques for the management of male infertility. The development of microsurgical treatment of male infertility in China has experienced the 3 periods of emerging, making, and boosting ever since its systematic introduction from Weill Cornell Medical College 15 years ago. At present, many Chinese hospitals have adopted microsurgery in the management of male infertility, which has contributed to the initial establishment of a microsurgical treatment system for male infertility in China. However, some deficiencies do exist concerning microsurgical treatment of male infertility, as in normalized technical training programs for competent surgeons, unified criteria for evaluation of surgical outcomes, and detailed postoperative follow-up data. This article presents an overview on the 15-year development of microsurgical management of male infertility in China, points out the existing deficiencies, and offers some propositions for the promotion of its development.
China ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery

Pericyte, also known as mural cell or Rouget cell, is one of the main cells that make up the wall of capillaries. Pericytes play important roles not only in the maturation, stability, and function maintenance of blood vessels, but also in the growth and development of tissues and organs, wound repair, and other physiological and pathological processes. Researches on the functions of pericytes are mainly concentrated on their multipotency, adjustment of vascular functions, and process of fibrosis, as well as on renal fibrosis, renal blood flow regulation, and glomerular filtration in urology, but are quite insufficient in andrology. This article reviews the location, origin, distribution, morphology, markers, and functions of pericytes, aiming to induce further studies of pericytes in andrology.
Fibrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Pericytes ; physiology ; Urogenital System ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the changes in Wnt pathway inhibiting factors in esophageal precancerosis lesions induced by methyl benzyl nitrosamine (MBNA) and the effect of Gexia Zhuyu decoction.

METHODWistar rats were subcutaneously injected with MBNA (3.5 mg x kg(-1) for twice per week to establish the model. Since the 1st day after the model establishment, they were orally administered with Gexia Zhuyu decoction (16, 8 mg x kg(-1)). At the 10th week, esophageal tissues were collected to observe the pathological changes of esophageal mucosa, detect SFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1, Axin2 and GSK-3β mRNA levels.by fluorescent quantitation PCR analysis and β-catenin protein level by Western blotting.

RESULTBeing induced by MBNA, rats in the model group showed slight atypical hyperplasia in the histopathological examination. Compared with the normal group, Gexia Zhuyu decoction dose high and low groups showed no significant pathomorphological and histological changes. The model group showed lower gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and higher β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group. The Gexia Zhuyu decoction low dose group showed higher gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and lower β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated β-catenin protein level and down-regulated Wnt pathway could enhance Wnt pathway activity of MBNA-induced esophageal precancerous lesions. Gexia Zhuyu decoction could down-regulate the β-catenin protein level and up-regulate the transcription level of Wnt pathway inhibiting factors, but could not block MBNA-induced esophageal precancerosis lesions.

Animals ; Axin Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Esophageal Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Nitrosamines ; adverse effects ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of the combination of Qilin Pills and levofloxacin in the treatment of asthenospermia accompanied with accessory sex gland infection.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 80 asthenospermia patients with accessory sex gland infection to groups 1 and 2 of equal number, the former treated with Qilin Pills + levofloxacin, and the latter with levofloxacin only. Qilin Pills were administered at the dose of 6 g tid for 30 days, and levofloxacin at the dose of 0.5 g qd for 20 days. We obtained semen parameters, including the percentage of progressively motile sperm and peroxidase-positive white blood cell (WBC) count, before and after medication, and compared the clinical effects between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the patients accomplished the clinical trial. The therapeutic effectiveness rates in improving progressive sperm motility were 60% in group 1 and 17.5% in group 2, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). As for the peroxidase-positive WBC count in semen, the effectiveness rates were 87.5% and 82.5%, respectively, with no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the treatment of asthenospermia accompanied with accessory sex gland infection, Qilin Pills combined with levofloxacin is evidently better than levofloxacin alone in improving sperm motility, and it has no obvious adverse effects.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Levofloxacin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult