ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 （mTORC1） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules， while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate （PR）， total sperm motility （PR+NP）， percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally， eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group， and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK， phosphorylated （p）-AMPK， regulatory-associated protein of mTOR （RAPTOR） and p-RAPTOR， and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1） in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment， as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% （3/33）， which was higher than that （3.33%， 1/30） in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% （28/33） in the observation group and 66.7% （20/30） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. After treatment， both groups were improved considering PR， PR+NP， MMP， and TCM symptom scores （P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group （P<0.05）， while the changes in PR， PR+NP， and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group， the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK （P<0.01）. The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 （P<0.01）. However， the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period， neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway， lowering the protein level of PINK1， and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 （mTORC1） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules， while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate （PR）， total sperm motility （PR+NP）， percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally， eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group， and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK， phosphorylated （p）-AMPK， regulatory-associated protein of mTOR （RAPTOR） and p-RAPTOR， and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1） in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment， as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% （3/33）， which was higher than that （3.33%， 1/30） in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% （28/33） in the observation group and 66.7% （20/30） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. After treatment， both groups were improved considering PR， PR+NP， MMP， and TCM symptom scores （P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group （P<0.05）， while the changes in PR， PR+NP， and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group， the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK （P<0.01）. The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 （P<0.01）. However， the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period， neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway， lowering the protein level of PINK1， and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Critical Illness ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.

Objective:To establish a predictive model of the first cesarean delivery in multiparous women based on the situation of two consecutive pregnancies.Methods:The data of patients with two consecutive deliv-eries of single live birth and the previous delivery was vaginal delivery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow U-niversity during the second delivery time range from January 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the second pregnancy occurred cesarean section,the patients were divided into two groups(vaginal delivery group and cesarean section group).Univariate,stepwise,and multiple Logistic re-gression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of multipara's first cesarean section delivery,and the prediction model was established.R language was used to build the model's nomogram and calibration curve.The bootstrap resampling method was used for internal verification.After establishing the model,clinical data of patients with two consecutive births of single live birth between January 1,2022 and April 1,2023 were retrospec-tively collected for external verification of the model.Results:①A total of 2709 patients were included in this study for modeling,of which 6.31％(171/2709)underwent cesarean section for the first time.603 cases were included for external verification.②According to univariate,stepwise and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,all the variables affecting the first delivery by cesarean section were screened out,including:abnormal labor in previous labor,age of current delivery,assisted reproductive technology,hypertension disorder complicating pregnancy,pregnancy with thrombocytopenia,oligohydramnios,excessive amniotic fluid,macrosomia,fetal growth restriction,abnormal fetal position,fetal distress,all of the above variables P＜0.05 and incorporated into the final prediction model.③The AUC of this model was 0.949(95％CI 0.928-0.969),and the calibration curve showed that the model intercept was 0 and the slope was 1.Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P＞0.05,indicating that the model had a high accuracy.④The AUC of external validation was 0.958,the slope of the calibration curve was 0.972,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test had a P of 0.49.Conclusions:The prediction model of the first delivery by cesarean section during the second pregnancy has been established.The prediction efficiency of the model is good,and it can provide a tool for the individualized evaluation of menstrual women in clinical work.