Objective We aimed to investigate the effect of ferroptosis on Shenling Baizhu Powder,a compound prescription of Chinese herbal medicine,in improving testicular spermatogenic function in hyperuricemic mice with spermatogenic dysfunction. Methods Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,Shenling Baizhu Powder high-,medium-,and low-dose groups (20.14,10.07,5.04 g/kg,by gavage),and ferrostatin-1(Fer-1) group (0.8 mg/kg,by tail vein injection),with 10 mice each group. Except for the normal group,the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with potassium oxonate suspension[600mg/(kg·d)]for 7 days to establish the hyperuricemic model,and then the corresponding intervention was given for consecutive 14 days. Content of serum uric acid (UA),testicular Fe2+,reduced glutathione (GSH),malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected by biochemical method. Epididymal and testicular indices were measured. The spermatogenic function of testes was evaluated by eosin-hematoxylin staining. Sperm quality was detected by an automatic animal sperm analyzer. Prussian blue staining was used to detect iron deposition in testicular tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the related protein expressions of acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in testicular tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the related protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)/GPX4 signaling pathway in testicular tissue. Results Compared with the normal group,the contents of serum UA,MDA,and Fe2+in the testis tissue of the model group were increased,the GSH content and SOD activity were decreased,the epididymal and testicular index,testicular spermatogenic function,sperm density and activity rate were decreased,and the iron deposition and ACSL4 protein expression in the testis tissue were increased. The expressions of kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap1) and Nrf2 were increased. The expressions of nuclear Nrf2,HO-1,GPX4,and recombinant solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) protein were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group,the above indexes in the Shenling Baizhu Powder groups and the Fer-1 group were improved to varying degrees (P<0.05,P<0.01). Conclusion Shenling Baizhu Powder can inhibit the ferroptosis of testicular cells through the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway,and improve the testicular spermatogenic function of mice with hyperuricemia spermatogenic dysfunction.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

OBJECTIVE To explore the surgical approach and method for treating giant sternal goiter through the neck. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 31 patients with massive retrosternal goiter admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital from January 2016 to December 2022. RESULTS All patients underwent complete tumor resection through a low neck neck incision,with an average surgical time of 131.64 minutes and an average blood loss of 80 ml. Surgical methods:Total thyroidectomy in 18 cases,left lobe and isthmus resection in 9 cases,and right lobe and isthmus resection in 4 cases. Two cases were transferred to the intensive care unit for transition after surgery,and the remaining 29 cases were all returned to the general ward;No deaths have occurred;Postoperative pathology:The postoperative pathological types were nodular goiter in 21 cases,papillary thyroid carcinoma in 4 cases,follicular thyroid tumors in 2 cases,follicular thyroid carcinoma in 2 cases,large B-cell lymphoma in 1 case,and thyroid borderline tumor in 1 case. Follow up for 6 months to 3 years,with no recurrence cases. CONCLUSION The surgical treatment of huge thyroid nodules behind the sternum through the cervical approach requires thorough preoperative evaluation,understanding of surgical indications,and the use of a low neck incision. During the operation,the main blood vessels supplying the thyroid gland are gradually ligated,separated,and the huge thyroid nodules are pulled out from behind the sternum,successfully and completely removed from the neck,avoiding open chest surgery,reducing the occurrence of related complications,and shortening the patient's course of illness.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism(PHPT),and to improve the diagnosis and treatment ability of this disease.METHODS The clinical data of 27 patients with PHPT admitted to Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital from January 2016 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and the clinical characteristics,preoperative diagnosis,surgical treatment and postoperative follow-up were summarized.RESULTS All patients had elevated serum calcium and parathyroid hormone before operation,and were diagnosed before operation.All patients underwent parathyroidectomy with low neck incision,19 underwent unilateral parathyroidectomy and 8 underwent bilateral parathyroidectomy.PTH was rapidly detected 10 min after resection of the diseased gland,all 27 cases terminated surgery after PTH decreased by more than 50%.All patients experienced no postoperative complications such as hoarseness and coughing due to diet.There were 20 cases diagnosed pathologically as parathyroid adenoma and 7 cases diagnosed as parathyroid hyperplasia after operation.After operation,15 patients had short-term hypocalcemia,the hypocalcemia patients were treated with calcitriol and calcium for 2-4 weeks and their blood calcium returned to normal.and one patient was slightly higher than normal value,the hypercalcemia returned to normal about one week after operation.The remaining patients had normal serum calcium after operation.The parathyroid hormone returned to normal in 27 patients within 6 months.All patients were followed up for 6 months to 6 years,and no one recurred.CONCLUSION Parathyroidectomy is the best treatment for PHPT.Preoperative imaging location and intraoperative PTH measurement are helpful to narrow the exploration range,shorten the operation time and reduce the complications.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the level of treponema pallidum specific antibodies(TPAb)and immunoglobulin A/E/M/G(IgA/E/M/G)and IgG subtypes in active syphilis patients,so as to provide a basis for the comprehensive di-agnosis and treatment and prognosis evaluation of clinical syphilis.Methods:Active syphilis patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in 2023 were divided into 1∶4+and 1∶16+groups according to the syphilis toluidine red unheated se-rum test(TRUST),and healthy control group were selected for the detection of TPAb by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoas-say(CMIA).The contents of IgA/E/M/G and IgG1/2/3/4 were determined by immunoturbidimetry.Results:A total of 206 patients with active syphilis(125 males and 81 females)aged(46.05±19.58)years were included in this study.Compared with the healthy control group,IgG2 was decreased and TPAb,IgA/E/M/G and IgG1/3/4 levels were increased in the active syphilis group,with statistically significant differences in TPAb,IgE and IgG1/2/3 levels(P<0.05).Compared with the healthy control group,TRUST 1∶4+group had statistical differences in TPAb,IgE and IgG2,and TPAb was significantly correlated with IgE and IgG2/4.The levels of TPAb,IgA/E/M/G and IgG1/2/3 in TRUST 1∶16+group were statistically significant,and TPAb was significantly correlated with IgE and IgG4(P<0.05).In addition,there were significant differences in TPAb,IgG and IgG1/3 between the two positive groups(P<0.05).Conclu-sion:The levels of TPAb and Ig in active syphilis patients with different TRUST titers are significantly different.TPAb combined with Ig can be used to monitor the strength of syphilis activity,IgA/M/G and IgG1/3 may be candidate biomarkers.

Humans ; East Asian People ; Nausea/drug therapy* ; Vomiting/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects* ; Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Objective:To investigate the correlation between preterm infants with brain injury and the proportion of lymphocyte subsets, especially γδ-T cells in the postnatal peripheral blood, and to determine the predictive potential of γδ-T cells in the early peripheral blood in brain injury.Methods:It was a prospective study involving 106 preterm infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks who were delivered in the Department of Neonatology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1, to June 1, 2021.Relative levels of γδ-T , CD4 + T, CD8 + T, CD3 + T and total lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood collected within the first 24 hours after birth were measured by flow cytometry.Recruited infants were divided into brain injury group (36 cases) and non-brain injury group (70 cases) according to serial cranial ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) at the corrected gestational age of 36-37 weeks.Differences in general conditions and the proportion of lymphocyte subsets between groups were compared by the t-test or Chi- square test.Patients in brain injury group were further divided into intracranial hemorrhage(ICH) group(8 cases), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) group (6 cases)and diffuse white matter damage (WMD) group(22 cases). The proportion of lymphocyte subsets among the different groups was compared by One- Way ANOVA, followed by the LSD- t test. Results:The proportion of γδ-T cells in postnatal peripheral blood of preterm infants at 24 hours after birth in brain injury group was significantly lower than that of non-brain injury group [(0.09±0.12)% vs.0.15±0.13)%, t=-2.445, P=0.016]. No significant differences in the proportion of the CD4 + and CD8 + T cell subsets were found between them.Both preterm infants in PVL group and WMD group had a significantly lower proportion of γδ-T cells at 24 hours after birth compared to that of the non-brain injury group [(0.03±0.05)%, (0.07±0.09)% and (0.15±0.13)%], respectively, ( t=-2.190, -2.659, all P<0.05). Conclusions:γδ-T cells in early postnatal peripheral blood may be involved in the development of brain injury in preterm infants and they had early predictive value for preterm infants at high risk of brain injury, especially the leukomalacia and diffuse white matter injury.

Multiple myeloma is a type of hematological malignancy caused by clonal plasma cell proliferation. In recent years, the application of proteasome inhibitors and immune drugs (IMiDs) in multiple myeloma has prolonged the survival period of patients and improved the quality of life. However, due to the heterogeneity, recurrence and drug resistance of the disease, MM is still incurable. Relatively good response rates of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Pidilizumab, Atezolizumab and Durvalumab offer MM a new hope. This article reviews the relevant literature in recent years, introduces the immune pathogenesis of MM, PD-1/PD-L1/2-related immune pathway and the current status of immunotherapy, to provide reference for the immunotherapy of MM.

Objective:To estimate physical activity level in residents in Suzhou and explore the association between community environment and physical activity level in local residents.Methods:Through multistage stratified random sampling, residents aged 25-64 years in Suzhou were surveyed by face-to face interview in 2017. Physical activity levels were assessed by the international physical activity questionnaire-long version (IPAQ-L). Perceptions of community environment were assessed by Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated (NEWS-A).Results:Among the local residents surveyed in Suzhou,the median of weekly total physical activity level was 3 610.42 MET-min/w. The level of occupational physical activity was higher than that of transportation, household and leisure-time related physical activity levels. After controlling for socio-demographic factors, public service access was negatively associated with the overall physical activity level ( OR=0.522,95% CI:0.329-0.830), land-use mix-diversity was negatively associated with the level of occupational physical activity level ( OR=0.701,95% CI: 0.492-0.999), infrastructure of walk and cycle ways was positively associated with occupational physical activity level ( OR=1.603,95% CI:1.004-2.559); traffic hazards were negatively associated with the transportation physical activity level ( OR=0.642,95% CI: 0.416-0.990); residential building density was positively associated with leisure-time physical activity level ( OR=1.001,95% CI: 1.000-1.002), and the perceptions level of community environment were positively associated with the occupational, transportation, household and overall physical activity levels ( OR=1.889,95% CI: 1.176-3.033; OR=1.671,95% CI: 1.120-2.495; OR=1.775,95% CI: 1.143-2.756; OR=1.593,95% CI: 1.079-2.350). Conclusion:Improving infrastructure of walk and cycle ways and beautifying community environment play an important role in increasing the physical activity level of the residents.

Objective:To investigate the mortality and causes of death in neonates from different medical institutions in Henan province.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the death cases of 62 different medical institutions in 18 cities of Henan province in 2018, in order to compare the differences of neonatal mortality, age of death and the causes of death between maternal and child health care hospitals and general hospitals.Results:(1) A total of 80 780 newborns were admitted to 62 hospitals and 311 neonates died with a mortality rate of 3.85‰.A total of 33 339 newborns were admitted to 24 maternal and child health care hospitals, and 102 neonates died with a mortality rate of 3.06‰.Among them, 54 cases(52.9%) were premature infants and 48 cases(47.1%)were full-term infants.A total of 47 441 newborns were admitted to 38 general hospitals, and 209 neonates died with a mortality rate of 4.41‰.Among them, 111 cases(53.1%) were premature infants and 98 cases (46.9%) were full-term infants.Neonatal mortality in general hospitals was higher than that in maternal and child health care hospitals( P<0.05). (2) Neonatal death mainly occurred within one week after birth, especially within the first day.There were 67 cases of death(65.7%) in 24 maternal and child health care hospitals within the first day, including 34 cases (50.7%) of full-term infants and 33 cases (49.3%)of premature infants.And there were 87 cases of death(41.6%) in 38 general hospitals within the first day, including 50 cases (57.5%) of premature infants and 37 cases (42.5%) of full-term infants.Neonatal mortality within the first day after birth in maternal and child health care hospitals was higher than that in general hospitals( P<0.05). (3) The leading causes of neonatal death were non-infectious pulmonary diseases(128 cases, 41.2%), followed by birth asphyxia(73 cases, 23.5%) and infection(51 cases, 16.4%), but the causes of death in sequence varies from maternal and child health care hospitals and general hospitals.(4) For early death (within one week after birth) in both general hospitals and maternal and child health care hospitals, the main causes were birth asphyxia for full-term neonates, and pulmonary diseases(mainly respiratory distress syndrome)and birth asphyxia for premature infants.For late-stage death (2-4 weeks after birth) of neonates, infection was the leading cause in both term and preterm infants in general hospitals.For maternal and child health hospitals, the main causes of death for full-term infants were infection, and pulmonary diseases (mainly pulmonary hemorrhage and respiratory distress syndrome) for premature infants. Conclusion:There are some differences between maternal and child health care hospitals and general hospitals in neonatal mortality, mortality within the first day after birth, and causes of death.Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the corresponding software and hardware constructions for newborns in different medical institutions to further reduce the neonatal mortality rate.