Bowel preparation experiences and needs before follow-up colonoscopy in older adult postoperative colorectal cancer patients: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The bowel preparation process prior to colonoscopy determines the quality of the bowel preparation, which in turn affects the quality of the colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is an essential procedure for postoperative follow-up monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Previous studies have shown that advanced age and a history of colorectal resection are both risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation. However, little attention has been paid to the bowel preparation experiences and needs of predominantly older adult postoperative CRC patients. AIM: To explore the experiences and needs of older adult postoperative CRC patients during bowel preparation for follow-up colonoscopy. METHODS: Fifteen older adult postoperative CRC patients who underwent follow-up colonoscopy at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai were selected using purposive sampling from August 2023 to November 2023. The phenomenological method in qualitative research was employed to construct an interview outline and conduct semi-structured interviews with the patients. Colaizzi's seven-step analysis was utilized to organize, code, categorize, summarize, and verify the interview data. RESULTS: The results of this study were summarized into four themes and eight sub-themes: (1) Inadequate knowledge about bowel preparation; (2) Decreased physiological comfort during bowel preparation (gastrointestinal discomfort and sleep deprivation caused by bowel cleansing agents, and hunger caused by dietary restrictions; (3) Psychological changes during different stages of bowel preparation (pre-preparation: Fear and resistance due to previous experiences; during preparation: Irritation and helplessness caused by taking bowel cleansing agents, and post-preparation: Anxiety and worry while waiting for the colonoscopy); and (4) Needs related to bowel preparation (detailed instructions from healthcare professionals; more ideal bowel cleansing agents; and shortened waiting times for colonoscopy). CONCLUSION: Older adult postoperative CRC patients' knowledge of bowel preparation is not adequate, and they may encounter numerous difficulties and challenges during the process. Healthcare professionals should place great emphasis on providing instruction for their bowel preparation.

Molecular Characteristics and Expression of TKTL1 in Germ Cells: Implications for Nontumour Cell Research.

TKTL1 is a crucial regulatory enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and plays a significant role in energy synthesis. It is expressed in various tumour tissues, with its expression level closely associated with tumour invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Recent studies utilising proteomic analysis and other methods have highlighted the noteworthy expression of the TKTL1 gene in germ cells, particularly in spermatogonia and ovarian cells. Consequently, this article reviews the molecular characteristics of TKTL1 and its expression in germ cells to provide a reference for research on TKTL1 beyond tumour cells.

Analysis of goat PPP6C mRNA profile, detection of genetic variations, and their associations with litter size.

The Protein Phosphatase 6 Catalytic Subunit (PPP6C) is evolutionarily a conserved gene in eukaryotes known to play a significant role in mammalian reproduction. This study aimed to investigate expression patterns of PPP6C and explore its association with litter size in Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) goats. Initially, we determined the mRNA expression levels of PPP6C in both male and female goats across multiple tissues. The results showed that PPP6C mRNA was expressed in multiple tissues, with higher levels in the testis and fallopian tubes, suggesting its involvement in goat reproduction. Additionally, we identified a novel 19 bp InDel within the PPP6C gene in a population of 1030 SBWC goats, which exhibited polymorphism. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the19 bp InDel mutation and litter size (P < 0.05). Subsequent, bioinformatics analysis, including linkage disequilibrium (LD) block and selective scanning, highlighted the linkage tendency among most InDel loci did not stand out within B-8 block, there were still some InDel loci linked to the 19 bp within a relatively narrow region. Furthermore, comparative analysis with Bezoars, these selective signals all indicated that this gene was under higher selection pressure, implying that the 19 bp InDel locus within the PPP6C is potentially associated with domesticated traits, particularly in relation to litter size. The results of the present study suggest that the PPP6C is a vital candidate gene affecting prolificacy in goats, with implications for selective breeding programs for goat breeds.

Comparison of embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes for patients with low ovarian reserve in natural cycles and mildly stimulated cycles: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: As women with low ovarian reserve embark on the challenging journey of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, the choice between natural and mildly stimulated cycles becomes a pivotal consideration. It is unclear which of these two regimens is superior for women with low ovarian reserve. Our study aims to assess the impact of natural cycles on embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes in women with low ovarian reserve undergoing IVF treatment compared to mildly stimulated cycles. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients with low ovarian reserve who underwent IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital between January 2017 and April 2021. The primary outcome for pregnancy rate of 478 natural cycles and 448 mild stimulated cycles was compared. Secondary outcomes included embryo quality and oocyte retrieval time of natural cycles. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate in the natural cycle group was significantly higher than that in the mildly stimulated cycle group (51.8% vs. 40.1%, p = 0.046). Moreover, natural cycles exhibited higher rates of available embryos (84.1% vs. 78.6%, p = 0.040), high-quality embryos (61.8% vs. 53.2%, p = 0.008), and utilisation of oocytes (73% vs. 65%, p = 0.001) compared to mildly stimulated cycles. Oocyte retrievals in natural cycles were predominantly performed between 7:00 and 19:00, with 94.9% occurring during this time frame. In natural cycles with high-quality embryos, 96.4% of oocyte retrievals were also conducted between 7:00 and 19:00. CONCLUSION: Natural cycles with appropriately timed oocyte retrieval may present a valuable option for patients with low ovarian reserve.

In the realm of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, women with low ovarian reserve often face the crucial decision of opting for natural or mildly stimulated cycles. This retrospective study, conducted between January 2017 and April 2021 at Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, delves into the impact of these cycles on pregnancy outcomes. Examining 478 natural cycles and 448 mildly stimulated cycles, the study reveals a notably higher pregnancy rate in the natural cycle group (51.8% vs. 40.1%). Additionally, natural cycles demonstrated higher rates of available embryos, high-quality embryos, and oocyte utilisation compared to their mildly stimulated counterparts. The findings suggest that natural cycles, with proper oocyte retrieval timing, could be a favourable choice for those with low ovarian reserve seeking IVF treatment.

PLZF protein forms a complex with protein TET1 to target TCF7L2 in undifferentiated spermatogonia.

The transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF, also known as ZBTB16) is critical for the self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). However, the function of PLZF in SSCs is not clear. Here, we found that PLZF acted as an epigenetic regulator of stem cell maintenance and self-renewal of germ cells. The PLZF protein interacts with the ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) protein and subsequently acts as a modulator to regulate the expression of self-renewal-related genes. Furthermore, Transcription Factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is promoted by the coordination of PLZF and Tri-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3). In addition, testicular single-cell sequencing indicated that TCF7L2 is commonly expressed in the PLZF cluster. We demonstrated that PLZF directly targets TCF7L2 and alters the landscape of histone methylation in the SSCs nucleus. Meanwhile, the RD domain and Zn finger domain of PLZF synergize with H3K4me3 and directly upregulate TCF7L2 expression at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we identified a new association between PLZF and the histone methyltransferase EZH2 at the genomic level. Our study identified a new association between PLZF and H3K4me3, established the novel PLZF&TET1-H3K4me3-TCF7L2 axis at the genomic level which regulates undifferentiated spermatogonia, and provided a platform for studying germ cell development in male domestic animals.

Relationships between the mutations of the goat GATA binding protein 4 gene and growth traits.

Osteogenesis is a complex multilevel process regulated by multiple genes. The GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4) gene has been extensively studied for its pivotal role in bone genesis and bone differentiation. However, its relationship with the growth traits of Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) and Guizhou black (GB) goats remains unclear. This work aims to investigate the potential influence of genetic mutations in the GATA4 gene on the growth traits goats. Thus, two Insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphisms (8-bp-InDel and 9-bp-InDel) were screened and detected in a total of 1161 goats (including 980 SBWC goats and 181 GB goats) using PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. The analyses revealed that there were two genotypes (ID and DD) for these two loci. In SBWC goats, 8-bp-InDel and 9-bp-InDel loci were significantly associated with heart girth (HG) and hip width (HW). Notably, individuals with DD genotype of 8-bp-InDel locus were superior while those with DD genotype of 9-bp-InDel locus were inferior. Correlation analyses of the four combined genotypes revealed significant associations with cannon circumference (CC), body height (BH), HG and HW. This work provides a foundation for the application of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) in goat breeding programs. Furthermore, the findings highlight the potential of the GATA4 gene and its genetic variations as valuable indicators for selecting goats with desirable growth traits.

[BLOC1S1 promotes proliferation of goat spermatogonial stem cells].

With the rapid development of gene editing technology, the study of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) holds great significance in understanding spermatogenesis and its regulatory mechanism, developing transgenic animals, gene therapy, infertility treatment and protecting rare species. Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 subunit 1 (BLOC1S1) is believed to have anti-brucella potential. Exploring the impack of BLOC1S1 on goat SSCs not only helps investigate the ability of BLOC1S1 to promote SSCs proliferation, but also provides a cytological basis for disease-resistant breeding research. In this study, a BLOC1S1 overexpression vector was constructed by homologous recombination. The BLOC1S1 overexpression cell line of goat spermatogonial stem cells was successfully constructed by lentivirus packaging, transfection and puromycin screening. The overexpression efficiency of BLOC1S1 was found to be 18 times higher using real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Furthermore, the results from cell growth curve analysis, flow cytometry for cell cycle detection, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining showed that BLOC1S1 significantly increased the proliferation activity of goat SSCs. The results of RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting analyses revealed up-regulation of proliferation-related genes (PCNA, CDK2, CCND1), and EIF2S3Y, a key gene regulating the proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells. These findings strongly suggest that the proliferative ability of goat SSCs can be enhanced through the EIF2S3Y/ERK pathway. In summary, this study successfully created a goat spermatogonial stem cell BLOC1S1 overexpression cell line, which exhibited improved proliferation ability. This research laid the groundwork for exploring the regulatory role of BLOC1S1 in goat spermatogonia and provided a cell platform for further study into the biological function of BLOC1S1. These findings also establish a foundation for breeding BLOC1S1 overexpressing goats.

InDel and CNV within the AKAP13 Gene Revealing Strong Associations with Growth Traits in Goat.

A-kinase-anchoring protein 13 (AKAP13) is a member of the AKAP protein family that has been found to be associated with bone formation. Thus, we investigated the AKAP13 gene as a potential candidate gene for molecular-marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding. Our aim was to explore genetic variations (InDel and CNV) within the AKAP13 gene of Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) goats and analyze their relationship with growth traits. Ultimately, we identified three InDel loci (16-bp deletion, 15-bp insertion, and 25-bp deletion) and three CNVs, and the 16-bp and 15-bp loci were significantly associated with goat body length (p < 0.05). Both the 16-bp deletion variant and the 15-bp insertion variant facilitated an increase in body length in goats. In addition to this, there was a certain superposition effect between 16-bp and 15-bp loci, although there was no linkage. Additionally, the CNV1 locus was significantly correlated with body height and body length of goats (p < 0.05), and CNV2 was significantly correlated with chest depth, chest circumference, and cannon circumference of goats (p < 0.05). Individuals with gain type showed excellent growth performance. In conclusion, the InDel and CNV loci that we have identified could possibly serve as effective molecular markers in goat breeding, which is very essential for improving efficiency and success of breeding. Moreover, our findings provide a new avenue for further research into the function of the AKAP13 gene.

Detection distribution of CNVs of SNX29 in three goat breeds and their associations with growth traits.

As a member of the SNX family, the goat sorting nexin 29 (SNX29) is initially identified as a myogenesis gene. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the polymorphism in the SNX29 gene and its association with growth traits. In this study, we used an online platform to predict the structures of the SNX29 protein and used quantitative real-time PCR to detect potential copy number variation (CNV) in Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) goats (n = 541), Guizhou black (GB) goats (n = 48), and Nubian (NB) goats (n = 39). The results showed that goat SNX29 protein belonged to non-secretory protein. Then, five CNVs were detected, and their association with growth traits was analyzed. In SBWC goats, CNV1, CNV3, CNV4, and CNV5 were associated with chest width and body length (P < 0.05). Among them, the CNV1 individuals with gain and loss genotypes were superior to those individuals with a median genotype, but CNV4 and CNV5 of individuals with the median genotype were superior to those with the loss and gain genotypes. In addition, individuals with the gain genotype had superior growth traits in CNV3. In brief, this study suggests that the CNV of SNX29 can be used as a molecular marker in goat breeding.

Goat Pleomorphic Adenoma Gene 1 (PLAG1): mRNA Expression, CNV Detection and Associations with Growth Traits.

The pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) gene, as the major gene responsible for growth, plays a vital role in myogenesis. Meanwhile, the relationship between copy number variation (CNV) of this gene and growth traits in goats remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated four aspects: bioinformatics analysis, mRNA expression (n = 6), CNV detection (n = 224), and association analysis. The findings indicated that the gene had a large number of conserved motifs, and the gene expression level was higher in fetal goats than in adult goats. Three CNV loci were selected from the database, among which CNV1 was located in the bidirectional promoter region and was associated with goat growth traits. CNV analysis showed that CNV2 and CNV3 of the PLAG1 gene were associated with growth traits such as body weight, heart girth, height at hip cross, and hip width (p < 0.05), with CNV1 loss genotype being the superior genotype, and CNV2 and CNV3 median and gain genotypes of being superior genotypes. This finding further confirms that the PLAG1 gene is the dominant gene for growth traits, which will serve as theoretical guidance for goat breeding.