Analysis of risk factors leading to multiple breast abscesses during lactation.

We investigated 1805 cases of breast abscesses during lactation to estimate the risk factors for multiple breast abscesses during lactation. A total of 2000 cases of breast abscesses during lactation were investigated using an online questionnaire, and 1805 cases with complete data were analyzed. The survey response rate was 90%. According to the number of abscesses, the patients were divided into 2 groups: single breast abscess (number = 1298) and multiple breast abscess (number = 507). Pearson chi-square test was used to compare the 15 risk factors between the 2 groups. Risk factors with significant differences were substituted into a binary logistic regression model to analyze the independent risk factors associated with multiple breast abscesses during lactation. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in (1) weeks postpartum, (2) separated from the baby, (3) breastfeeding exclusivity, (4) nipple inversion, (5) fever, (6) breast redness/swelling, (7) nipple pain, (8) breast massage by nonmedical staff, with (1), (5), (6), and (8) being independent risk factors. Patients under 6 weeks postpartum, separated from the baby, not exclusively breastfeeding, having an inverted nipple on the affected side, fever, breast skin redness and swelling on the affected side, nipple pain, and having undergone a breast massage by nonmedical staff are more likely to develop multiple breast abscesses.

Neuroprotective Effects of Sodium Butyrate and Monomethyl Fumarate Treatment through GPR109A Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Restoration on PD Mice.

Research has connected Parkinson's disease (PD) with impaired intestinal barrier. The activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) protects the intestinal barrier by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which is a GPR109A ligand, may have anti-PD effects. The current study's objective is to demonstrate that NaB or monomethyl fumarate (MMF, an agonist of the GPR109A) can treat PD mice induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) via repairing the intestinal barrier. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups randomly: control, MPTP + vehicle, MPTP + NaB, and MPTP + MMF. Modeling mice received MPTP (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for a week, while control mice received sterile PBS. Then, four groups each received two weeks of sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), NaB (600 mg/kg/day, i.g.), or MMF (100 mg/kg/day, i.g.). We assessed the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and claudin-1), GPR109A, and p65 in the colon, performed microscopic examination via HE staining, quantified markers of intestinal permeability and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, and evaluated motor symptoms and pathological changes in the substantia nigra (SN) or striatum. According to our results, MPTP-induced defected motor function, decreased dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the striatum, decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and increased activated microglia in the SN, and systemic inflammation were ameliorated by NaB or MMF treatment. Additionally, the ruined intestinal barrier was also rebuilt and NF-κB was suppressed after the treatment, with higher levels of TJ proteins, GPR109A, and decreased intestinal permeability. These results show that NaB or MMF can remedy motor symptoms and pathological alterations in PD mice by restoring the intestinal barrier with activated GPR109A. We demonstrate the potential for repairing the compromised intestinal barrier and activating GPR109A as promising treatments for PD.

Heat strain in chemical protective clothing in hot-humid environment: Effects of clothing thermal properties.

Heat strain experienced by individuals wearing chemical protective clothing (CPC) is severe and dangerous especially in hot-humid environment. The development of material science and interdisciplinary studies including ergonomics, physiology and heat transfer is urgently required for the reduction of heat strain. The aim of this paper was to study the relationship among clothing thermal properties, physiological responses and environmental conditions. Three kinds of CPC were selected. Eight participants wore CPC and walked (4 km/h, two slopes with 5% and 10%) on a treadmill in an environment with (35±0.5) °C and RH of (60±5)%. Core temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, heat storage and tolerance time were recorded and analyzed. Physiological responses were significantly affected by the clothing thermal properties and activity intensity in hot-humid environment. The obtained results can help further development of heat strain model. New materials with lower evaporative resistance and less weight are necessary to release the heat strain in hot-humid environments.

Granulomatous mastitis in multiparae during pregnancy and lactation: Observational study (STROBE compliant).

ABSTRACT: The incidence of granulomatous mastitis (GLM) in multiparae as seriously affected the quality of life and breastfeeding of pregnant women after delivery, but the treatment is rarely reported. In this article, the development, healing, and lactation of 13 cases were reported and a retrospective analysis was performed. 10 cases of GLM were treated at the Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Center of Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing and 3 cases of GLM were treated in the Breast Department of Weihai Municipal Hospital of Shandong province from February 2017 to May 2019.Among the 13 patients, conservative symptomatic treatment was adopted during pregnancy and lactation: anti-infective therapy consisting of oral cephalosporin antibiotic for patients; ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage of pus or incision and drainage after abscess formation. Observation continued during the sinus tract phase. Postpartum breastfeeding was encouraged, especially on the affected side. In this study, the median healing time was 20 months and the average healing time was 30.4 months in 5 healthy breast lactation cases. In 8 cases of bilateral breast lactation, the median healing time was 30 months and the average healing time was 26.5 months. Linear regression test analysis: whether the affected breast was breast-fed after delivery had no effect on the postpartum wound healing time, P = .792. The wounds of 13 patients healed well after lactation, and none of them recurred since the last follow-up visit. There were no adverse events in all infants.Conservative symptomatic treatment for GLM of multiparous women during pregnancy and lactation and encouraging breastfeeding after delivery have no effect on infant health and the recovery time of patients.

Potential roles of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disease attributed to multifactorial changes. However, its pathological mechanism remains undetermined. Accumulating evidence has revealed the emerging functions of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, which can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Accordingly, intestinal dysbiosis might be closely associated with PD. This review explores alterations to gut microbiota, correlations with clinical manifestations of PD, and briefly probes the underlying mechanisms. Next, the highly controversial roles of microbial metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), H2 and H2S are discussed. Finally, the pros and cons of the current treatments for PD, including those targeting microbiota, are assessed. Advancements in research techniques, further studies on levels of specific strains and longitudinal prospective clinical trials are urgently needed for the identification of early diagnostic markers and the development of novel therapeutic approaches for PD.

Lactational Breast Abscesses Caused by Methicillin-Resistant or Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Infection and Therapeutic Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration.

Background and Objective: We investigated whether (1) there are any differences in lactational breast abscesses between patients from whom methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and those from whom methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were isolated from pus samples and (2) there are differences in the effects of ultrasound-guided aspiration. Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 171 patients with lactational breast abscesses treated by ultrasound-guided aspiration in Beijing from January to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into MSSA infection (N = 132) and MRSA infection (N = 39) groups according to their bacterial culture results. Abscess cavity location, abscess cavity number, maximum abscess cavity size, antibiotic utilization rate, and cure rate were compared between the groups. Cure rate refers to the proportion of the total number of cases remaining after the elimination of failed cases. The number of ultrasound-guided aspiration procedures performed for healing between the two groups was also compared. Results: There were no significant differences in abscess cavity location, abscess cavity amount, and abscess cavity size between both groups. The antibiotic utilization rate of the two groups were 58.3% (MSSA, 77/132) and 69.2% (MRSA, 27/39), respectively, and there were no significant differences between both groups. The cure rates of ultrasound-guided aspiration of the two groups were 97.7% (MSSA, 129/132) and 92.3% (MRSA, 36/39), and there were no significant differences between both groups. There were also no significant differences in the median number of aspiration performed for cure between the MRSA infection group (median = 3, range = 1-10) and the MSSA infection group (median = 3, range = 1-14). Conclusion: Lactational breast abscesses are the same irrespective of the type of S. aureus infection. Treatment by ultrasound-guided aspiration for patients with MRSA infection can achieve the same effect as that for those with MSSA infection.

The effect of tetramethylpyrazine on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Tetramethylpyrazine has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The underlying mechanism of cardioprotective effects, however, remains to be elucidated. Here, using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we have assessed the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage. After pre-incubation with tetramethylpyrazine (50, 100 and 150 microg/ml) for 24 hr., viability loss in H(2)O(2)-induced HUVECs (76.5% of the control level, p < 0.05, at 400 microM of H(2)O(2) for 12 hr.) was restored in a concentration-dependent manner, and the maximal recovery (88.7% of the control level, p < 0.05) was achieved with tetramethylpyrazine at 150 microg/ml. The production of reactive oxygen species was suppressed by measuring fluorescent intensity of 2',7'-dichorofluorescein (83.1% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Tetramethylpyrazine also increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (144.1% and 118.3% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). In addition, tetramethylpyrazine reduced levels of malonaldehyde, intracellular nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase (83.8%, 91.2% and 78.7% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.05, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Furthermore, pre-incubation of tetramethylpyrazine with HUVECs for 24 hr. resulted in reduction of apoptosis and removal of cell cycle arrest in the S phase (56.6% and 59.7% of the H(2)O(2)-treated group, respectively, p < 0.01, at 150 microg/ml of tetramethylpyrazine). Altogether, these results suggest that tetramethylpyrazine has a protective effect on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in HUVECs due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.

[Study on the ultraviolet spectrum in a series of 2 (1H)-quinoxalin-2-one derivatives].

A series of 2 (1H)-quinoxalin-2-one derivatives: 1-alkyl-3-methyl-2 (1H)-quinoxalin-2-one (AMQ, alkyl = H, CH3, C2H5, n-C3H7, n-C5H11, n-C16H33) have been studied by ultraviolet spectrometry. They may be used as highly active fungicides, compounds inhibiting the growth of plants, neuroprotectant for cerebral ischemia, new fluorescent probes, selective antagonists to alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methly-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) et al. Results show that as the length of the alky1 chain at the nitrogen on the 1-position increases, little changes have been found in the ultraviolet absorption spectra. All spectra have similar peak shape, a strong shoulder peak appears around 327 and 340 nm with a weaker peak around 280 nm. The peak about 340 nm in the UV spectrum is mainly due to the transition of n-->pi* and pi-->pi*, the intense absorption peak about 327 and 280 nm is as the result of the transition of pi-->pi*.