Disorder-tuned conductivity in amorphous monolayer carbon.

Correlating atomic configurations-specifically, degree of disorder (DOD)-of an amorphous solid with properties is a long-standing riddle in materials science and condensed matter physics, owing to difficulties in determining precise atomic positions in 3D structures1-5. To this end, 2D systems provide insight to the puzzle by allowing straightforward imaging of all atoms6,7. Direct imaging of amorphous monolayer carbon (AMC) grown by laser-assisted depositions has resolved atomic configurations, supporting the modern crystallite view of vitreous solids over random network theory8. Nevertheless, a causal link between atomic-scale structures and macroscopic properties remains elusive. Here we report facile tuning of DOD and electrical conductivity in AMC films by varying growth temperatures. Specifically, the pyrolysis threshold temperature is the key to growing variable-range-hopping conductive AMC with medium-range order (MRO), whereas increasing the temperature by 25 °C results in AMC losing MRO and becoming electrically insulating, with an increase in sheet resistance of 109 times. Beyond visualizing highly distorted nanocrystallites embedded in a continuous random network, atomic-resolution electron microscopy shows the absence/presence of MRO and temperature-dependent densities of nanocrystallites, two order parameters proposed to fully describe DOD. Numerical calculations establish the conductivity diagram as a function of these two parameters, directly linking microstructures to electrical properties. Our work represents an important step towards understanding the structure-property relationship of amorphous materials at the fundamental level and paves the way to electronic devices using 2D amorphous materials.

DNMT1-targeting remodeling global DNA hypomethylation for enhanced tumor suppression and circumvented toxicity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The faithful maintenance of DNA methylation homeostasis indispensably requires DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in cancer progression. We previously identified DNMT1 as a potential candidate target for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, how the DNMT1- associated global DNA methylation is exploited to regulate OSCC remains unclear. METHODS: The shRNA-specific DNMT1 knockdown was employed to target DNMT1 on oral cancer cells in vitro, as was the use of DNMT1 inhibitors. A xenografted OSCC mouse model was established to determine the effect on tumor suppression. High-throughput microarrays of DNA methylation, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, multiplex immunohistochemistry, functional sphere formation and protein immunoblotting were utilized to explore the molecular mechanism involved. Analysis of human samples revealed associations between DNMT1 expression, global DNA methylation and collaborative molecular signaling with oral malignant transformation. RESULTS: We investigated DNMT1 expression boosted steadily during oral malignant transformation in human samples, and its inhibition considerably minimized the tumorigenicity in vitro and in a xenografted OSCC model. DNMT1 overexpression was accompanied by the accumulation of cancer-specific DNA hypomethylation during oral carcinogenesis; conversely, DNMT1 knockdown caused atypically extensive genome-wide DNA hypomethylation in cancer cells and xenografted tumors. This novel DNMT1-remodeled DNA hypomethylation pattern hampered the dual activation of PI3K-AKT and CDK2-Rb and inactivated GSK3ß collaboratively. When treating OSCC mice, targeting DNMT1 achieved greater anticancer efficacy than the PI3K inhibitor, and reduced the toxicity of blood glucose changes caused by the PI3K inhibitor or combination of PI3K and CDK inhibitors as well as adverse insulin feedback. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting DNMT1 remodels a novel global DNA hypomethylation pattern to facilitate anticancer efficacy and minimize potential toxic effects via balanced signaling synergia. Our study suggests DNMT1 is a crucial gatekeeper regarding OSCC destiny and treatment outcome.

Ultrasensitive Biochemical Sensing Platform Enabled by Directly Grown Graphene on Insulator.

To fabricate label-free and rapid-resulting semiconducting biosensor devices incorporating graphene, it is pertinent to directly grow uniform graphene films on technologically important dielectric and semiconducting substrates. However, it has long been intuitively believed that the nonideal disordered structures formed during direct growth, and the resulted inferior electrical properties will inevitably lead to deteriorated sensing performance. Here, graphene biosensor chips are constructed based on direct plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) grown graphene on a 4-inch silicon wafer with excellent film uniformity and high yield. To surprise, optimal operations of graphene biosensors permit ultrasensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleocapsid protein with dilutions down to sub-femtomolar concentrations. Such impressive limit of detection (LOD) is comparable to or even outperforms that of the state-of-the-art biosensor devices based on high-quality graphene. Further noise spectral characterizations and analysis confirms that the LOD is limited by molecular diffusion and/or known interference signals such as drift and instability of the sensors, rather than the electrical merits of the graphene devices along. Hence, result sheds light on processing directly grown PECVD graphene into high-performance sensor devices with important economic benefits and social significance.

The effects of a galectin-3 inhibitor on bladder pain syndrome in mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis.

AIMS: To explore the effect of blocking galectin-3 in the bladder pain syndrome associated with interstitial cystitis. METHODS: A galectin-3 inhibitor was used to treat mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. The expression of galectin-3 in bladder tissues and urine was examined by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Suprapubic-pelvic pain, bladder voiding, bladder pain-like nociceptive behavior, and referred hyperalgesia were assessed. The weights of the bladders were also measured, and inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine levels were examined by histopathological evaluation. The inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), nerve growth factor (NGF), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Increases in galectin-3 levels, inflammation, bladder weight, and bladder pain-related symptoms were observed in bladders with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Administration of the galectin-3 inhibitor significantly mitigated bladder pain-related symptoms and inflammatory response. In response to the 500 µM dose of the galectin-3 inhibitor, nociceptive behaviors, nociceptive score, and bladder-to-body weight ratios were reduced by 65.1%, 65.3%, and 40.3%, respectively, while 500 µM Gal-3 inhibitor increased pelvic pain threshold by 86.7%. Moreover, galectin-3 inhibitor treatment inhibited the inflammation. Compared to untreated CYP-induced mice, there were significant changes in the levels of IL-1ß (41.72 ± 2.05 vs. 18.91 ± 2.26 pg/mg tissues), NGF (9.64 ± 0.38 vs. 1.88 ± 0.05 pg/mg tissues), IL-6 (42.67 + 1.51 vs. 21.26 + 2.78 pg/mg tissues, and TNF-α (22.02 ± 1.08 vs. 10.70 ± 0.80 pg/mg tissues) in response to the highest dose of the Gal-3 inhibitor subgroup (500 µM), and 500 µM Gal-3 inhibitor reduced mast cell infiltration ratios by 71.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The galectin-3 inhibitor relieved pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, and bladder inflammation in mice with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Thus, galectin-3 inhibitors may be novel agents in interstitial cystitis treatment.

Mullerian adenosarcoma of the uterus with MASO: a case report of cervical adenosarcoma in a young female that never had sexual behavior.

BACKGROUND: Cervical mullerian adenosarcoma is a rare uterine sarcoma, especially in young women. Its pathological features are low-grade malignant tumors with bidirectional differentiation, and the degree of malignancy is similar to that of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. This paper reports the case of a young asexual patient who has been closely followed up after tumor resection and has not had any recurrences. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old, young asexual woman was diagnosed with cervical mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO). Cervical tumor resection was performed after admission, and the resection margin was negative. After the operation, she refused to undergo secondary surgery due to fertility requirements and did not receive adjuvant treatment. The patient was closely followed up after the operation and has not yet relapsed. CONCLUSION: A young woman with cervical MASO did not receive adjuvant treatment after cervical tumor resection. For women with fertility requirements, close follow-ups should be conducted after the operation to guard against tumor recurrence and radical tumor resection should be performed as early as possible after the patient no longer requires their fertility.

Development of recombinase amplification assays for the rapid detection of infectious myonecrosis virus.

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) has affected shrimp farming in many countries, such as northeastern Brazil and southeast Asia, and poses a serious threat to the global shrimp industry. Reverse transcription enzymatic recombinant amplification technology (RT-ERA) is a rapid DNA amplification assay with high specificity in isothermal conditions and has been widely applied to the pathogen's detection. In this study, two novel ERA assays of IMNV, real-time RT-ERA and an RT-ERA combined with lateral flow dipsticks assay (RT-ERA-LFD), were developed and evaluated. The real-time RT-ERA assay could be carried out at 38-42 °C and had the highest end-point fluorescence value and the smallest Ct value at 41 °C. The brightness and width of the detection line were at a maximum at 39 °C and 30 min, and these conditions were selected in RT-ERA-LFD. Both real-time RT-ERA and RT-ERA-LFD produced positive results with IMNV standard plasmids only and showed no cross-reaction with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VpAHPND); white spot syndrome virus (WSSV); infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV); or Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei (EHP). Meanwhile, we compared the sensitivities of nested RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, real-time RT-ERA, and RT-ERA-LFD. The sensitivities of real-time RT-ERA and RT-ERA-LFD were both 101 copies/µL. The detection sensitivities of nested RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR were 100 and 102 copies/µL, respectively. As a result, two ERA assays were determined to be specific, sensitive, and economical methods for the on-site diagnosis of IMNV infection, showing great potential for the control of IMNV infections.

Differential OAT methylation correlates with cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment and overall survival postradiotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma patient.

BACKGROUND: Given that DNA methylation and tumor microenvironment (TME) are susceptible to radiotherapy, we aimed to figure out specific differential DNA methylation to reflect oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) prognosis and associated effect on TME changes postradiotherapy, performing as an efficient biomarker. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Differentially methylation analysis was performed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Curves of Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival, cumulative hazard and events, Cox proportional hazards, and linear regression model were conducted to screen and validate differential methylation genes, while multiple regression equation to analyze if ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) methylation correlates with radiotherapy. For correlation between OAT methylation and immune infiltrates, CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms were performed, following gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and ssGSEA analysis to evaluate biological process. RESULTS: Compared to normal tissues, only OAT in OSCC was differential significantly by K-M analysis (p = 0.0364). OAT hypermethylation was associated with increased overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.65, p = 0.0358). Radiotherapy correlated with OAT methylation (ß = -0.01, p = 0.0061); most patients with OAT hypermethylation were radiation-sensitive. Hypomethylated OAT correlated with higher cell infiltrations in TME. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction was most significantly related to OAT methylation (p = 9.2e-10). Sulfur metabolism was the most significantly in OAT hypermethylation group (p = 0.0041) and RIG-I-like receptor in OAT hypomethylation group (p = 0.0094). CONCLUSION: OAT methylation can serve as a predictor of OSCC prognosis postradiotherapy with potential mechanism by changing cell infiltrations in TME, but further experimental study deserves to carry out confirming the role and mechanism of OAT methylation in OSCC.

Can preoperative ureteral stents reduce the incidence of ureteral stricture after radiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of preoperative stent placement on postradiotherapy stricture rate in patients with cervical cancer after radical resection. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of data collected from 55 cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy between June 2016 and June 2020. Patients were divided into the stent and control groups. After 3 months, the stricture rate and the complications related to stent placement between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 12 (46.2%) and 10 (34.5%) cases of ureteral stricture in the stent (n = 26) and control (n = 29) groups, respectively, three months after the end of radiotherapy. The incidence rates of ureter stricture in the two groups were not significantly different (P = 0.378). Moreover, there were 20 units (38.5%) and 15 units (25.9%) ureteral strictures in the stent and control groups, respectively. No significant difference in the incidence rates of ureteral strictures was found between the two groups (P = 0.157). There were 13 (50.0%) and 10 (34.5%) cases of ureteral stricture in the stent (n = 26) and control (n = 29) groups, respectively, six months after the end of the radiotherapy. The incidence rates of ureter stricture in the two groups were not significantly different (P = 0.244). Moreover, there were 21 units (40.4%) and 15 units (25.9%) ureteral strictures in the stent and control groups, respectively. No significant difference in the incidence rates of ureteral strictures was found between the two groups (P = 0.105). Complications related to stent placement such as urinary tract infections and bladder irritation were statistically significant (P = 0.006 and P = 0.036) between the two groups; while the other complications were not significantly different (P = 0.070, P = 0.092 and P = 0.586). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral stents may not reduce the incidence of ureteral stricture after radiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer. The stent needs to be replaced regularly, and the complications related to stent placement may occur at any time. Thus, preoperative stent placement should be cautious for the clinical management of cervical cancer patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy.

Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment treatment in exfoliative cheilitis: A randomised controlled clinical trial and monitoring blood concentration.

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus has been used to treat various inflammatory skin diseases, but its safety for topical application on the oral mucosa is unknown. Exfoliative cheilitis (EC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lips characterised by repeated scaling; it is difficult to manage. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus 0.03% ointment as a topical treatment in patients with EC. METHODS: In this randomised controlled clinical trial, 40 patients with EC were randomly assigned to receive either tacrolimus 0.03% ointment (experimental group, n = 20) or triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream (control group, n = 20) treatment for a 3-week period. Medication was administered in 3, 2 and 1 daily doses during the first, second and third weeks, respectively. The patients with complete healing were followed up for 3 months. The clinical outcomes were measured, including the scores regarding signs (scale, dryness, rhagades and swelling) and symptoms (rough, dry, pain, pruritus and burning sensation) at every visit. Blood concentrations of tacrolimus were assessed. RESULTS: After the 3-week treatment, healing rates of scale in the experimental and control groups were 65% and 10%, respectively (P = .018). Improvement in all signs and two symptoms (rough, pruritus) was much greater in the experimental group (P < .05). The 3-month recurrence rate was higher in the control group (P = .029). Tacrolimus blood concentrations were in the safe range (< 5 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment has good short-term efficacy and safety for treating EC.

The hypothesis of tumor-associated macrophages mediating semi-phagocytosis of cancer cells in distant metastasis.

Tweetable abstract Tumor-associated macrophages might promote the distant metastasis of tumor cells by semi-phagocytosis. The authors propose that this newly discovered process occurs in tumor-associated macrophages and may lead to a novel approach for blocking cancer metastasis.

Bergenin inhibits bladder cancer progression via activating the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system with high mortality and morbidity. Evidence revealed that bergenin could affect the development of cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of bergenin on bladder cancer progression and its mechanism. The effect of bergenin on cell function was first detected, followed by assessing the changes of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bergenin-treated cells. The effect of bergenin on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/Akt signal pathway was measured by Western blotting, followed by the rescue experiments. The results showed that bergenin treatment significantly decreased cell viability and increased G1 phase arrest, accompanied by reduced expression of Ki67, cycling D1, and cycling B1 in bladder cancer cells. Apoptosis was induced by bergenin in bladder cancer cells, as evidenced by increased Bax and cleaved caspase 3 protein levels and decreased Bcl-2 level in bergenin-treated cells. Meanwhile, the inhibition of the invasion, migration, and EMT was also observed in bergenin-treated cells. Mechanism studies showed that bergenin treatment could activate PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway, as evidence by the increased nucleus PPARγ and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression and decreased Akt expression. Moreover, PPARγ inhibitor administration inverted the effects of bergenin on bladder cancer cell function, including the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration in bladder cancer cells. Our findings revealed that bergenin could inhibit bladder cancer progression via activating the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signal pathway, indicating that bergenin may be a potential therapeutic medicine for bladder cancer treatment.

Bioinformatics analysis of the Hub genes and key pathways of interstitial cystitis pathogenesis.

AIMS: This study aimed to identify suitable datasets for reanalysis and then explore potential key genes and related pathways of interstitial cystitis (IC). METHODS: We searched the Gene Expression Omnibus database and three expression profile datasets and included 23 lesions of IC and 9 normal tissues in the analysis. Eight urine specimens of patients with IC and five urine specimens of healthy controls were also included. Then, these datasets were reanalyzed to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were used to perform Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses. These identified candidate genes were also applied to generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. RESULTS: Forty-two common DEGs were sorted and identified from two datasets, both of which included the samples of bladder lesions. Based on their functions and signaling pathways, these 42 DEGs are mainly classified as cell-surface proteins and are involved in the immune and inflammatory responses. The PPI network included 41 nodes. In this network, we identified 11 genes as central nodes that are involved in the immune system and the inflammatory response. Furthermore, IC with Hunner's lesions shared the same DEGs with IC without Hunner's lesions. In both subgroups (IC with and without Hunner's lesions), we identified some common DEGs shared between bladder lesions and urine samples. CONCLUSION: Using bioinformatics, we integrated different IC-related datasets and identified potential critical genes involved in IC that may contribute to future research on IC.

Percheron Infarction: Is It Just a Rare Cerebrovascular Variant or a Forewarning of Severe Multiple Posterior Circulation Infarcts.

Percheron infarction, arising from occlusion of the Artery of Percheron, is few, which can result in bilateral thalamic and mesencephalic infarctions. We herein showcase a confirmed case of the Percheron infarction at the admission day, in which the patient advanced into severe multiple posterior circulation infarcts, along with petechial hemorrhage within the infarcts, even given the right therapy without delay. It reminds us that whether we could or should take this special infarction as a forewarning of more harmful infarcts getting in the way, or at least a precaution of poor vessel condition.

Diagnostic Value Comparison of Urothelium Carcinoma Among Urine Exfoliated Cells Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) Examination, Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, and Urine Cytologic Examination.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of urine exfoliated cells FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination on the diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma with hematuresis symptom. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 30 patients with suspicious upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma between Aug 2010 and Aug 2011 were enrolled, including 23 males and 7 females. All the subjects received urine exfoliated cells FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination. Twenty-one cases were diagnosed as urothelium carcinoma, including 14 cases of carcinoma of renal pelvis and 7 cases of carcinoma of ureter. There were 6 cases in stage Ta/T1, 12 cases in stage T2, and 3 cases in T3/T4. The other 9 cases consisted of 1 case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the renal pelvis, 2 cases of nephrotuberculosis, and 6 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma. RESULTS The total sensitivity of FISH examination, CT scan, and urine cytologic examination on upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma was 85.7%, 66.7%, and 28.6%, respectively (P<0.05). The tumor staging detection on Ta/T1, T2, and T3/T4 by FISH was 66.7%, 91.7%, 100%; by CT scan 33.3%, 75.0%, 100%; and by urine cytologic examination 0%, 25.0%, and 100%. Their diagnostic specificities were 88.9%, 77.8%, and 100%, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic sensitivity on upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma was highest in FISH examination, followed by CT scan and urine cytologic examination. FISH technique obviously improves the diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelium carcinoma.

Measurement and reconstruction of three-dimensional configurations of specimen with tiny scattering based on digital holographic tomography.

Based on digital holographic tomography, a method for measuring the three-dimensional (3D) configuration of a transparent object with tiny scattering is proposed. By rotating a Michelson interferometer around static specimen, a series of the phase change distributions of reconstructed object beams carrying the structure information of specimen can be obtained at complete angle range, and the rotation of specimen can be avoided. In addition, phase multiplication of the interferometer can be used to improve the measurement sensitivity of specimen with tiny scattering. And then, as an example, the tomographic maps and 3D configurations of an ultrasonic standing wave field are measured according to the filtered-backprojection algorithm. The comparison between experimental and simulation results is provided to certify the feasibility and reliability of the proposed method.

Primary Bladder Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report.

Primary bladder lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is diagnosed through histopathology and immunostaining. Most bladder lymphomas are of the B-cell type, with a higher incidence in women and often presenting with hematuria. This report details an exceptionally rare case of primary bladder T-cell lymphoma. A 50-year-old male, without hematuria or other symptoms, was diagnosed during a routine ultrasound. A computed tomography scan showed a tumor located in the anterior, right, and posterior walls. The patient underwent transurethral resection of the bladder lesion. Pathological examination of the tumor showed that it was composed of lymphoid tissue, in accordance with peripheral T-cell lymphoma of non-Hodgkin subtype.

Functional Property and Regulatory Mechanism of Macrophages in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: From Bench to Clinic.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a wide range of treatments that are gaining acceptance among the public. It is increasingly being recognized as a viable option for treating various diseases with minimal side effects. Common avenues of this therapy include herbal medicine, acupuncture, physical exercise, aromatherapy, dietary therapy, and homeopathy etc. Macrophages are highly heterogeneous cells that play multiple regulatory roles. Practices such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, physical exercise, aromatherapy and dietary therapy exert curative effects by modulating the polarization status and the secretory phenotype of macrophages directly. Furthermore, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and physical exercise influence the crosstalk between macrophages and other types of cells, including cancer cells and T cells. Mechanistically, herbal medicine and acupuncture produce curative effects in diverse diseases, including inflammatory diseases and tumors, mainly by influencing the phosphorylation of signaling proteins in macrophages. Therefore, targeting macrophages offers theoretical support for advancing the scientific understanding of this therapy and aids in identifying potential therapeutic options. Hence, in this review, we systematically summarize the different regulations of macrophages in herbal medicine, acupuncture, physical exercise, aromatherapy, dietary therapy and homeopathy, and further highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting macrophages in complementary and alternative medicine.

Efficacy and safety of dienogest in the treatment of deep infiltrating endometriosis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of dienogest (DNG) in the prolonged conservative drug management of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The findings from this study are intended to serve as a valuable reference for clinical decision-making regarding medication in the context of DIE. METHODS: Following the PRISMA Statement, we searched EMBASE, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Medline databases for relevant literature published in the public domain from the date of establishment of the database until October 2023. Subsequently, all English publications on clinical studies using DNG for the treatment of DIE were included. Studies involving surgical intervention or drug therapy for postoperative recurrence were excluded. All literature included in the review underwent risk assessment of bias. Two evaluators independently screened the publications, conducted a quality assessment of each article and extracted data. We used Revman 5.4 for the meta-analysis of the included literature. RESULTS: Our final analysis consisted of five clinical studies, involving a total of 256 patients. We found that there were significant improvements in the following indicators post-medication as compared to levels before taking the medication: dysmenorrhea (MD = 4.24, 95 % CI: 2.92-5.56, P < 0.00001), non-menstrual pelvic pain (MD = 3.11, 95 % CI: 2.34-3.88, P < 0.00001), dyspareunia (MD = 1.93, 95 % CI: 1.50-2.37, P < 0.00001), dyschezia (MD = 2.48, 95 % CI: 1.83-3.12, P < 0.00001), and rectosigmoid nodule size (MD = 0.32, 95 % CI: 0.18-0.46, P < 0.00001). Compared with pre-medication levels, the following indicators were significantly worse: headache (RR = 0.03, 95 % CI: 0.00-0.23, P = 0.0006), decreased libido (RR = 0.08, 95 % CI: 0.01-0.62, P = 0.02); and there was no significant improvement in dysuria (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: DNG showed efficacy in relieving pain-related symptoms and significantly reducing the size of the lesions when used in the drug conservative treatment of DIE.

Development of a prognostic model for long-term survival of young patients with bladder cancer: a retrospective analysis of the SEER Database.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to present the clinical characteristics of young patients with bladder cancer (YBCa), evaluate related risk factors and construct a nomogram based on data acquired from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the SEER Database (2004-2015) for primary YBCa. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data for YBCa (defined as those aged 40 years or younger) were extracted from the SEER Database, which covers approximately 28% of the US population, using the SEER*Stat software (V.8.4.0.1). A total of 1233 YBCa were identified. Patients were randomly assigned to the training and validation sets. The database included clinicopathological features, demographic information and survival outcomes, such as age, gender, race, year of diagnosis, marital status at diagnosis, primary tumour site, histological type, tumour grade, tumour, node, metastases (TNM) staging, treatment regimen for the primary tumour, cause of death and survival time. A nomogram model was developed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The prediction model was validated using the consistency index (C-index), calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic curve. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: 3-year, 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS). RESULTS: 1233 YBCa from 2004 to 2015 were randomly assigned to the training set (n=865) and validation set (n=368). Age, marital status, tumour grade, histological type and TNM staging were included in the nomogram. The C-index of the model was 0.876. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year OS area under the curve values for the training and validation sets were 0.949, 0.923 and 0.856, and 0.919, 0.890 and 0.904, respectively. Calibration plots showed that the nomogram had a robust predictive accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish a precise nomogram predicting the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year OS in YBCa based on multivariate analyses. Our nomogram may serve as a valuable reference for future diagnostics and individualised treatments for YBCa. However, external validation is warranted to assess the accuracy and generalisability of our prognostic model.