Elevated venous lactate level as an early predictive marker of organ failure in acute pancreatitis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between venous lactate levels and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective data analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. The comparative assessment encompassed baseline characteristics, laboratory data, illness severity, local consequences, and organ failure instances. This comparison was performed between patients exhibiting normal serum lactic acid levels (HL) and those displaying elevated HL levels. The association between serum HL levels and other pertinent clinical markers was investigated using linear regression. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the utility of elevated serum lactate levels in identifying high-risk groups. RESULTS: Significantly elevated serum HL levels were observed in patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in contrast to those with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) (p<0.01). Multivariate logistic analysis demonstrated that higher lactate levels independently predicted organ failure (95% CI 0.738-0.902, p<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the lactate (LAC) cut-off value of 2.45 mmol/L yielded sensitivity and specificity values of 76.5% and 79.1%, respectively, for predicting AP-associated organ failure. The corresponding area under the curve (AUC) was 0.820. CONCLUSIONS: In AP patients, elevated serum HL levels signify disease severity and hold predictive potential for assessing the risk of organ failure.

Cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer: Manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer is very rare. The understanding of this disease is incomplete. This situation delays its diagnosis and treatment, followed by poor prognosis. Here, we first report a study based on a network to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed was performed. All studies on cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer were collected. The publication date was limited from 2000 to the present, and the language was limited to English. SPSS 26.0 was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were included. The average patient age was 60.0 ± 16.0 years. In total, 72.2 % of the patients were male. The most common manifestation was nodular skin lesions (45.8 %). The metastases generally presented as multiple lesions (61.1 %). The most common metastasis location was the thoracoabdominal wall (56.9 %). 64.7 % of the patients simultaneously had extracutaneous metastases. Most of the tumors were poorly differentiated carcinomas (87.5 %), and 66.1 % had signet ring cells. 40.8 % of the cutaneous metastases presented as primary manifestations. Only 9.6 % had their diagnosis as soon as the cutaneous metastasis emerged. Systemic chemotherapy (65.6 %) was the most common treatment strategy, followed by radical surgery (12.5 %). The median overall survival was only 6 months. The median overall survival of 5 patients with resected tumors was 48 months. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous metastasis from gastric cancer usually manifests as an emerged nodule or erysipelas-like skin lesion. Resection of the cutaneous lesion could be helpful for patients with local metastases.

Diagnostic accuracy of swine echinococcosis cytopathological tests and challenges for a differential diagnosis: slaughterhouse data.

Echinococcosis disease shows clinical signs similar to many diseases. Hence we report cases that need to be confirmed using appropriate tests. A confirmatory study has been conducted to assess the accuracy of two cytopathological tests, with the histopathology test as the reference standard. The first cytopathological test evaluates the Ziehl Neelsen staining with an epifluorescence microscope (cytopath 1). The second cytopathological test uses the same staining followed by a transmitted light microscope examination (cytopath 2). Of a total of 2524 inspected pigs, 101 suspected cases of echinococcosis were detected, of which 67 were found positive with the two cytopathological tests and the histopathological one. The specificity of cytopath 1 (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]) and cytopath 2 (100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) were similar, as well as their respective positive predictive values: 100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]. The sensitivity of cytopath 1 is 79.66 % [95 % CI 69.39 - 89.93], while cytopath 2 equals 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 - 78.18]. The difference in sensitivity of both tests was not significant. Negative predictive values found for cytopath 1, and cytopath 2 were 40 [95 % CI 18.53 - 61.47] and 28.57 [95 % CI 11.84 - 45.3], leading to the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) Model estimate for an odds ratio of 1.4 [95 % CI 0.41 - 5.2], p = 0.06. Cytopath 1 and cytopath 2 are equivalent in terms of specificity (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100] vs. 100 % [95 % CI 100;100]) and positive predictive value (100 % [95 % CI 100 - 100]. Cytopath 1 is more sensitive than cytopath 2 but not significant (79.66 % [ 95 % CI 69.39 - 89.93] vs. 66.10 % [95 % CI 54.02 - 78.18]). However, the negative predictive value of cytopath 1 is better than that of cytopath 2: 40 % [95 % CI 18.53 - 61.47] vs. 28.57 % [95 % CI 11.84 - 45.3].

Kidney biopsy in subsaharan Africa / Ponctions biopsies rénales en Afrique subsaharienne

Materials and methods: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive study on biopsies examined between January 2015 and December 2019, in the pathological departments of University Teaching Hospital of Bouaké and Cocody-Abidjan. The KB came from four countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Guinea-Conakry and Burkina Faso). Optical microscopy and/or direct immunofluorescence techniques were used. All biopsy samples including epidemiological, clinical and pathological data and an optical microscopy and/or direct immunofluorescence study were included. The parameters studied were indications for KB, epidemiological profile, clinic, proteinuria and pathological aspects. Results: Over the study period, we collected 179 KB, i.e. 35.8 KB/year. The mean age of the patients was 32.9 ±13.8 years (range 11-70 years). The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.03. Pure nephrotic syndrome was the main indication (64.2 %, n = 115) for KB, followed by impure nephrotic syndrome (11.7 %, n = 21), acute renal failure (ARF) (7.8 %, n = 14) and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) (7.8 %, n = 14). Glomerulonephritis (GN) occurred in 86 % (n = 158), vascular nephropathy in 11.7 % (n = 21) and tubulointerstitial nephritis in 2.2 % (n = 4). The nephropathies were preferentially focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (34.6 %, n = 62), nephroangiosclerosis (10.6 %, n = 19), membranous GN (10 %, n = 18), post-infectious GN (8.9 %, n = 16) and lupus GN (7.3 %, n = 13). Conclusion: The KB is an essential step in the diagnosis of nephropathies. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is frequent in our study. The establishment of a Kidney registry would allow better knowledge of renal pathologies in sub-Saharan Africa.

La ponction biopsie rénale (PBR) constitue une avancée notable dans la prise en charge des néphropathies. En Afrique subsaharienne, peu d'études ont été réalisées. L'objectif de notre travail était d'évaluer les indications de la PBR et de déterminer les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et histologiques des néphropathies diagnostiquées en Afrique subsaharienne. Matériels et méthodes: Nous avons mené une étude rétrospective et descriptive portant sur les PBR examinées entre janvier 2015 et décembre 2019, dans les services d'anatomie et cytologie pathologiques des CHU de Cocody-Abidjan et de Bouaké. Les PBR provenaient de quatre pays africains (Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Guinée-Conakry et Burkina Faso). Les techniques de microscopie optique et/ou d'immunofluorescence directe ont été utilisées. Nous avons inclus l'ensemble des PBR contributives sur cette période et pour lesquelles nous disposions de données cliniques et biologiques. Les paramètres étudiés étaient les données cliniques et biologiques, l'indication de la PBR et les résultats histologiques. Résultats: Sur la période d'étude, nous avons colligé 179 PBR, soit 35,8 PBR/an. L'âge moyen des patients était de 32,9 ± 13,8 ans (extrêmes de 11 à 70 ans). Le sex ratio (H/F) était de 1,03. Le syndrome néphrotique pur était la principale indication (64,2 %, n = 115) à la réalisation d'une PBR, suivi du syndrome néphrotique impur (11,7 %, n = 21), de l'insuffisance rénale aiguë (IRA) (7,8 %, n = 14) et de la glomérulonéphrite rapidement progressive (GNRP) (7,8 %, n = 14). Les glomérulonéphrites (GN) s'observaient dans 86 % des cas (n = 158), les néphropathies vasculaires dans 11,7 % (n = 21) et les néphrites tubulo-interstitielles dans 2,2 % (n = 4). Les néphropathies les plus fréquentes étaient la hyalinose segmentaire et focale (34,6 %, n = 62), la néphroangiosclérose (10,6 %, n = 19), la GN extramembraneuse (10 %, n = 18), la GN post-infectieuse (8,9 %, n = 16) et la GN lupique (7,3 %, n = 13). Conclusion: La PBR est un geste capital pour le diagnostic des néphropathies. La hyalinose segmentaire et focale est la principale nosologie retrouvée dans notre cohorte. La mise en place d'un registre Rein permettrait une meilleure connaissance et prise en charge des pathologies rénales en Afrique subsaharienne.

[The mediating effect of perceived social support in the relationship between maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety].

Objective: Exploring the mediating effect of perceived social support between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety. Methods: Singleton pregnant women who underwent antenatal checkups in the obstetrics department of general hospital affiliated to Ningxia Medical University from July to December 2021 were enrolled in this study to investigate perceived social support, pregnancy-related anxiety and conscious personality traits. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the association between the maternal personality traits, perceived social support, and pregnancy-related anxiety, and the mediating effect of perceived social support was analyzed using Bootstrap method. Results: A total of 1 259 subjects were included in the study, of which 170 (13.50%) pregnant women felt introverted. The total score of perceived social support was (46.37±8.38), and 31.45% of pregnant women had high perceived social support. The total score of pregnancy-related anxiety was (21.48±5.53). The score of worry about fetal health was (10.09±3.24), and 368 (29.23%) of pregnant women had pregnancy-related anxiety. Maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety were negatively correlated (r=-0.076, P<0.05) and positively correlated with perceived social support during pregnancy (r= 0.127, P<0.05). Perceived social support during pregnancy and pregnancy-related anxiety were negatively correlated (r=-0.236, P<0.05). Perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety, with a relative effect value of 37.50%. Conclusion: The maternal personality traits, level of perceived social support and pregnancy-related anxiety are all related. Perceived social support could mediate the relationship between the maternal personality traits and pregnancy-related anxiety.

Invasive fungal infection is associated with antibiotic exposure in preterm infants: a multi-centre prospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Previous antibiotic exposure is an important risk factor for invasive fungal infection (IFI). Antibiotic overexposure is common in lower-income countries; however, multi-centre studies concerning IFI in relation to antibiotic exposure are scarce. AIM: This prospective, multi-centre matched case-control study explored the correlation of IFI and antibiotic exposure in very preterm infants or very-low-birthweight infants admitted to 23 tertiary hospitals in China between 2018 and 2021. METHODS: Using a 1:2 matched design for gestational age, birth weight and early-onset sepsis (yes/no), the risk factors between infants diagnosed with IFI and infection-free controls were compared. The antibiotic use rate (AUR) was calculated using calendar days of antibiotic therapy in the 4 weeks preceding IFI onset divided by onset day of IFI. FINDINGS: In total, 6368 infants were included in the study, of which 90 (1.4%) were diagnosed with IFI. Median AUR, length of antibiotic therapy (LOT) and days of antibiotic therapy (DOT) within the 4 weeks preceding IFI onset were 0.90, 18 days and 30 days, respectively. Multi-variate analysis showed that a 10% increase in AUR, each additional day of DOT and LOT, and each additional day of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems were notably associated with IFI. CONCLUSION: Prolonged antibiotic therapy is common before the onset of IFI, and is an important risk factor, especially the use of third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. Antibiotic stewardship should be urgently developed and promoted for preterm infants in order to reduce IFI in lower-income countries such as China.

[Improvement effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the intestinal flora of pregnant rats and their offspring under chronic stress].

Objective: To understand the improvement effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on the intestinal flora of mother mice during pregnancy and their offspring who experienced chronic stress, and provide new ideas for improving the effect of stress on the intestinal tract. Methods: From July to October 2019, 24 SPF-grade female SD rats were selected and divided into control group, stress group, and stress+LBP group, with 8 rats in each group. A chronic unpredictable mild stimulation model during pregnancy was established (21 days) , and 40 mg/kg LBP solution was administered by gavage on the 8th day of stress. Venous blood from the medial canthus of the female mice was collected on the 1st day before stress and on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days, respectively. Cortisol was measured and corticosterone concentration was calculated. The fresh feces of famale mice after stress and 20-day postnatal offspring mice were collected, and Illumina Miseq sequencing technology, alpha diversity and community composition were used to analyze the diversity and structure of intestinal flora. Results: On the 7th and 14th days of stress, the plasma corticosterone concentration of female mice in the stress group and stress+LBP group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . In the Alpha diversity of female mice, the Ace index of the stress group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) . The analysis of intestinal flora structure showed that at the species level, the proportions of Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus in the stress+LBP group were higher than those in the stress group and control group. At the order level, the proportion of Clostridiales in the stress+LBP group was higher than that in the stress group and lower than that in the control group, while the proportion of Lactobacillales was higher than that in the stress group and control group. In the Alpha diversity of the offspring group, the Shannon index, Ace index and Chao index of the stress+LBP offspring group were higher than those of the stress offspring group (P<0.05) . The proportion of Lactobacillus in the stress+LBP offspring group was higher than that in the control offspring group and stress offspring group, and the proportions of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae in the stress+LBP offspring group were higher than those in the stress offspring group, the proportion of Bacteroidales in the stress+LBP offspring group was lower than that in the stress offspring group, and the proportion of Clostridiales in the stress+LBP offspring group was higher than that in the stress and control offspring groups. Conclusion: The intervention of LBP may improve the changes in the intestinal flora diversity, abundance and flora structure of mother mice and offspring caused by pregnancy stress, thereby maintaining the balance of intestinal flora.

The efficiency and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced biliary tract cancers based on gene profiles: A retrospectively controlled study.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are potential agents to improve the survival of advanced biliary tract cancers (ABTCs). The current results are controversial because the predictors are imprecise. We present our primary experience with ABTCs based on gene landscape with exciting outcomes. ABTCs who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from October 2019 to March 2021 were enrolled. They were divided into chemotherapy group or immunotherapy group according to the treatment. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were response and toxicities. SSPS 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. A total of 33 patients were enrolled, including 25 in the chemotherapy group and 8 in the immunotherapy group. The median OS and PFS of the chemotherapy group were 2 and 4 months, respectively. The estimated median OS and PFS of immunotherapy were 10 + and 10 + months, respectively. The differences of OS and PFS between the 2 groups were significant (P = .000; P = .003). Stratified analysis showed that these differences were mainly from those patients with high expression of PD-L1 > 10%. The difference in the overall response was significant between 2 groups (χ2 = 9.275; P = .026). The difference in adverse events between the 2 groups was not significant. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were effective and safe for ABTCs with high expression of PD-L1. The threshold should be precise.

[Clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm insemination with micro amount frozen-thawed diagnostic sperm in the treatment of azoospermia].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with micro amount frozen-thawed diagnostic sperm obtained by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE), percutaneous epididymal sperm as-piration (PESA) and testicularsperm extraction (TESA) in the treatment of azoospermia. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 736 ICSI cycles of azoospermia patients.In Reprocluctive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2019. Including 199 ICSI cycles (microTESE 47cycles, PESA 75cycles and TESA 77 cycles) with micro amount frozen-thawed diagnostic sperm and 537 ICSI cycles (microTESE 23 cycles, PESA 111 cycles and TESA 403 cycles) with fresh micro amount sperm. The general conditions, embryo development conditions and clinical outcomes of patients were compared between and within the two groups. Results: The recovery rate of PESA group was significantly lower than that of TESA group (89.3% vs 98.7%), P<0.05. The rate of 2PN in the fresh control group was significantly higher than that in the experiment group (75.5% vs 71.3%) and the rate of 2PN in the fresh microTESE and PESA groups were also significantly higher than those of the frozen-thawed microTESE and PESA groups (74.2% vs 64.6%) and (78.5% vs 72.4%), P<0.05. Both the rate of D5 blastocyst formation and high quality blastocyst in the fresh group were significantly lower than that in the experiment group (26.9% vs 32.9%) and (15.1% vs 18.0%), P<0.05; both the rate of early cleavage and blastocyst formation in the fresh microTESE group were significantly lower than that in the frozen-thawed microTESE group (55.1% vs 68.3%) (27.3% vs 39.3%), P<0.05. Both the rate of 8 cells embryos and blastocyst formation in the fresh TESA group were significantly lower than those of the TESA frozen-thawed group (41.3% vs 46.0%) (26.5% vs 32.4%), P<0.05. There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate and planting rate between or within the groups(P>0.05). The abortion rate in the frozen-thawed group was significantly higher than the fresh group (12.0% vs 4.0%), P<0.05, especially the abortion rate in the PESA frozen-thawed group was significantly higher than the fresh group (18.0% vs 1.7%), P<0.05. There was no significant difference in gender, weight and body length between the fresh group and the frozen-thawed group (P>0.05), but there were two malformed babies born in the frozen-thawed group. Conclusions: Frozen-thawed microinjection of diagnostic microspermatozoa is a feasible method for the treatment of asthenospermia.There was on significonty difference in pregnancy rate and planting rate between of with in the groups. However, significantly higher than the fresh PESA group of the influence on offspring needs to be further studied.

Kaempferol suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis and DNA damage in human gallbladder cancer cells through the CDK4/CDK6/cyclin D1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Kaempferol has been reported to play an anti-tumor role in various human cancers, while its role in gallbladder cancer (GBC) is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We found that kaempferol significantly inhibited the growth, invasion and migration, meanwhile induced apoptosis through cells arrested at G0/G1 phase of GBC cell lines, including GBC-SD and SGC996 cells in vitro. RESULTS: Kaempferol promoted the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria to cytoplasm, the activation of c-caspase-3 and c-caspase-9 and increased the expression levels of pro-apoptotic factor Bax, meanwhile decreased the expression levels of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2. In addition, the expression levels of CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin D1, which are members of the CDK4/CDK6/cyclin D1 signaling pathway, were also decreased by kaempferol. Moreover, kaempferol could efficiently prevent tumor progression of GBC in the xenograft in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that kaempferol suppressed GBC progression through activation of the CDK4/CDK6/cyclin D1 signaling pathway, suggesting that it might be a potential anti-tumor agent for clinical treatment of GBC.

[Cytotoxic effect of photodynamic liposome gel combined with trastuzumab on drugresistant breast cancer cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with targeted therapy using cross-linked liposomes and gels (Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel) loaded with photosensitizer Chlorin (Ce6) and the tumor-targeting drug Trastuzumab (Tmab) in drug-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cells. OBJECTIVE: Ce6-PC-Tmab liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method. The general properties, encapsulation efficiency and near-infrared responsivity of the nanoparticles were evaluated. Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel with a shear response was prepared by freeze drying and stirring crosslinking, and its microstructure was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the shear response evaluated using a rheometer. The inhibitory effect of Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel in drug-resistant HER2+ breast cancer SK-BR-3 cells was assessed with cytotoxicity assay (MTT assay) combined with near-infrared light. OBJECTIVE: The particle size of Ce6-PC-Tmab was 239.7±9.7 nm and the potential was -2.03±0.09 mV. The entrapment efficiency of Tmab by Ce6-PC-Tmab liposomes was (40.22± 0.73)%. The prepared Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel had a good shear response with excellent drug release characteristics under nearinfrared light, and increased intensity and duration of near-infrared light exposure enhanced Tmab release from the gel. Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel was stable at room temperature and in a simulated tumor microenvironment (pH 6.25). Cytotoxicity assay (MTT) showed that Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel combined with near-infrared light resulted in a survival rate of (31.37±1.73)% in SKBR-3 cells, much lower than that in the control group and other treatment groups (P < 0.01); the combined treatment also had a high efficiency of ROS production, and ROS release reached (22.36 ± 0.11)% after 2 min of near-infrared light exposure. OBJECTIVE: The prepared Ce6-PC-Tmab@A-Gel has good near-infrared light response release characteristics to ensure effective targeted therapy with Tmab. The injectable gel system potentially allows long-term local drug release in the tumor to improve the treatment efficacy against drug-resistant breast cancer.

[Genetic analysis of mitochondrial pcox1 and ribosomal 18S rRNA genes in Eurytrema pancreaticum isolates from goats in Huaihua City, Hunan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic variation of Eurytrema pancreaticum isolated from goats in Huaihua City, Hunan Province. METHODS: The partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome I (pcox1) and ribosomal 18S rRNA genes were amplified using a PCR assay in E. pancreaticum isolates from goats in Huaihua City, Hunan Province, and the PCR amplification products were sequenced. Then, the gene sequences were subjected to genetic variation and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS: The sequences of the pcox1 and 18S rRNA genes were 430 bp and 1 857 bp in length in 18 E. pancreaticum isolates from goats in Huaihua City, Hunan Province, and there were 14 and 35 variation sites in pcox1 and 18S rRNA gene sequences, with intra-species genetic variations of 0 to 1.4% and 0 to 0.8%, respectively. The sequences of pcox1 and 18S rRNA genes had 99.0% to 99.8% and 99.5% to 99.8% homologies with those from E. pancreaticum Chinese strain recorded in the GenBank database. Consistent phylogenetic analysis results were found based on pcox1 and 18S rRNA genes. The 18 E. pancreaticum isolates from goats in Huaihua City were clustered into a clade with the known E. pancreaticum isolates registered in GenBank, and the clade with these 18 E. pancreaticum isolates was close to the clades with Eurytrema species and far from the clades with other trematodes. CONCLUSIONS: The E. pancreaticum isolates from goats have a low genetic variation in Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Mitochondrial pcox1 and ribosomal 18S rRNA genes may serve as molecular markers for the studies on the genetic variation in goat-derived E. pancreaticum.

Knockdown of long noncoding RNA DLX6-AS1 inhibits migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cells by upregulating UPF1.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Knockdown of long noncoding RNA DLX6-AS1 inhibits migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cells by upregulating UPF1, by Z.-B. Zhong, Y.-J. Wu, J.-N. Luo, X.-N. Hu, Z.-N. Yuan, G. Li, Y.-W. Wang, G.-D. Yao, X.-F. Ge, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23(24): 10867-10873-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201912_19790-PMID: 31858555" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/19790.

[Isolation and identification of Leptospira in patients with fever of unknown origin in Guizhou province].

Objective: To understand the etiological characteristics of the patients with fever of unknown origin in Guizhou province through the isolation and identification of Leptospira interrogans and provide evidence for the control, prevention and treatment of human leptospirosis. Methods: Blood and urine samples were collected from patients with fever symptoms in Qiandongnan, an epidemic area, in Guizhou. The suspected Leptospira strains were primarily identified using pathogenic Leptospira specific G1/G2-PCR, and subsequently identified by using Leptospira serogroups specific PCR. The Leptospira strains were then genotyped with multiple locus sequence typing. MLST data based cluster analysis on the isolates and Leptospira reference strains of common serogroups were analyzed by using software NTsys 2.10e. Results: Three suspected strains of Leptospira were isolated from human blood samples, the isolation rate was 8.６%, which were designated as strain 17BX002, 17BX003 and 17AJX008. Strain 17BX002 was further identified as serogroup grippotyphosa by using Leptospira serogroup specific PCR, while the other two strains were negative (excluded as iterohaemorrhagiae, sejroe, canicola, autumnalis, grippotyphosa and hebdomadis). MLST genotyping showed that strain 17BX002 was typed as ST106, most closely clustered with Leptospira grippotyphosa, while strain 17BX003 and 17AJX008 were typed as ST96, the same as serogroup badaviae. Conclusion: There are leptospirosis cases in epidemic area of Guizhou in high incidence season, grippotyphosa and bataviae are the newly discovered serogroups of Leptospira in Guizhou.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine causes retinal damage in C57BL/6J mice.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a powerfully addictive psychostimulant with pronounced effects on the central nervous system, but the precise mechanism of MDMA-induced toxicity remains unclear, specifically on the retina. This study was performed to investigate the effects of MDMA treatment on the retina and explore the underlying mechanism. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control and MDMA groups. Mice were treated with MDMA at progressively increasing doses (1-6 mg/kg) intraperitoneally 4 times per day. Electroretinography was used to test the retinal function. Pathological changes of the retina were examined by toluidine blue staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of cytokines in the retina. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure gene and protein expression in the retina, respectively. Our study showed that MDMA treatment impaired retinal function and decreased retinal thickness. MDMA treatment also increased transforming growth factor ß as well as inflammatory factors in the retina. Moreover, MDMA treatment increased protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and decreased tight junction protein expression in the retina. Our study indicated that treatment of MDMA caused retinal damage in C57BL/6J mice, associated with an increase of MMPs and a decrease of tight junction proteins.

[Effects of different ages and body mass index on embryo development time kinetic parameters and embryo development potential].

Objective: To investigate the effects of age and body mass index (BMI) on embryo development time kinetic parameters, embryo development potential and clinical pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 6 294 embryos from 832 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2016 to November 2018. According to the age, they were divided into two groups:<35-year-old group (655 cases, 5 076 embryos), ≥35-year-old group (177 cases, 1 218 embryos). According to the BMI, they were divided into three groups: low body mass group (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2), 47 cases, 355 embryos), normal body recombination (18.5-23.9 kg/m(2), 517 cases, 3 813 embryos), hyperrecombination (BMI>23.9 kg/m(2), 268 cases, 2 126 embryos). Embryo development time kinetic parameters, embryo development potential and clinical pregnancy outcomes in each group were compared. Results: Embryo development to 3 cells, 4 cells were faster in <35-year-old group than in ≥35-year-old group. The blastocyst formation rate, high-quality blastocyst formation rate, pregnancy rate, implantation rate, delivery rate, live birth rate, and abortion rate were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo utilization rate, high quality embryo rate, pregnancy rate, implantation rate, abortion rate, delivery rate, live birth rate between the three BMI groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The age has an effect on the partial embryo development time kinetic parameters, but BMI has a little effect on it.

Urine Extracellular Vesicle GATA2 mRNA Discriminates Biopsy Result in Men with Suspicion of Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: Prostate specific antigen has limited performance in detecting prostate cancer. The transcription factor GATA2 is expressed in aggressive prostate cancer. We analyzed the predictive value of urine extracellular vesicle GATA2 mRNA alone and in combination with a multigene panel to improve detection of prostate cancer and high risk disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GATA2 mRNA was analyzed in matched extracellular vesicles isolated from urines before and after prostatectomy (16) and paired urine and tissue prostatectomy samples (19). Extracellular vesicle GATA2 mRNA performance to distinguish prostate cancer and high grade disease was tested in training (52) and validation (165) cohorts. The predictive value of a multigene score including GATA2, PCA3 and TMPRSS2-ERG (GAPT-E) was tested in both cohorts. RESULTS: Confirming its prostate origin, urine extracellular vesicle GATA2 mRNA levels decreased significantly after prostatectomy and correlated with prostate cancer tissue GATA2 mRNA levels. In the training and validation cohort GATA2 discriminated prostate cancer (AUC 0.74 and 0.66) and high grade disease (AUC 0.78 and 0.65), respectively. Notably, the GAPT-E score improved discrimination of prostate cancer (AUC 0.84 and 0.72) and high grade cancer (AUC 0.85 and 0.71) in both cohorts when compared with each biomarker alone and PT-E (PCA3 and TMPRSS2-ERG). A GAPT-E score for high grade prostate cancer would avoid 92.1% of unnecessary prostate biopsies, compared to 61.9% when a PT-E score is used. CONCLUSIONS: Urine extracellular vesicle GATA2 mRNA analysis improves the detection of high risk prostate cancer and may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.

DR10601, a novel recombinant long-acting dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: Both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon (GCG) belong to the incretin family. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DR10601, a fully recombinant hybrid peptide with dual GLP-1/GCG receptor agonistic activity. METHODS: The agonistic ability of DR10601 was indirectly assessed by inducing cAMP accumulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with GLP-1R or GCGR in vitro. Following s.c. administration, the plasma pharmacokinetics of DR10601 were analysed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The antiobesity effects and improved glycaemic control of DR10601 in vivo were evaluated by administering DR10601 to high-fat DIO mice and ICR mice as a single dose or repeated s.c. doses once every 4 days for 24 days. RESULTS: DR10601 exhibits dual agonistic activity on GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. The plasma half-life of DR10601 in Sprague-Dawley rats following s.c. administration was 51.9 ± 12.2 h. In an IPGTT, a single s.c. dose of DR10601 (30 nmol/kg) produced similar glycaemic control effects and a longer duration of action compared to dulaglutide (10 nmol/kg). Compared with that achieved with liraglutide (40 nmol/kg) s.c. administered daily, DR10601 administered s.c. once every 4 days at 90 nmol/kg exerted a nearly equivalent effect on food intake and significantly reduced the body weights of high-fat DIO mice at 24 days. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated administration of DR1060 provides potent and sustained glycemic control and body weight loss effect in high-fat DIO mice. DR10601 is a promising long-acting agent deserving further investigation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.