The effect of the Ankle Pump Exercise (APE) counter system assisted ankle pump motion in patients after femoral neck fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the Ankle Pump Exercise (APE) counter system on moderate to high-risk Venous thromboembolism (VTE) after femoral neck fracture surgery. METHODS: From June 2021 to June 2022, a total of 140 patients with moderate and high-risk VTE after femoral neck fracture surgery treated at the Department of Orthopedics of a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang were included and divided into observation (70 cases) and control (70 cases) groups according to whether APE counter system was used or not. The control group was given routine oral propaganda, and the observation group was given a comprehensive nursing intervention with APE counter system on the basis of the control group's treatment. The compliance rates of the two groups on the postoperative 3st, 5rd, and 7th days were compared. Moreover, the General self-efficacy scale (GSES) was used to evaluate self-efficacy before and after exercise. RESULTS: The compliance rates of the control group and the observation group on the postoperative 3st, 5rd, and 7th days were 74.3% vs. 85.7%, 67.1% vs. 85.7%, and 61.4% vs. 82.9%. On the 5rd and 7th days, the compliance of the observation group was obviously higher than that of the control group. Moreover, the mean postoperative GSES score was also significantly higher than that in the control group (23.20 ± 3.516 vs. 25.31 ± 4.583, P < 0.05, values are expressed in mean ± standard). CONCLUSION: APE counter system can significantly improve the compliance and self-efficacy of patients with moderate and high-risk VTE after lower limb fracture surgery.

Impact of Biochar on Soil Properties, Pore Water Properties, and Available Cadmium.

Some effects of biochar on soil properties (such as pore water DOC) are not very clear. The changes of soil properties [cation exchange capacity (CEC)], pore water properties [pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and Cd concentration (CPW-Cd)], Cd concentration measured by diffusive gradients in thin films (CDGT-Cd), and available Cd content (Cd in weak acid extractable state and reducible state, CBCR-Cd) determined by the BCR sequential extraction procedure over time after biochar addition were studied by soil incubation and potted corn experiments with five soils from a mining area. The results showed increases of 20.3%-64.6% in CEC and 0.34-1.02 in pH (both p < 0.05) in the soil incubation after adding biochar. The DOC concentration was reduced by 8.2%-33.2% (p < 0.05). CPW-Cd, CDGT-Cd, and CBCR-Cd decreased by 14.2%-47.2%, 15.3%-47.9%, and 22.3%-61.4%, respectively. During the corn cultivation phase, CEC increased by 5.1%-29.0%, and DOC concentration decreased by 10.4%-41.3% (p < 0.05). CPW-Cd, CDGT-Cd, and CBCR-Cd decreased by 5.9%-22.4%, 7.2%-25.1%, and 10.5%-64.8%, respectively. Biochar effectively increased the biomass of corn roots and reduced the concentration of Cd in the roots. Biochar altered the properties of soil and pore water, reduced the bioavailability of Cd in soil, and mitigated the harm to corn caused by Cd.

[Effect of water extracts from duhuo jisheng decoction on expression of chondrocyte G1 phase regulator mRNA].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of water extracts from Duhuo Jisheng decoction on chondrocyte G1 phase. METHODS: Chondrocytes were collected from four-week-old SD rats to establish the chondrocyte in vitro culture system. The third generation of chondrocytes was intervened. MTT method was used to measure the effect of water extracts from different concentrations of Duhuo Jisheng decoction on chondrocyte activity. The expressions of Chondrocyte Cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK6 and P21 mRNA in the blank group and low, middle and high-dose groups (100, 200, 400 mg x L(-1)) were detected by RT-PCR method. RESULT: The MTT assay showed that the chondrocyte activity significantly increased within specific drug concentrations (50-800 mg x L(-1)) (P < 0.01); After the intervention for 24 h, the expressions of CyclinD1, CDK4 and CDK6 mRNA in all dose groups notably increased (P < 0.05), with the maximum expressions at the concentration of 200 mg x L(-1); The expression of P21 mRNA decreased, particularly at the concentration of 200 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Water extracts from Duhuo Jisheng decoction can promote chondrocyte proliferation by effecting the expression of chondrocyte G1 phase regulator mRNA.

Changes of microbiota level in urinary tract infections: A meta-analysis.

No consensus has been reached on the dysbiosis signs of microbiota in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). This meta-analysis aimed to verify the relationship between microbiota levels and UTIs. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were retrieved for related articles published from inception until October 20, 2021. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and its related 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the microbiota diversity and abundance were pooled under a random-effects model. Twelve studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that the microbiota diversity was lower in patients with UTIs than in healthy individuals (SMD = -0.655, 95% CI = -1.290, -0.021, I 2 = 81.0%, P = 0.043). The abundance of specific bacteria was higher in UTI subjects compared with healthy control individuals (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.07-0.74, P = 0.017), especially in North America patients with UTIs. Similar results were also found in studies with the total sample size being greater than 30. Importantly, Escherichia coli levels were increased in patients with UTI, whereas Lactobacillus levels decreased. E. coli and Lactobacilli have huge prospects as potential microbiota markers in the treatment of UTIs.

[Evaluation of the glucose screening retest during pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate of the glucose screening retest for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 714 pregnant women screened for GDM, between December 1, 2001, and December 31, 2002, was performed. The first glucose challenge test (GCT) was performed in 16 - 27 week and retested in 28 - 38 week. Diagnosis of GDM was based on the criteria of Dong. NDDG criteria was also discussed. RESULTS: (1) 1-hour glucose value of 50 g GCT >or= 7.8 mmol/L was set as abnormal. The first 50 g GCT abnormal rate was 26.6% (190/714), and the retest abnormal rate was 35.2% (225/639). The mean age of pregnant women in 50 g GCT positive group was significantly higher than that in the negative group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in family history and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups. Both the mean birth weight and the incidence of macrosomia of second 50 g GCT abnormal group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05). (2) By the criteria of Dong, 28 women were found to have GDM and 40 have IGT (impaired glucose tolerance) by the first 50 g GCT. New added cases included 15 GDM and 27 IGT by the retest 50 g GCT. By NDDG criteria, 14 GDM and 24 IGT cases were diagnosed by the first 50 g GCT, 5 GDM and 14 IGT cases by retest GCT. (3) The 1-hour blood glucose value [(7.3 +/- 1.6) mmol/L] in second 50 g GCT were significantly higher than those in first 50 g GCT [(6.9 +/- 1.8) mmol/L]. The results of 50 g GCT of two times were consistent in 68.1% women (normal/normal and abnormal/abnormal). There were 376 (52.7%) women whose 1-hour glucose value of the first 50 g GCT or= 7.8 mmol/L, and the 75 g OGTT should be done directly. (3) Maternal age appears to be the most important risk factor for GDM.

Comparative proteomic analysis of colon cancer cell HCT-15 in response to all-trans retinoic acid treatment.

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignances. In vitro and in vivo study show that retinoic acids inhibit a wide variety of cancer cells but the molecular mechanism of their anti-tumor effects are not yet fully understood. Alltrans retinoic acid (ATRA), an isomer of retinoic acid, can inhibit the proliferation of HCT-15 human colon cancer cell line. A proteomic analysis was performed using HCT-15 treated with ATRA to further elucidate the retinoic acid signaling pathway and its anti-tumor effect mechanism. MTT results showed that the growth of HCT-15 cells were significantly inhibited by ATRA. The alkaline phosphatase activity assay showed that ATRA failed to induce the differentiation of HCT-15. The DNA ladder detection showed that ATRA induced apoptosis in HCT-15. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry identified 13 differentially expressed proteins in HCT-15 cells after all-trans retinoic acid treatment. Among the identified differentially expressed proteins, there were four scaffold proteins (YWHAE, SFN, YWHAB, and YWHAZ), two ubiquitin modification related proteins (ISG-15 and UBE2N), two translational initiation factors (EIF1AX and EIF3K), two cytoskeleton related proteins (EZRI and CNN3), two proteinmodification related proteins (TXNDC17 and PIMT), and one enzyme related to phospholipid metabolism (PSP). Both EZRI and UBE2N were rendered to western-blot validation and the results were consistent with the two-dimension electrophoresis analysis. In this study, the differentially expressed proteins in HCT-15 treated by ATRA were identified, which will assist the further elucidation of the anti-tumor mechanism of retinoic acids.

[Experimental research on effects of different T cell ratios of graft to receptor on severity of GVHD after allo-stem cell transplantation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has achieved great progress in hematology, and provided possibility to cure malignant hematological diseases. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant complication after transplantation with a mortality of over 30%. In clinical practice we noticed that the successful implantation and the severity of GVHD were associated with T cell ratio of graft to receptor after pretreatment. This study was to set up rat allo-stem cell transplantation model, and explore effects of different T cell ratios of graft to receptor on severity of GVHD. METHODS: SD rats were selected as receptor, and pretreated with total body irradiation (TBI), and cyclophosphamide (CTX). WISTAR rats were used as donors, their bone marrow cells were collected as graft. Receptors were transfused with different ratios of T cells (1:1, 2:1, and 4:1). Life-span, clinical and pathologic GVHD scores were observed. RESULTS: When T cell ratios of graft to receptor were 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1, life-spans of receptors were (16.7+/-1.3) d, (16.8+/-1.5) d, and (15.0+/-1.7) d, respectively; clinical GVHD scores of receptors were 2.4+/-0.6, 3.3+/-1.2, and 5.3+/-1.4, respectively. Life-span, and clinical and pathologic GVHD scores of receptors transfused with T cells of 1:1 and 2:1 were significantly different from those of receptors transfused with T cells of 4:1(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: When T cell ratio of graft to receptor was 1:1, or 2:1, the GVHD was comparatively mild; when this ratio reached to 4:1, the GVHD was aggravated.