Transient Receptor Potential Channels in Sensory Mechanisms of the Lower Urinary Tract.

BACKGROUND: Urine storage and excretion require a network of interactions in the urinary tract and the central nervous system, which is mediated by a reservoir of water in the bladder and the outlet to the bladder neck, urethra, and external urethral sphincter. Through communicating and coordinating each other, micturition system eventually showed a switch-like activity pattern. SUMMARY: At cervicothoracic and lumbosacral spine, the spinal reflex pathway of the lower urinary tract (LUT) received mechanosensory input from the urothelium to regulate the bladder contraction activity, thereby controlled urination voluntarily. Impairment of above-mentioned any level could result in lower urinary tract dysfunction, placed a huge burden on patients and society. Specific expression of purinergic receptors and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are thought to play an important role in urinary excretion in the LUT. KEY MESSAGES: This article reviewed the knowledge about the voiding reflex and described the role and function of TRP channels during voiding.

Circ_0043314 modulates proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome via the microRNA-146b-3p/Apelin 13 axis.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women. At present, the pathogenesis has not been clarified, and the clinical application of drugs and lifestyle intervention may not prevent disease progression. This study aimed to investigate how circ_0043314 regulates ovarian granulosa cell biological functions to provide theoretic basis for treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MicroRNA (miR)-146b-3p/Apelin 13 axis was used to investigate the mechanism by which circ_0043314 regulated ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) via microRNA (miR)-146b-3p/Apelin 13 axis. Participants/Materials, Methods: Ovarian tissues (cortical tissues) from 35 PCOS patients and 35 normal controls, as well as HEK293T and human ovarian granulosa cell line (KGN, COV434) were included in this study. We examined the expression levels of circ_0043314, miR-146b-3p, and Apelin 13 in PCOS tissues. Ovarian granulosa cells were transfected with corresponding plasmids to clarify the influence of circ_0043314, miR-146b-3p, or Apelin 13 on proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells through MTT and flow cytometry assays. Moreover, the relationships among circ_0043314, miR-146b-3p, and Apelin 13 were analyzed through dual-luciferase and RIP assays. RESULTS: Circ_0043314 and Apelin 13 were highly expressed and miR-146b-3p was lowly expressed in ovarian tissues of PCOS compared with non-PCOS controls. Downregulation of circ_0043314 or upregulation of miR-146b-3p hindered ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and advanced its apoptosis. Downregulation of miR-146b-3p reversed the impacts of downregulation of circ_0043314, and overexpression of Apelin 13 counteracted the influences of upregulation of miR-146b-3p in ovarian granulosa cells. Mechanically, circ_0043314 could bind to miR-146b-3p, and miR-146b-3p directly targeted and modulated Apelin 13 expression. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the lack of animal experiments. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that circ_0043314 enhances ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and suppresses its apoptosis via miR-146b-3p/Apelin 13 axis.

Exploring the influence of the spiritual climate on psychological empowerment among nurses in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Psychological empowerment notably impacts nurses' work engagement and high-quality care. A spiritual climate is a work environment that respects individuals and encourages them to express personal views. Previous studies have shown that a spiritual climate enhances psychological empowerment, however, the relationship between them among the nursing population remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of a spiritual climate on nurses' psychological empowerment and provide a scientific basis for improving psychological empowerment among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 837 nurses from five hospitals in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, was conducted using a convenience sampling method; this survey included nurses' demographic characteristics, the Psychological Empowerment Scale (PES), and the Chinese version of the Spiritual Climate Scale (C-SCS). The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The sample of 837 nurses attained a psychological empowerment score of (45.49 ± 6.42) and a spiritual climate score of (75.25 ± 16.75). The one-way ANOVA revealed that psychological empowerment scores among nurses varied based on differences in age, department, years of work experience, professional title, level of work intensity, and children (yes/no). Pearson's correlation analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between the spiritual climate and nurses' psychological empowerment (r = 0.564, P < 0.001), and multiple linear regression analysis showed that working in the intensive care unit (ICU), work intensity, and the four items pertaining to spiritual climate influenced nurses' psychological empowerment, explaining 32.6% of the total variance in psychological empowerment. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the spiritual climate perceived by nurses and psychological empowerment are moderately high. Working in the ICU, work intensity, and the four items pertaining to spiritual climate influence nurses' psychological empowerment. Nursing managers should pay attention to the daily work intensity of nurses, especially ICU nurses, organize work tasks reasonably, promote dynamic and balanced nurse human resource deployment based on patients' conditions and nurses' workloads, and implement scientific scheduling plans to establish a positive spiritual climate in the workplace. Additionally, group workshops and systematic training programs can effectively enhance psychological empowerment among nurses.

Engineering liquid metal-based nanozyme for enhancing microwave dynamic therapy in breast cancer PDX model.

BACKGROUNDS: The novel concept of microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) solves the problem of incomplete tumor eradication caused by non-selective heating and uneven temperature distribution of microwave thermal therapy (MWTT) in clinic, but the poor delivery of microwave sensitizer and the obstacle of tumor hypoxic microenvironment limit the effectiveness of MDT. RESULTS: Herein, we engineer a liquid metal-based nanozyme LM@ZIF@HA (LZH) with eutectic Gallium Indium (EGaIn) as the core, which is coated with CoNi-bimetallic zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The flexibility of the liquid metal and the targeting of HA enable the nanozyme to be effectively endocytosed by tumor cells, solving the problem of poor delivery of microwave sensitizers. Due to the catalase-like activity, the nanozyme catalyze excess H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment to generate O2, alleviating the restriction of the tumor hypoxic microenvironment and promoting the production of ROS under microwave irradiation. In vitro cell experiments, the nanozyme has remarkable targeting effect, oxygen production capacity, and microwave dynamic effect, which effectively solves the defects of MDT. In the constructed patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, the nanozyme achieves excellent MDT effect, despite the heterogeneity and complexity of the tumor model that is similar to the histological and pathological features of the patient. The tumor volume in the LZH + MW group is only about 1/20 of that in the control group, and the tumor inhibition rate is as high as 95%. CONCLUSION: The synthesized nanozyme effectively solves the defects of MDT, improves the targeted delivery of microwave sensitizers while regulating the hypoxic microenvironment of tumors, and achieves excellent MDT effect in the constructed PDX model, providing a new strategy for clinical cancer treatment.

Relationship between workplace ostracism and turnover intention among nurses: the sequential mediating effects of emotional labor and nurse-patient relationship.

This study aimed to elaborate on the mechanism by which workplace ostracism influences turnover intention through exploring the sequential mediation effects of emotional labour and nurse-patient relationship. Using a sample of 379 nurses collected from a time-lag survey in a tertiary public hospital in China, we applied structural equation modelling techniques to test our hypothesized model. Our findings revealed that workplace ostracism positively influenced surface acting and deep acting. Workplace ostracism influenced turnover intention through the sequential mediation of surface acting and nurse-patient relationship. The findings of this study imply that nurses should receive education and training in emotional management skills to deal with workplace ostracism. Besides, fostering positive nurse-patient relationships may help reduce nurses' turnover intention.

Recent progress in Van der Waals 2D PtSe2.

As a new member in two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) family, platinum diselenium (PtSe2) has many excellent properties, such as the layer-dependent band gap, high carrier mobility, high photoelectrical coupling, broadband response, etc, thus it shows good promising application in room temperature photodetectors, broadband photodetectors, transistors and other fields. Furthermore, compared with other TMDCs, PtSe2is chemical inert in ambient, showing nano-devices potential with higher performance and stability. However, up to now, the synthesis and its device applications are in its early stage. This review systematically summarized the state of the art of PtSe2from its structure, property, synthesis and potential application. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are outlined for the applications of 2D PtSe2.

A multilevel analysis of the impact of group organisational citizenship behaviour on nurse-patient relationship: The mediating effect of work engagement and the moderating effect of emotional intelligence.

AIM: To explore the cross-level relationships between group organisational citizenship behaviour, emotional intelligence, work engagement and nurse-patient relationship. BACKGROUND: Group-level factors influencing nurse-patient relationship are seldom studied. METHOD: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,246 nurses from 55 nursing groups in a 3A hospital in China, and the data were analysed by multilevel analysis. RESULTS: Group organisational citizenship behaviour is positively related to nurse-patient relationship with work engagement as a mediator. Emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between group organisational citizenship behaviour and nurse-patient relationship. Specifically, high emotional intelligence reduces the positive impact of group organisational citizenship behaviour on nurse-patient relationship. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the influencing factors of nurse-patient relationship based on the social information processing theory. In groups with high group organisational citizenship, positive work engagement and emotional intelligence, nurses are more likely to deliver better performance in patient care, leading to better nurse-patient relationships. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: This study suggests that influencing factors at both group and individual levels should be considered while establishing nurse-patient relationships. A positive group climate and personal ability development significantly improve patient care quality.

[From Passive Application to Active Design -Restructuring and Reshaping of Core Specialty Knowledge Systems of Biomedical Engineering (Biomedical Materials Track) Undergraduate Education].

Biomedical engineering (BME) (biomedical materials track) is a typical field of interdisciplinary integration. Its specialty education simultaneously undertakes the duo reformation responsibilities for the new engineering education and the new medical education due to its unique strengths in interdisciplinary nature, comprehensive scope of knowledge, and status of being on the cutting edge of technology. We made an analysis, in this paper, of the opportunities and challenges faced by BME (biomedical materials track) specialty education on the basis of the trends and frontiers of development in biomedical materials in the world. From the perspective of new requirements raised by major national strategies and industrial development for the qualifications and competence of professionals specializing in biomedical materials, thorough reflections were made on the specialized education of BME (biomedical materials track) under the background of the new engineering education and the new medical education. Furthermore, we proposed herein to reconstruct the specialized core knowledge system according to the main line of the reactions and the responses between the biomedical materials and human bodies at different levels and set up a series of courses of biomedical materials science centered on Materiobiology as the core. We also proposed to establish a diversified integrated reform model of the training system incorporating production, learning, research and application for highly competent BME (biomedical materials track) professionals. This paper attempts to contribute to the solution of the major issue of how to train the innovative talents and leaders who will pioneer a new round of diagnosis and treatment technology revolution and the development of the medical device industry.

Design and synthesis of 3D hierarchical NiMoS4@CuCo2S4 array electrode with excellent electrochemical performance.

Large capacitance energy storage materials have a great application prospect due to the development of portable devices. An electrochemical deposition method was used to combine amorphous CuCo2S4 with NiMoS4, which was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method. The resulting grass-like nanowire array structure greatly promotes the utilization rate of active materials. By the addition of two variable valence metal ions, there is an increase in electrolyte touchable active sites and a decrease in the impedance of the electrode materials. Compared with bare NiMoS4, the binder-free composite electrode has a significantly better capacitance characteristic. In particular, the NiMoS4@CuCo2S4-8 has excellent capacity performance with a specific capacitance of 13.14 F cm-2 at the current density of 5 mA cm-2. The electrode shows 73% capacitance retention after 2000 charge-discharge cycles. It is shown that the combined effect of the nanowires and the several variable valence metal ions is effective to increase the specific capacitance of bimetallic sulfides.

Dual-Functional Supernanoparticles with Microwave Dynamic Therapy and Microwave Thermal Therapy.

The cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photoactivated sensitizers have been well explored in tumor therapy for nearly half a century, which is known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). The poor light penetration depth severely hinders PDT as a primary or adjuvant therapy for clinical indication. Whereas microwaves (MWs) are advantageous for deep penetration depth, the MW energy is considerably lower than that required for the activation of any species to induce ROS generation. Herein we find that liquid metal (LM) supernanoparticles activated by MW irradiation can generate ROS, such as ·OH and ·O2. On this basis, we design dual-functional supernanoparticles by loading LMs and an MW heating sensitizer ionic liquid (IL) into mesoporous ZrO2 nanoparticles, which can be activated by MW as the sole energy source for dynamic and thermal therapy concomitantly. The microwave sensitizer opens the door to an entirely novel dynamic treatment for tumors.

[Quality evaluation of Taraxaci Herba based on fingerprint analysis and quantitative analysis of multi-components].

Taraxaci Herba was derived from the dried Herba of Taraxacum mongolicum, T. borealisinense and several species from the Taraxacum genus. Taraxaci Herba has been widely used in traditional Chinese and folk medicines. According to the different growth and cultivation pattern, Taraxaci Herba could be divided into two species, wild Taraxaci Herba and cultivated Taraxaci Herba. In the present study, an accurate and reliable fingerprint approach was developed using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) for quality control of Taraxaci Herba. A total of 9 common peaks were marked, and the similarity of all the Taraxaci Herba samples was above 0.960. The established fingerprint method could be used for quality control of Taraxaci Herba. Furthermore, an HPLC method was established for simultaneous determination of six bioactive compounds, including monocaffeoyl tartaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cichoric acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and luteolin in wild Taraxaci Herba and cultivated Taraxaci Herba. Moreover,chemometrics analysis such as principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed to compare and discriminate the wild samples and cultivated samples based on the quantitative data. The chemometrics results indicated that 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and luteolin were significant to effectively discriminate the wild Taraxaci Herba and cultivated Taraxaci Herba samples, and these two compounds could be recognized as chemical markers for quality evaluation of wild Taraxaci Herba and cultivated Taraxaci Herba. The fingerprint analysis and quantitative analysis of multi-components could be a well-acceptable strategy for evaluation the quality of Taraxaci Herba.

Synthesis of a Flaky CeO2 with Nanocrystals Used for Polishing.

It is important to adapt the morphology of CeO2 to different applications. A novel flaky CeO2 with nanocrystals was successfully synthesized using the ordinal precipitation method and calcination. The size of the flaky CeO2 was about 10 µm, and the nanocrystals were about 100 nm. Under the action of the precipitant NH4HCO3, Ce3+ nucleated in large quantities. The nanosized crystals gathered into flakes driven by the surface energy. As the calcination temperature increased, the grains grew slowly by mass transfer due to the slow diffusion of reactants. By adding AlOOH to the starting material, the Al3+ doped into the CeO2 increased the content of Ce3+ in the CeO2, which improved the chemical activity of the CeO2. When the starting material's Al:Ce ratio was 5:1, the Ce3+ increased to 31.11% in the CeO2, which provided good application potential in the polishing field. After polishing by the slurry of flaky CeO2 for 1 h, the SiC surface roughness reduced from 464 nm to 11 nm.

LASSO-derived nomogram for early identification of pediatric monogenic lupus.

BACKGROUND: Monogenic lupus is defined as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/SLE-like patients with either dominantly or recessively inherited pathogenic variants in a single gene with high penetrance. However, because the clinical phenotype of monogenic SLE is extensive and overlaps with that of classical SLE, it causes a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Currently, there is a lack of early identification models for clinical practitioners to provide early clues for recognition. Our goal was to create a clinical model for the early identification of pediatric monogenic lupus, thereby facilitating early and precise diagnosis and treatment for patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study consisted of 41 cases of monogenic lupus treated at the Department of Pediatrics at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2012 to December 2022. The control group consisted of classical SLE patients recruited at a 1:2 ratio. Patients were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group at a 7:3 ratio. A logistic regression model was established based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to generate the coefficient plot. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated using receiver operator characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC) index. RESULTS: A total of 41 cases of monogenic lupus patients and 82 cases of classical SLE patients were included. Among the monogenic lupus cases (with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.05 and ages of onset ranging from birth to 15 years), a total of 18 gene mutations were identified. The variables included in the coefficient plot were age of onset, recurrent infections, intracranial calcifications, growth and developmental delay, abnormal muscle tone, lymphadenopathy/hepatosplenomegaly, and chilblain-like skin rash. Our model demonstrated satisfactory diagnostic performance through internal validation, with an AUC value of 0.97 (95% confidence interval = 0.92-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: We summarized and analyzed the clinical characteristics of pediatric monogenic lupus and developed a predictive model for early identification by clinicians. Clinicians should exercise high vigilance for monogenic lupus when the score exceeds - 9.032299.

Expression of microRNA-29b2-c cluster is positively regulated by MyoD in L6 cells.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the expression profile of myoD microRNA-29 (miR-29) family in L6 myoblast differentiated to myotube of L6 myotube treated by glucose and insulin, and to further probe the molecular mechanism of myoD regulating the expression of miR-29 clusters. METHODS: The expression of myoD and miR-29 family was detected by using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The potential promoter and transcription factors binding sites of miR-29 clusters were predicted by Promoter scan and transcriptional factor search. The promoter sequence of miR-29b1-a and miR-29b2-c cluster was cloned into a luciferase reporter plasmid and the regulatory effect of myoD was analyzed by using dual luciferase reporter assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was further conducted to indicate the binding of myoD on specific sequence. Moreover, overexpression of myoD was achieved by a recombinant adenovirus system (Ad-myoD). L6 cells were infected with Ad-myoD and real-time PCR was conducted to analyze the expression of miR-29b and miR-29c. RESULTS: The expression levels of myoD, miR-29a, miR-29b, and miR-29c were increased in L6 myoblast differentiated to myotube. The expression of myoD, miR-29b, and miR-29c was up-regulated in L6 myotube treated with glucose and insulin, but miR-29a depicted no significant change. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that myoD functioned as a positive regulator of miR-29b2-c expression and myoD could bind to the specific sequence located at the promoter region of miR-29b2-c cluster. Enforced expression of myoD led to a marked increase of miR-29b and miR-29c levels in L6 cells. CONCLUSION: MyoD might act as a crucial regulator of myogenesis and glucose metabolism in muscle through regulating the expression of miR-29b2-c.

How to reduce the risk of cervicalgia and low back pain in obese individuals: A mendelian randomization study.

Obesity is associated with cervicalgia and low back pain (LBP), but the specific role and how to reduce the risk of neck pain and low back pain are not clear. The Mendelian randomization analysis was used to investigate the causal relationship between obesity and cervicalgia and LBP, as well as the effect of possible mediating factors. Then, causal associations were estimated using sensitivity analysis. Educational level (odds ratio (OR) = 0.30, 0.23) was negatively associated with cervicalgia and LBP; Heavy physical work (HPW) (OR = 3.24, 2.18), major depression (MD) (OR = 1.47, 1.32), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.36, 1.32), and waist circumference (WC) (OR = 1.32, 1.35) were positively associated with cervicalgia and LBP; Leisure sedentary behavior (LSB) (OR = 1.96), smoking (OR = 1.32), and alcohol intake frequency (OR = 1.34) were positively associated only with LBP, but not with cervicalgia. Ranked by mediated proportions of selected mediators, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to cervicalgia was educational level (38.20%, 38.20%), followed by HPW (22.90%, 24.70%), and MD (9.20%, 17.90%); However, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to LBP was LSB (55.10%, 50.10%), followed by educational level (46.40%, 40.20%), HPW (28.30%, 20.90%), smoking initiation (26.60%, 32.30%), alcohol intake frequency (20.40%, 6.90%), and MD (10.00%, 11.40%). For obese individuals, avoiding HPW and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent cervicalgia; Additionally, reducing LSB, avoiding HPW, quitting smoking and drinking, and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent LBP.

Qixue Shuangbu decoction and acupuncture combined with Western medicine in acute severe stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a common and frequently occurring disease of the nervous system and one of the three major diseases leading to human death. The incidence and mortality of stroke in China increase with age. Overall, 70 % of patients with stroke have serious disability, which results in heavy burden to their families and the society. AIM: To analyze the effects of Qixue Shuangbu decoction and acupuncture combined with Western medicine on immune indexes and digestive tract function in patients with acute severe stroke. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with acute severe stroke admitted to Lanzhou Second People's Hospital between March 2018 and September 2021 were selected and divided into the control and observation groups according to a random number table method. The control group was administered routine Western medicine treatment, such as dehydration, lowering intracranial pressure, anticoagulation, improving cerebral blood circulation and cerebral nerve protection according to the "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China." The observation group was administered Qixue Shuangbu decoction via nasal feeding tube on the basis of the routine Western medicine treatment with simultaneous acupuncture. The two groups were compared. RESULTS: The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II, organ dysfunction syndrome score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those measured before treatment, and the complements C3 and C4, and immunoglobulins (Ig) M and G were significantly increased compared with those observed before treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the complement and Ig levels were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactic acid (D-LA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment, while the levels of lipopolysaccharide, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCH-L1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) -2, and IL-8 were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, DAO, D-LA, and CGRP were higher in the observation group than in the control group, while lipopolysaccharide, UCH-L1, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-8 were lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The hospitalization time of individuals in the observation group was shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qixue Shuangbu decoction and acupuncture combined with Western medicine for the treatment of acute severe stroke can regulate intestinal flora, reduce inflammation, improve intestinal mucosal barrier function and immune function related indicators, and promote recovery.

Mechanism of human chorionic gonadotropin in endometrial receptivity via the miR-126-3p/PI3K/Akt/eNOS axis.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) might affect endometrial receptivity, exerting integral roles in embryo implantation. This study explored the action of hCG in endometrial receptivity via the miR-126-3p/PIK3R2/PI3K/Akt/eNOS axis. The embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) mouse models were established by administrating mifepristone and human endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) were used for in vivo experiments, both followed by hCG treatment. Expression level of CD105 and protein levels of cadherin CD144 and CD146 in mice were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The levels of miR-126-3p and PIK3R2 mRNA and PIK3R2, p-PI3K p85 α, PI3K p110 α, p-Akt, Akt, p-eNOS, and eNOS protein levels were measured. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 and EdU assays. The binding sites of miR-126-3p and PIK3R2 were predicted and verified. hCG-treated EECs were further transfected with miR-126-inhibitor for functional rescue experiments. hCG ameliorated endometrial receptivity in EID mice. Moreover, hCG promoted miR-126-3p and suppressed PIK3R2 in EID mice and EECs. miR-126-3p targeted PIK3R2. EEC proliferation was enhanced after hCG treatment but inhibited by miR-126-3p downregulation. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments validated that hCG activated the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway through the miR-126-3p/PIK3R2 axis. Collectively, hCG improves endometrial receptivity by activating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway via regulating miR-126-3p/PIK3R2.

[Clinical analysis of 20 cases of muscular tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations of muscular tuberculosis (MT) and analyze its risk factors. METHODS: Twenty MT patients were recruited from our department during 2000 - 2010. There were 9 males and 11 females with an average age of 43.5 years old. And their clinical manifestations were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: All patients had local masses. And 19 patients had the involvement of single muscle and multiple muscles were involved in 1 patient. Gastrocnemius was affected in 9 patients. Nine patients had a previous history of tuberculosis or suffered concurrent tuberculosis of other body parts. Three patients with immune system disease received glucocorticoid therapy. And 11 patients underwent PPD (purified protein derivative) test and only 1 was strongly positive while 10 others were negative. MT was confirmed by pathological examinations in 20 cases. All patients underwent muscle biopsy and received effective chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: As a kind of systemic disease, MT is mainly characterized by painful or painless muscle mass. The patients with a history of tuberculosis, tuberculosis of other body parts and immune system disease are susceptible to MT. Diagnosis is mainly made through biopsy. And chemotherapy is effective.

A core-shell liquid metal-Cu nanoparticle with glutathione consumption via an in situ replacement strategy for tumor combination treatment of chemodynamic, microwave dynamic and microwave thermal therapy.

The presence of high content glutathione (GSH) provides an effective "protective shield" for tumor cells, which undoubtedly is a huge impediment to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based treatment. Fortunately, divalent copper (Cu2+) can not only consume GSH, destroying the protection mechanism of GSH, but also can be reduced to Cu+ with excellent Fenton-like reaction activity. Hence, capitalizing on the properties of liquid metals, we introduced Cu with three different valances via an in situ replacement reaction. A stable core-shell liquid-metal based "Cu storage pool" was obtained. It can effectively deplete GSH within the cells, and simultaneously produce ·OH through a Fenton-like reaction, further improving the effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Under microwave irradiation, it is also capable of producing a large amount of ROS to promote tumor treatment. In addition, the loading of ionic liquid endows LZC@IL nanoparticles with certain microwave heating performance, which is able to augment microwave thermal therapy (MWTT). With the combination of CDT, microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) and MWTT, LZC@IL has an excellent effect on tumor elimination. This work offers a new idea for the application of liquid metals and the combined treatment of tumors, which has potential application value.

High Biocompatible Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-Based Nanosensitizer With Magnetic Resonance Imaging Capacity for Tumor Targeted Microwave Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy.

Microwave (MW) hyperthermia has been widely studied in tumor therapy, while the lack of specificity, and the potential toxicity induced by instability or difficulty in degradation of existed MW thermal sensitizers still limits the application. Herein, a new biocompatible Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based nanosensitizer of Dtxl-Gd@PLGA-PEG-TPP (DGPPT) with capacities of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and mitochondrial targeting for MW hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy was constructed via a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The modified TPP significantly enhanced the specificity of sensitizer for targeting mitochondria, a heat-sensitive energy supply plant in cells. Thus the MW thermal damage induced by the loaded Gd in PLGA nanospheres was also strengthened. Together, the system could also achieve MR imaging due to the existence of Gd. In addition, the encapsulated Dtxl performed the chemotherapy of inhibiting mitochondrial function for assisting with MW hyperthermia. In vivo experiments demonstrated that PLGA had high biocompatibility that no obvious damage occurred even the dose was up to 200 mg/kg. Meanwhile, DGPPT+MW representing the combination of mitochondrial targeting and MW hyperthermia-chemotherapy has also been proved to shrink tumor size effectively. This study provides a new direction for building biosafe and multifunctional MW sensitizer with active targeting ability to impede tumor growth.