Characteristics of reproductive tract infections caused by common pathogens among the outpatients of reproductive medicine center in Putian: retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore the infection and age distribution of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Herpes simplex virus type II (HSV II) among the outpatients of Reproductive Medicine Center in Putian, Fujian Province to provide a clinical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of various reproductive tract diseases and infertility in this region. METHODS: A total of 1736 samples of secretions and exfoliated cervical cells were collected from the outpatients of the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University from December 2021 to April 2023. The infections of UU, CT, NG and HSVII were detected by real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the infection statuses of the patients with different genders, ages and diagnoses were analysed. RESULTS: Among the 1736 patients, 611 were male and 1125 were female. The male patients had higher UU infection rate but lower HSV II infection rate than the female patients. No significant difference in CT and NG infection rates was observed between the genders. The CT infection rate gradually decreased with the increase in the age. The difference in UU, NG and HSV II infection rates among the different age groups was not statistically significant. For UU infection, the male infertile patients had the highest rate of 37.72% (172/456). Meanwhile, the differences in CT, NG and HSV II infection rates among the different diagnosis groups were not statistically significant. Among the male and female infertile patients, the CT infection rate was the highest in the 21-25 years of age group at 11.11% (2/18) and 9.47% (9/95), respectively. No statistically significant difference in UU, CT, NG and HSV II infection rates was observed among the different age groups of patients diagnosed in relation to the family planning guidance and between the male and female patients with other diagnoses results. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that UU was the most frequently identified pathogen in infertile men in Putian, Fujian Province. The CT infection rate was the highest in people under 20 years old, and the infection showed a tendency toward young individuals. Therefore, the publicity of sexual health knowledge must be strengthened, and the prevention and treatment of venereal diseases among young and middle-aged people must be improved. Moreover, the pathogen infection is related to infertility to a certain extent, which is conducive to clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Fulvic acid alleviates cadmium-induced root growth inhibition by regulating antioxidant enzyme activity and carbon-nitrogen metabolism in apple seedlings.

Introduction: Substantial previous studies have reported that fulvic acid (FA) application plays an important role in Chinese agricultural production. However, little is known about the mechanisms for using FA to increase apple trees resistance to Cd toxicity. In order to clarify the mechanism underlying FA alleviation in Cd-induced growth inhibition in apple seedlings. Methods: Herein, we treated M9T337 seedlings to either 0 or 30 µM/L Cd together with 0 or 0.2 g/L FA and analyzed the root growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, carbon (C) assimilation, nitrogen (N) metabolism, and C and N transport. Results: The results presented that, compared with CK (without Cd addition or FA spraying application), Cd poisoning significantly inhibited the root growth of apple seedlings. However, this Cd-induced root growth inhibition was significantly alleviated by FA spraying relative to the Cd treatment (Cd addition alone). On the one hand, the mitigation of inhibition effects was due to the reduced oxidative damage by enhancing antioxdiant enzyme (SOD, POD, and CAT) activities in leaves and roots. On the other hand, this growth advantage demonstrated compared to the Cd treatment was found to be associated with the strengthen of photosynthetic performance and the elevation of C and N metabolism enzymes activities. Meanwhile, we also found that under Cd stress condition, the distribution of C and N nutrients in apple seedlings was optimised by FA spraying application relative to the Cd treatment, according to the results of 13C and 15N tracing. Conclusion: Conclusively, our results suggested that the inhibitory effect of Cd on apple seedlings root growth was alleviated by FA through regulating antioxdiant capacities and C and N metabolism.

MdSWEET23, a sucrose transporter from apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), influences sugar metabolism and enhances cold tolerance in tomato.

Photosynthetic products in most fleshy fruits are unloaded via the apoplasmic pathway. Sugar transporters play an important role in the apoplasmic unloading pathway and are involved in sugar transport for fruit development. The MdSWEET23, cloned from ''Hanfu'' apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruits, belongs to Clade III of the SWEET family. Subcellular localization revealed that MdSWEET23 is localized on the plasma membrane. ß-glucuronidase activity assays showed that MdSWEET23 was primarily expressed in the sepal and carpel vascular bundle of apple fruits. Heterologous expression assays in yeast showed that MdSWEET23 functions in sucrose transport. The overexpression of MdSWEET23 in the ''Orin" calli increased the soluble sugar content. The silencing of MdSWEET23 significantly reduced the contents of sucrose and sorbitol in apple fruits. Ectopic overexpression of MdSWEET23 in tomato altered sugar metabolism and distribution in leaves and fruits, causing a reduction in photosynthetic rates and plant height, enhanced cold stress tolerance, and increased the content of sucrose, fructose, and glucose in breaking color fruits, but did not increase sugar sink potency of tomato fruits.

Effects of Fulvic Acid on Growth and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency in M9T337 Seedlings.

Both fulvic acid (FA) and nitrogen (N) play important roles in agricultural production in China. Plants typically show a higher nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under FA application. However, the role of FA application in apple growth and NUE remains unclear. A hydroponic culture experiment was performed, and M9T337 seedlings (a dwarf apple rootstock) were used as the experimental subjects. The biomass, photosynthesis, accumulation, and distribution of photosynthates, N absorption and assimilation, and relative gene expression in the seedlings were examined after treatment with five different concentrations of FA (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mg·L-1, represented by CK, FA1, FA2, FA3, FA4, respectively). The results showed that the seedling dry weight and 15NUE were enhanced by FA, and both were highest under the FA2 (the concentration of fulvic acid is 120 mg·L-1) treatment. Further analysis revealed that under the FA2 treatment, the root morphology was optimized, and the root activity was relatively high. Compared with CK (control, the concentration of fulvic acid is 0 mg·L-1), the FA2 treatment strengthened photosynthesis, elevated the key enzyme activities related to C metabolism, upregulated the gene expression of sugar transport proteins, and increased the root sorbitol and sucrose contents, which suggested that the FA2 treatment optimally affected the root growth and N absorption because it enhanced photosynthate synthesis and the leaf-to-root translocation of photoassimilates. The seedlings in the FA2 treatment group also showed a significantly higher NO3- influx rate and NRT (nitrate transporter) gene expression in the roots. Moreover, relatively high N metabolism-related enzyme activities in the leaves and roots were also observed under the FA2 treatment. The isotope labeling results showed that the optimal FA2 supply not only promoted seedling 15N absorption but also optimized the distribution of C and N in the seedlings. These results suggested that an optimal FA supply (120 mg·L-1) enhanced seedling NUE by strengthening photoassimilate synthesis and transport from leaves to roots, regulating N absorption, assimilation, and distribution.

Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide promoted growth and nitrogen absorption and assimilation efficiency of apple seedlings under salt stress.

Introduction: High salinity significantly hampers global agricultural productivity. Plants typically undergo lower nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under salt stress. As an active byproduct from brassinolide biosynthesis, 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) is involved in regulating the stress-treated plant N absorption and assimilation. However, the exogenous EBR application effects' on N absorption and assimilation in apple exposed to the salt-stressed condition remains unclear. Methods: We sprayed exogenous EBR (0.2 mg L-1) on apple dwarf rootstock (M9T337) seedlings (growing hydroponically) under salt (NaCl) stress in a growth chamber. We analyzed the seedling development, photosynthesis and its-mediated C fixation, N ( NO 3 - ) absorption and assimilation in reponse to exogenous EBR application under salt stress. Results: The findings demonstrated that NaCl stress greatly hampered seedlings' root growth and that exogenous EBR application obviously alleviated this growth suppression. Exogenous EBR-treated plants under NaCl stress displayed the more ideal root morphology and root activity, stronger salt stress tolerance and photosynthetic capacity as well as higher C- and N-assimilation enzyme activities, NO 3 - ion flow rate and nitrate transporter gene expression level than did untreated plants. Furthermore, the results of isotope labeling noted that exogenous EBR application also enhanced 13C-photoassimilate transport from leaves to roots and 15 NO 3 - transport from roots to leaves under NaCl stress. Conclusion: Our findings imply that exogenous EBR application, through strengthening photosynthesis, C- and N-assimilation enzyme activities, nitrate absorption and transport as well as synchronized optimizing the distribution of seedlings' C and N, has a fundamental role in improving NUE in apple rootstock seedlings under salt stress.

Effects of metamitron on fruit set and photosynthetic biological characteristics of apples.

With dwarfing interstock Fuji apples as the test materials and water treatment as the control (CK), we examined the fruit thinning effect and its influences on leaves' photosynthesis by spraying 200, 300, and 400 mg·L-1 metamitron during the young fruit period to solve artificial fruit thinning problems (time-consuming, much labor, and low efficiency). The results showed that metamitron application could significantly reduce the inflorescence and flowers' fruit-setting rate by 16.5%-22.8% and 50.9%-53.9%, respectively. The treatment of 300 mg·L-1 metamitron had the strongest fruit thinning effect, with a single fruit rate of 46.6% and a double fruit rate of 18.3%. As a photosynthesis inhibitor, metamitron application reduced the chlorophyll content of leaves and strongly affected photosynthesis. The inhibitory effect on chlorophyll content disappeared after 15 days of the treatment, while that on the net photosynthetic rate disappeared gradually after 11 days of the treatment. The application of metamitron significantly reduced the maximum quantum yield of PSⅡ reaction center (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSⅡ), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ), with such inhibitory effect having been lasted for 15 days. OJIP analysis showed that metamitron caused damage to the apple leaves' oxygen-evolving complex, especially limiting the transfer of electrons in the PSⅡ reaction center from QA to QB. Metamitron treatment increased Wk, and significantly decreased ψo, RC/CSm, and PIabs. Besides, 300 mg·L-1 metamitron had the most significant effect. Our results showed that metamitron destroyed the structure of the PSⅡ reaction center of apple leaves and hindered the transfer of electrons from the donor to the receptor of PSⅡ. Consequently, the photosynthetic rate was affected, and the young fruits fell off due to the lack of accumulation of photosynthetic products.

[Analysis of the outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of maxillary sinus with 3 different comprehensive treatments].

PURPOSE: To study the medium or long-term survival rates of different methods used in the treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus (SCMS). METHODS: Patients were treated by one of the following methods: 231 patients were treated with induction chemotherapy, followed by radical resection and radiotherapy (CSR); 128 patients were treated with preoperative irradiation (RS), and 87 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RSR). A total of 446 cases of SCMS from June 1985 to December 2008 were managed with unscheduled application of the above 3 kinds of treatment options. The dose of 231 patients with CSR and 128 patients with RS was 60-70 Gy/30-35 times/5-7 week and 40-50 gy/20-25 times/4-5 week, respectively. Dose in RSR accounted for half of that in CSR. The number of cases undergoing total resection of maxilla, subtotal resection of maxilla and extended excision of maxilla were 299, 111 and 36, respectively (13 cases had orbital exenteration). The number of patients with therapeutic radical neck dissection, functional neck dissection and supraomohyoid neck dissection were 49, 73 and 56, respectively. The data was analyzed with SPSS16.0 software package. RESULTS: Five-year survival rate in 446 cases was 45.96% (205/446), and 220 patients died of tumors, among which 84.09% (185/220) of death were due to local recurrences. The 5-year survival rate of CSR, RS, and RSR were 45.88% (106/23), 46.09% (59/128) and 45.97% (40/87), respectively; Totally 83.33% of CSR, 85.71% of RS and 83.72% of RSR died of local recurrences. There was no significant difference in the survival rates among CSR, RS and RSR. CONCLUSIONS: Unscheduled comprehensive treatment have a higher 5-year survival rate in this advanced SCMS. Elective neck irradiation and neck dissection are necessary for medium or advanced squamous cell carcinoma of maxillary sinus.

[Grade IV myelosuppression after induction chemotherapy of TPF on oral cancer: clinical analysis of 29 cases].

PURPOSE: To observe and evaluate the clinical features and treatment strategies of IV myelosuppression after induction chemotherapy of oral mucosa squamous cell carcinoma under conventional dosage. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients of oral mucosa squamous cell carcinoma pathologically diagnosed between 2006 and 2012 were enrolled into this study. The patients received induction chemotherapy with docetaxel-cisplatin-5-fluorouracil (TPF) and suffered from grade IV myelosuppression. Regulations and treatment strategies of the bone marrow myelosuppression were analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-nine cases had bone marrow suppression 9-14 days after induction chemotherapy, and the median time was 10 days, with a "U"-shaped fluctuation pattern. There were 26 cases with colony-stimulating factor(CSF) therapy completing treatment according to the schedule and 2 cases were required to radiotherapy because of unsatisfied effect of CSF therapy. One case died and the death rate after chemotherapy was 0.68% in this group. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of grade IV myelosuppression is normal and fatal. This study shows the starting time of the "U"-shaped fluctuation and the necessaries of adding CSF therapy at the same time. The emergency treatment of myelosuppression should be used including single disinfected ward mouthwash and therapy of CSF drug.

[Responses of primary photochemical reactions in apple fruit peel to the changes of incident PFD and air temperature in sunny days].

Taking Malus domestica Borkh as test object, this paper studied the primary photochemical reactions and xanthophyll cycle in its fruit peel in response to the diurnal changes of incident photon flux density (PFD) and air temperature in sunny days. With the increase of PFD and air temperature in a daily cycle, a severe photo-inhibition of the primary photochemical reactions in M. domestica fruit peel occurred from 12:00 to 14:00. The relative variable fluorescence at 300 micros of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient (Wk) did not change significantly through the day, which indicated that the activity of oxygen evolving complex (OEC) was not damaged by strong light and high temperature. However, the efficiency that a trapped exciton moved an electron into the electron transport chain beyond QA(-) (Psio) was reduced from 12:00 to 14:00, indicating that the acceptor side of PS II in apple fruit peel was damaged. Strong light decreased the density of PS II reaction centers per excited cross-section (RC/CS), which induced the increase of the energy absorption per active reaction center (ABS/RC). However, the excited energy was not able to be efficiently used via photochemical reaction (TRo/RC), resulting in an increase in non-photochemical energy dissipation per active reaction center (DIo/RC). Along with the appearance of photo-inhibition, the de-epoxidation level of xanthophyll pigment pool (PRI) increased markedly, showing that the xanthophyll cycle in fruit peel was enhanced by strong light to dissipate excess excitation energy to prevent photosynthetic apparatus from further damage. Both strong light and high temperature enhanced the photo-inhibition in apple fruit peel, and the effect of strong light was significantly more prominent than that of high temperature during a day.