Efficacies of different ovarian hyperstimulation protocols in elderly patients with poor ovarian response.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore which controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol is most suitable for elderly patients with poor ovarian response (POR) undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated clinical data from 2,660 patients from January 2017 and October 2020. The patients were divided into three groups: modified Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol (1,225 patients), GnRH antagonist protocol (1,038 patients), and Mild stimulation protocol (397 patients). Clinical variables and pregnancy outcomes were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The GnRH agonist protocol was associated with a higher number of oocyte number (3.99±2.82 vs. 3.02±1.34 vs. 2.51±1.14, p<0.001), a higher number of transferable embryos (1.39±1.32 vs. 1.24±1.24 vs. 1.18±1.11, p = 0.035), higher cumulative live birth rate [26.53% (323/1,225) vs. 22.44% (233/1,038) vs. 21.66% (86/397), p = 0.043], lower OHSS rate [5.14% (63/1,225) vs. 3.08% (32/1,038) vs. 2.02% (8/397), p = 0.005] than GnRH antagonist protocol and Mild stimulation protocol, the Mild stimulation protocol was associated with higher miscarriage rates [30.4% (24/71) vs. 25.0% (33/192) vs. 29.6% (35/168), p = 0.014] than the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The three protocols can be used in elderly patients with POR; however, if patients require more frozen-thawed embryo transfers to achieve better cumulative live birth rates, the modified GnRH agonist protocol may be the better choice. It should be emphasized that the mild stimulation had a slightly higher miscarriage rate than the other two groups.

[Evaluation of the effect of comprehensive prevention and management of diabetes mellitus of two cross-sectional surveys based on community population].

To investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among residents in Chongchuan district, Nantong city in 2012 and 2018, and evaluate the effectiveness of community comprehensive management of DM. Based on the data of 17 780 and 13 382 residents in the cross-sectional surveys of the " National Demonstration Area for Comprehensive Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases " project in Chongchuan District of Nantong City, Jiangsu Province in 2012 and 2018, 4 583 and 3 996 DM-related information were obtained. The population of Jiangsu Province in 2012 and 2018 was used as the reference for standardization. The rates of prevalence and management (including awareness, treatment, treatment of patients who knew their diabetic situation, control and control of patients under treatment) of DM in the two surveys were compared using chi-square test. The results showed that in 2012 and 2018, the prevalence rates of DM were 12.0% and 15.7% (χ²=24.25, P<0.05), and the standardized rates were 10.1% and 10.8% (χ²=1.05, P=0.306). The incidence rates were 5.7% and 2.3%, respectively (χ²=55.60, P<0.05). The standardized prevalence rates in the two surveys were 9.7% and 11.6% for males (χ²=3.66, P=0.056) and 10.5% and 9.9% for females (χ²=0.50, P=0.481), 7.2% and 6.5% (χ²=0.85, P=0.357) for people aged 18-59 years old and 20.6% and 21.9% (χ²=0.91, P=0.339) for people aged 60 years and over, respectively. The standardized rates of awareness, treatment, treatment of patients who knew their diabetic situation, control, and control of patients under treatment in 2018 were 84.4%, 80.3%, 95.2%, 58.4%, and 70.2%, respectively, higher than 47.2%, 23.4%, 44.8%, 30.4% and 59.4% in 2012 (χ²=183.33, χ²=380.65, χ²=282.99, χ²=93.24, χ²=6.22, all P<0.05). Among men, the standardized rates of awareness, treatment, treatment of patients who knew their diabetic situation, and control in 2018 were 85.8%, 78.8%, 91.8% and 62.7%, higher than 50.5%, 37.5%, 72.3% and 32.6% in 2012 (χ²=78.40, χ²=96.17, χ²=27.55, χ²=48.96, all P<0.05). Similarly, the standardized management rates in 2018 were 83.0%, 81.7%, 98.5%, 54.1% and 65.1%, higher than 44.0%, 10.0%, 18.3%, 28.2% and 48.8% in 2012 among women (χ²=105.52, χ²=326.36, χ²=317.22, χ²=43.34, χ²=3.87, all P<0.05). The standardized rates of awareness, treatment, treatment of patients who knew their diabetic situation, and control of people aged 18-59 and 60 years and over were 82.9%, 79.7%, 96.1%, 55.0% and 88.0%, 81.8%, 93.0% and 67.2%, higher than 42.6%, 19.8%, 42.2%, 27.5% and 63.9%, 36.8%, 53.9%, 40.8% in 2012 (χ²=44.51, χ²=102.17, χ²=57.78, χ²=21.65, all P<0.05; χ²=71.18, χ²=181.55, χ²=146.26, χ²=59.23, all P<0.05). The comprehensive prevention and control system of chronic diseases, which comprehensively covered the life of community residents, had good management effect on DM, and effectively promoted health education and health promotion.

[Role and mechanism of miRNA-181a in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective: To investigate the role and probable mechanism of miRNA-181a in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with palmitic acid to construct a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cell model, and the expression of miR-181a and lipidosis in the cells were measured. Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) was used to examine the effect of miR-181a expression in HepG2 cells. The miR-181a, lipidosis, reduced glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by controlling and regulating the miR-183 expression levels after transfection with miR-181 mimics and inhibitors in HepG2 cells. The miR-181a target genes were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, and verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blotting. The independent sample t-test was used for the comparison between the two independent samples, and the comparison between multiple groups were accorded with the normal distribution, homogeneity of variance, and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Lipidosis was significantly increased after palmitic acid treatment in HepG2 cells, and the expression level of miR-181a was significantly increased than control group. After HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-181a inhibitors, the expression of miR-181a, triglycerides and reactive oxygen species were down-regulated, and reduced glutathione, predicting the mRNA and protein expression of target gene silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1 were up-regulated. However, the results were contrary to the above changes after transfection with miR-181a mimics. Conclusion: miR-181a participates in lipidosis and promotes lipid peroxidation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. miR-181a may affect the pathogenesis and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by inhibiting the expression of silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1.

Analysis of quality nursing of postoperative incision infection in urological patients.

To study the effect of quality nursing on postoperative incision infection in urological patients, 200 subjects admitted to our hospital between June 2016 and June 2017 were included in this study and divided into a quality nursing group (group A) and a general nursing group (group B), 100 in each group. Blood loss, blood transfusion, hospital stay, incision healing, incision infection, and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores in both groups were compared. It was found that the bleeding volume in group A was significantly less than that in group B, and there was significant difference between the two groups (P less than 0.05) while the difference in blood transfusion rate and hospital stay between the two groups was not significant (P> 0.05); the number of patients of level 1 healing in group A was larger than that of group B while the number of patients of level 2 and level 3 healing was smaller than that of group B, with significant differences (P less than 0.05); the number of infection cases in group A was significantly lower than that in group B, and the difference was significant (P less than 0.05); the SDS score of group A was lower than that of group B, with significant differences (P less than 0.05). Therefore, quality nursing had a certain effect on the infection of postoperative incision of urological patients, which had positive significance for incision healing. Reducing the effect of bacterial infections in operated patients is important for rapid healing and patient health. Using a long-lasting antibacterial can protect the patient and reduce the incidence of other infections.

Gly71Arg UGT1A1 polymorphism is associated with breast cancer susceptibility in Han Chinese women.

Breast cancer is among the most common causes of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between prolonged estrogen exposure and increased risk of breast cancer. Uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1-1 (UGT1A1) plays a significant role in the detoxification of estrogens. Two major genetic polymorphisms have been identified in the UGT1A1 locus. UGT1A1*28 has been previously linked to increased risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible correlation between UGT1A1*6, a single nucleotide polymorphism causing a Gly71Arg substitution, and breast cancer susceptibility. Forty-six women diagnosed with breast cancer, 15 patients with gastrointestinal cancer, and 13 healthy women were recruited to this study. The genotype in the polymorphic UGT1A1 locus was determined by DNA sequencing. The frequency of each genotype was compared among the three groups. The frequency of the UGT1A1*6 allele was significantly higher in breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancer patients than that in healthy females (both P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between the UGT1A1*6 polymorphism and estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER-2 expression status, menstrual status, or metastasis (all P > 0.05). Therefore, the UGT1A1*6 polymorphism was deduced to be a risk factor for breast cancer in women of Han Chinese ethnicity. UGT1A1 may serve as a therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and other estrogen-related diseases.

Predictive significance of standardized uptake value parameters of FDG-PET in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is widely used to diagnose and stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the predictive ability of different FDG standardized uptake values (SUVs) in 74 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed and different SUV parameters (SUVmax, SUVavg, SUVT/L, and SUVT/A) obtained, and their relationship with clinical characteristics were investigated. Meanwhile, correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the primary predictor of SUVs for NSCLC. Age, gender, and tumor size significantly affected SUV parameters. The mean SUVs of squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those of adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated tumors exhibited higher SUVs than well-differentiated ones. Further analyses based on the pathologic type revealed that the SUVmax, SUVavg, and SUVT/L of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma tumors were higher than those of moderately or well-differentiated tumors. Among these four SUV parameters, SUVT/L was the primary predictor for tumor differentiation. However, in adenocarcinoma, SUVmax was the determining factor for tumor differentiation. Our results showed that these four SUV parameters had predictive significance related to NSCLC tumor differentiation; SUVT/L appeared to be most useful overall, but SUVmax was the best index for adenocarcinoma tumor differentiation.

Predictive significance of standardized uptake value parameters of FDG-PET in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma.

(18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is widely used to diagnose and stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the predictive ability of different FDG standardized uptake values (SUVs) in 74 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed and different SUV parameters (SUVmax, SUVavg, SUVT/L, and SUVT/A) obtained, and their relationship with clinical characteristics were investigated. Meanwhile, correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the primary predictor of SUVs for NSCLC. Age, gender, and tumor size significantly affected SUV parameters. The mean SUVs of squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those of adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated tumors exhibited higher SUVs than well-differentiated ones. Further analyses based on the pathologic type revealed that the SUVmax, SUVavg, and SUVT/L of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma tumors were higher than those of moderately or well-differentiated tumors. Among these four SUV parameters, SUVT/L was the primary predictor for tumor differentiation. However, in adenocarcinoma, SUVmax was the determining factor for tumor differentiation. Our results showed that these four SUV parameters had predictive significance related to NSCLC tumor differentiation; SUVT/L appeared to be most useful overall, but SUVmax was the best index for adenocarcinoma tumor differentiation.

Electrochemical degradation of 4-chlorophenol in aqueous solution using modified PbO(2) anode.

The electrochemical oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in aqueous solution was studied by electrochemical oxidation using modified PbO(2) electrode as anode. The influence of several operating parameters, such as initial 4-CP concentration, applied current density, and supporting electrolyte (Na(2)SO(4)) concentration was investigated. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements were conducted to study the kinetics of 4-CP electrochemical reaction and the mineralization efficiency of 4-CP. The experimental results showed that the 4-CP degradation always followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics. The higher mineralization of 4-CP and the lower current efficiency (CE) were obtained by the lower initial 4-CP concentration. The applied current density showed a positive influence on the degradation of 4-CP and the removal of TOC, but a higher applied current density led to a lower CE. Although Na(2)SO(4) concentration of 0.05 M resulted in a higher 4-CP and TOC removal, the result of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates that Na(2)SO(4) concentration is not the significant parameter for 4-CP removal in electrochemical oxidation.

Expression of stilbene synthase gene in transgenic tomato using salicylic acid-inducible Cre/loxP recombination system with self-excision of selectable marker.

A plant transformation vector, pCLKSCLA25 (EU327498), was developed to contain eight cloning sites and the inducible self-excision system which provided an effective approach to eliminate the selectable marker gene(s) from transgenic plants. Upon induction by salicylic acid, the cre gene produced a recombinase that eliminated sequences encoding the selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase and cre itself. The excision efficiency was 41% in transgenic tomato regenarants. The stilbene synthase gene (vst1) from Vitis vinifera L. was cloned into pCLKSCLA25. The expression of vst1 gene contributed to the accumulation of trans-reveratrol from 3.4 to 8.7 mug/g fresh wt in different marker-free transgenic tomato lines.

Seedling and Adult Plant Resistance to Powdery Mildew in Chinese Bread Wheat Cultivars and Lines.

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is a widespread wheat disease in China. Identification of race-specific genes and adult plant resistance (APR) is of major importance in breeding for an efficient genetic control strategy. The objectives of this study were to (i) identify genes that confer seedling resistance to powdery mildew in Chinese bread wheat cultivars and introductions used by breeding programs in China and (ii) evaluate their APR in the field. The results showed that (i) 98 of 192 tested wheat cultivars and lines appear to have one or more resistance genes to powdery mildew; (ii) Pm8 and Pm4b are the most common resistance genes in Chinese wheat cultivars, whereas Pm8 and Pm3d are present most frequently in wheat cultivars introduced from CIMMYT, the United States, and European countries; (iii) genotypes carrying Pm1, Pm3e, Pm5, and Pm7 were susceptible, whereas those carrying Pm12, Pm16, and Pm20 were highly resistant to almost all isolates of B. graminis f. sp. tritici tested; and (iv) 22 genotypes expressed APR. Our data showed that the area under the disease progress curve, maximum disease severity on the penultimate leaf, and the disease index are good indicators of the degree of APR in the field. It may be a good choice to combine major resistance genes and APR genes in wheat breeding to obtain effective resistance to powdery mildew.

Volumetric productivity improvement for endoglucanase of Trichoderma pseudokoingii S-38.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to design an economically feasible process for endoglucanase (EG) production. METHODS AND RESULTS: Trichoderma pseudokoingii S-38 EG synthesis was studied. Initially, either glucose at 2.5, 5 or 10 g l-1, or cellulose powder (CF11) at 5 g l-1 was used as the sole carbon source. The results showed that enzyme synthesis and biomass formation were closely correlated, and both were affected by the carbon source. To improve EG volumetric product efficiency, a new technique was developed. Glucose and CF11 (2.5 and 5 g l-1, respectively) were used as initial carbon source, and glucose was added at 2.5 g l-1 day-1. EG activity, volumetric and specific EG productivities were 6.17 IU l-1, 53 IU l-1 h-1 and 114.3 IU (g cell protein)-1 h-1, respectively. Batch production in a 2-l laboratory fermenter confirmed the advantage of the technique. The product contained 10.86 IU ml-1 EG activity in 88 h. The volumetric and specific EG productivities were 123.4 IU l-1 h-1 and 177.8 IU (g cell protein)-1 h-1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that optimization of the ratio of glucose to CF11 for balancing the induction and growth rate in the production of EG may lead to technical and economical benefits. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A new technique was developed for the production of EG which improves both the volumetric product efficiency and the specific activity.

[Genetic analysis and gene deduction of powdery mildew resistance in T. durum-Ae. squarrosa amphidiploids].

Eleven seedlings with resistance and two amphidiploids with disease resistance at all developmental stage were screened by using No. 15 isolate of E. graminis f. sp. tritici to inoculate 99 T. durum-Ae. squarrosa amphidiploids. The two amphidiploids with disease resistance at all developmental stage, M53 and M81, and their Ae. squarrosa parents were resistant to No. 15 isolate of powdery mildew payhogen, but their T. durum parents were susceptible. Therefore, the powdery mildew resistance of M53 and M81 were derived from Ae. squarrosa. Amphidiploid M74, which had the same durum parent as M53 but different Ae. squrrosa parent, was susceptible to No. 15 isolate in adult stage. M29 and M35, which had the same durum parent as M81 but different Ae. squarrosa parent were susceptible in all stage. These results were also proved that the powdery mildew resistance genes were derived from Ae. sqarrosa. Genetic analysis showed that powdery mildew resistance gene in M53 or M81 was a single dominant gene. A series of lines with known powdery mildew resistance genes and two unknown lines were used to test response patterns with 14 differential isolates of E. graminis f. sp. tritici. The response patterns in M53 and M81 were different from Pm1 to Pm21 and indicated that M53 and M81 conferred a new powdery mildew resistance gene respectively.