Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise on Urinary Symptoms, Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Female Patients with Overactive Bladder: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise in the treatment of female overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: The clinical data of 134 female patients with OAB admitted to our hospital from April 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into the combination group (n = 74) and the single group (n = 60). The general demographic data, total effective rate, pad weight, female sexual function index (FSFI) score, oxford muscle grading scale and incontinence impact questionnaire short form (IIQ-7) were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the baseline data of the two groups at 1:1 ratio, and t test, chi-square test and analysis of variance were used for calculation. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were selected after PSM. No significant difference in baseline data was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Before treatment, no significant difference in FSFI score, oxford muscle grading scale and IIQ-7 score was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). The total effective rate of the combination group was higher than that of the single group (p < 0.05). After 3 weeks and 1 month of treatment, in addition to orgasm and sexual desire, the scores of sexual excitement and sexual satisfaction in the combination group were higher than those in the single group (p < 0.05). The combination group displayed higher oxford muscle grading scale and lower IIQ-7 and pad weight than the single group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of electroacupuncture stimulation combined with pelvic floor muscle exercise is more significant, which can alleviate urinary symptoms, reduce urine leakage, enhance pelvic floor muscle strength and alleviate sexual dysfunction.

Pathogen Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance of Early Onset Sepsis in Very Premature Infants: A Real-World Study.

INTRODUCTION: Early onset sepsis (EOS) remains a potentially fatal newborn condition, especially in very preterm infants. Data on the pathogen distribution and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of EOS among very preterm infants are scarce but essential for the choice of empirical antibiotic administration. We sought to assess the epidemiologic characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens causing EOS among a cohort of very preterm infants in China. METHODS: This prospective, observational study included a cohort of infants born at a gestational age (GA) less than 32 weeks of 32 newborn intensive care units (NICUs) in China between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020. EOS was defined by isolation of pathogenic species from blood culture within 72 h of birth. RESULTS: A total of 108 EOS cases (18.4 per 1000 admissions) were identified among 5865 very preterm infants. Incidence of EOS increased with the decrease of GA and birthweight. Escherichia coli (n = 44, 40.7%) was the most common pathogen, followed by Klebsiella spp. (n = 10, 9.3%). The distribution and proportion of pathogenic bacteria varied significantly by GA. E. coli and Klebsiella spp. showed high resistance to ampicillin and third-generation cephalosporins, while they showed good susceptibility to carbapenem antibiotics and piperacillin-tazobactam. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that pathogens causing neonatal EOS showed high rates of resistance to ampicillin and third-generation cephalosporins. This raised questions about the best empirical antibiotic choice for preterm infants suspected of having EOS in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

[Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting necrotizing enterocolitis in very preterm infants]. / é¢„æµ‹æžæ—©äº§å„¿åæ­»æ€§å°è‚ ç»“è‚ ç‚Žå‘ç”Ÿé£Žé™©åˆ—çº¿å›¾æ¨¡åž‹çš„å»ºç«‹.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very preterm infants and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of NEC. METHODS: A total of 752 very preterm infants who were hospitalized from January 2015 to December 2021 were enrolled as subjects, among whom 654 were born in 2015-2020 (development set) and 98 were born in 2021 (validation set). According to the presence or absence of NEC, the development set was divided into two groups: NEC (n=77) and non-NEC (n=577). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the independent risk factors for NEC in very preterm infants. R software was used to plot the nomogram model. The nomogram model was then validated by the data of the validation set. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, and the calibration curve were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram model, and the clinical decision curve was used to assess the clinical practicability of the model. RESULTS: The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neonatal asphyxia, sepsis, shock, hypoalbuminemia, severe anemia, and formula feeding were independent risk factors for NEC in very preterm infants (P<0.05). The ROC curve of the development set had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.833 (95%CI: 0.715-0.952), and the ROC curve of the validation set had an AUC of 0.826 (95%CI: 0.797-0.862), suggesting that the nomogram model had a good discriminatory ability. The calibration curve analysis and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good accuracy and consistency between the predicted value of the model and the actual value. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal asphyxia, sepsis, shock, hypoalbuminemia, severe anemia, and formula feeding are independent risk factors for NEC in very preterm infant. The nomogram model based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis provides a quantitative, simple, and intuitive tool for early assessment of the development of NEC in very preterm infants in clinical practice.

NDRG4 Alleviates Myocardial Infarction-Induced Apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: At present, studies have confirmed that NDRG4 is specifically expressed in the heart, while its effect on the heart is still unclear. This study is to explore the effect of NDRG4 on cardiomyocyte apoptosis caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into Sham (left anterior descent of heart without ligation) and AMI groups. In this study, coronary artery ligation was used to establish an AMI model, and the AMI model was verified by auxiliary examination and pathological examination. Besides, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) was used to detect the expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 in heart tissues, and NDRG mRNA levels in tissues were also detected. qRT-PCR technology was used to verify the transfection efficiency of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells, and the change of apoptosis level of H9C2 cells was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and TUNEL staining; besides, the expression level of apoptosis-related factors was detected by WB and qRT-PCR technology. Simultaneously with the modeling of rats, we injected adenovirus (Ad) into the heart tissue and examined the structural and functional changes of the rat heart. Then, WB technology was used to detect the expression level of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. RESULTS: The heart function and heart structure of rats in the MI group were dramatically worse, and the expression level of NDRG4 was also dramatically reduced. The overexpression of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells can effectively inhibit the ischemia/hypoxia- (I/H-) induced decrease in cell viability and increase in apoptosis rate and inhibit the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, overexpression of NDRG4 in heart tissue can effectively improve the cardiac function and structural destruction caused by MI. In addition, NDRG4 can inhibit JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation. CONCLUSION: The expression of NDRG4 in the MI tissue of rats was suppressed, while overexpression of NDRG4 by injection of Ad can obviously protect the rat heart. Furthermore, overexpression of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells can effectively inhibit the I/H-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in apoptosis rate, and this may be related to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Effect of electrode temperature on measurements of transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure and oxygen partial pressure in very low birth weight infants. / 电极温度对极低出生体重儿经皮二氧化碳分压和氧分压监测的影响.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy and safety of measurements of transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure (TcPCO2) and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (TcPO2) at electrode temperatures lower than the value used in clinical practice in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: A total of 45 very low birth weight infants were enrolled. TcPCO2 and TcPO2 measurements were performed in these infants. Two transcutaneous monitors were placed simultaneously for each subject. One electrode was set and maintained at 42℃ used in clinical practice for neonates (control group), and the other was successively set at 38℃, 39℃, 40°C, and 41℃ (experimental group). The paired t-test was used to compare the measurement results between the groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the measurement results of the experimental group and control group, and between the measurement results of experimental group and arterial blood gas parameters. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in TcPCO2 between each experimental subgroup (38-41℃) and the control group. TcPCO2 in each experimental subgroup (38-41℃) was strongly positively correlated with TcPCO2 in the control group (r>0.9, P<0.05) and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (r>0.8, P<0.05). There were significant differences in TcPO2 between each experimental subgroup (38-41℃) and the control group (P<0.05), but TcPO2 in each experimental subgroup (38-41℃) was positively correlated with TcPO2 in the control group (r=0.493-0.574, P<0.05) and arterial oxygen partial pressure (r=0.324-0.399, P<0.05). No skin injury occurred during transcutaneous measurements at all electrode temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Lower electrode temperatures (38-41℃) can accurately measure blood carbon dioxide partial pressure in very low birth weight infants, and thus can be used to replace the electrode temperature of 42°C. Transcutaneous measurements at the lower electrode temperatures may be helpful for understanding the changing trend of blood oxygen partial pressure.

Berberine Attenuates Neonatal Sepsis in Mice By Inhibiting FOXA1 and NF-κB Signal Transduction Via the Induction of MiR-132-3p.

Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a severe syndrome in newborns that is induced by infections, and the initiation and development of NS are closely associated with the function of miRs. In the current study, the effects of berberine, which is a functional component in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), against NS were assessed by focusing on the interaction of berberine with miR-132-3p-mediated signaling. An NS model was induced using cecal slurry (CS) in vivo and LPS in vitro, and berberine treatment was applies. The changes in survival rate, intestinal structure, and systemic inflammation in mice and the viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory response in intestinal cells were measured. At the molecular level, miR-132-3p levels and the activities of the FOXA1 and NF-κB pathways were analyzed. The data showed that berberine increased the survival rates of CS-induced mice. The intestinal injuries induced by CS were also attenuated by berberine, which was associated with inhibition of the production of systemic IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α. At the molecular level, the expression of miR-132-3p was upregulated, suppressing the expression of FOXA1, p-IκBα, and p65 while inducing the expression of IκBα. The effects of berberine on NS-induced impairments were blocked by the injection of the miR-132-3p antagomir, which exacerbated intestinal injuries, induced systemic inflammation, and reactivated the FOXA1 and NF-κB pathways. The findings in the in vivo model were validated with in vitro assays. Collectively, the findings outlined in the current study indicated that berberine had solid protective effects against NS-induced symptoms in newborn mice, and the effects depended on the upregulation of miR-132-3p.

Probable congenital transmission of reticuloendotheliosis virus caused by vaccination with contaminated vaccines.

Contaminated vaccine is one unexpected and potential origin of virus infection. In order to investigate the most likely cause of disease in a broiler breeder company of Shandong Province, all 17 batches of live-virus vaccines used in the affected flocks and 478 tissue samples were tested by dot-blot hybridization, nested PCR, and IFA. The results suggested the outbreak of disease was most probably due to the vaccination of REV-contaminated MD-CVI988/Rispens vaccines and ND-LaSota+IB-H120 vaccines. Furthermore, the REV was probably transmitted to the commercial chickens through congenital transmission.

Synthesis of the long-persistence phosphor CaAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, Nd3+ by combustion method and its luminescent properties.

Calcium aluminate phosphor co-doped Eu(2+), Dy(3+), Nd(3+) is prepared by the combustion method. We study systemically the influences of the quantity of mixed Dy(3+) ion, the quantity of flux H(3)BO(3), the differences in dispersing methods between magnetic stirring and ultrasonic dispersing and the combustion temperature on the long-persistence phosphor. The analytical results indicate that Dy(3+) ion improves the properties of the phosphors CaAl(2)O(4):Eu(2+), Nd(3+). The appropriate quantity of flux H(3)BO(3 )to( )reduce the forming temperature of the sample was determined. The monoclinic single phase of CaAl(2)O(4) formed at 500 degrees C and remained steady. The calcium aluminate co-doped Eu(2+), Dy(3+), Nd(3+) was synthesized by dispersal of the raw material using the ultrasonic method, and it had better optical properties.