“Seminal testosterone”, rising viewpoint of local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia: One center long-term bidirectional cohort study

ObjectiveReproductive hormones are a traditional good method to evaluate spermatogenesis but might not accurately represent local spermatogenesis. To find a more accurate method, seminal reproductive hormones were studied.MethodsA bidirectional cohort study was performed. A total of 126 infertile men from 2018 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), oligozoospermia (OLZ) and normal (NOR) groups. A prospective study was conducted on patients in the NOA and OLZ groups for 2 years. Microscopic testicular sperm extraction was performed for NOA patients, who were divided into a focal spermatogenesis group (FS) and an idiopathic azoospermia group (IA). Drug treatment was for OLZ patients, who were divided into a valid group (VA) and an invalid group (IN). The differences in sperm parameters and reproductive hormones were compared. ANOSIM analysis was used between and within groups. Pearson correlation analysis, CO inertia analysis and Proctor’s analysis were for relationships. ROC curve for the specificity and sensitivity. Time series analysis was for the trends between hormones and time.ResultsThe b-FSH, b-LH, s-T and ΔT in the NOA group were significantly higher than those in the OLZ and NOR groups. However, the s-FSH, s-E2, s-P, ΔFSH, ΔLH, ΔP and ΔE2 were lower. Thirty-one NOA patients underwent MTSE, of whom 12 had sperm (FS) and 19 had no sperm (IA). The s-FSH and s-E2 of the FS group were higher than those of the IA group. Twenty-six OLZ patients completed 30 days of treatment, of which 11 had an improved sperm count (VA) and 15 had no (IN). The ΔT of the VA group was higher than that of the IN group. After follow-up for 2 years, 18 patients’ results showed that b-FSH, b-LH and s-T were different over time, with delays of 19, 3 and -19 days. SC is closely related to pH, s-FSH, s-LH, s-E2, s-P, s-T, b-FSH, b-LH, ΔFSH, ΔLH, ΔP, ΔE2 and ΔT. There were complex common trends and relationships between different kinds of hormones. s-FSH, s-LH, s-E2, s-P, s-T, b-FSH and b-LH were useful to judge spermatogenesis, of which s-T, b-FSH and b-LH were more sensitive. If s-T, b-FSH and b-LH reached 64.4, 9.4 and 4.7, respectively, their prediction performance was the strongest.ConclusionSeminal testosterone is sensitive for judging local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia patients, which may be the direction of local spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermia.Clinical trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier ChiCTR2200060463

BNP facilitates NMB-encoded histaminergic itch via NPRC-NMBR crosstalk

Histamine-dependent and -independent itch is conveyed by parallel peripheral neural pathways that express gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB), respectively, to the spinal cord of mice. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been proposed to transmit both types of itch via its receptor NPRA encoded b

Caspase polymorphisms and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The aim of our study was to determine the impact of genetic polymorphisms in the caspase (CASP) genes on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We genotyped 7 potentially functional polymorphisms in CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, CASP10 genes in 362 HCC patients of receiving surgical resection of HCC tumor. The associations of genotype and haplotype with overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazards model. We found that the CASP9 rs4645981 C allele was significantly associated with positive effect on DFS (P = 0.011 and 0.016 for CT+CC vs. TT in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively), CT genotype was associated with a better OS of HCC than the TT genotype both in univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.048 and 0.041, respectively). Moreover, the CASP3 rs2705897 GT genotype showed marginally significant association with decreased OS and DFS, compared with the GG genotype. One haplotype TT/TG in CASP3 (constructed by rs12108497 T>C and rs2705897 T>G) was significantly associated with decreased OS and DFS, compared to the common haplotype TT/TT both in univariate analysis (P = 0.021 and 0.026, respectively) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.025 and 0.030, respectively). The haplotype GT/GT in CASP9 (constructed by rs4645978 A>G and rs4645981 C>T) was significantly associated with decreased DFS both in univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.012 and 0.010, respectively). In conclusion, the CASP9 rs4645981 polymorphism, CASP3 and CASP9 haplotypes may be useful prognosis markers for HCC patients with surgical resection of tumor

Salivary and gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers of periodontal health and/or obesity among children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To investigate the association of salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) biomarkers with periodontal status and obesity in children and adolescents. Data/sources: A literature search up to July 2023 was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest Medical Database, ProQuest SciTech Premium Collection, and the Cochrane Library. Observational studies comparing salivary and GCF biomarkers in children and adolescents with compromised periodontal status and/or obesity were included for data extraction. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the overall standardised mean difference. Study selection: Fifteen observational studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Meta-analysis was only applicable in synthesising the dyadic relationship between GCF biomarkers and obesity. The results demonstrated that children and adolescents with obesity had significantly higher GCF levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (SMD:0.56; 95% CI:0.07, 1.04), adiponectin (SMD:0.33; 95% CI:0.06, 0.60), leptin (SMD:0.52; 95% CI:0.15, 0.90), and interleukin-1 beta (SMD:0.71; 95% CI:0.44, 0.99) than those with normal weight. Conclusion: To date, no study has well addressed the triadic association between salivary or GCF biomarkers, periodontal status, and obesity among children and adolescents. Further in-depth, high-quality studies are required to investigate these associations. Clinical significance: Periodontal disease and obesity are growing public health crises worldwide. Their relationship has been intensively studied. Investigating the salivary or GCF biomarkers alterations could help better understand the relationship between periodontal disease and obesity, which would assist in tailoring future oral health promotion programs

AUV Path Planning Algorithm for Terrain Aided Navigation

Terrain aided navigation (TAN) technology can yield accurate navigation results in long-endurance underwater operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Most TAN research focus on the high-precision terrain matching algorithms. However, terrain matching algorithms estimate the position of the vehicle by observing a unique combination of features in the terrain, making it difficult to locate a vehicle with flat terrain. This paper presents a path planning method for AUV seabed TAN process to decrease positioning errors by avoiding flat areas. In this paper, a TAN path planning algorithm based on sector search is proposed. Parameters of the sector search algorithm are determined through theoretical analysis, which means the generated path can stably provide accurate TAN location results. Meanwhile, a control coefficient is proposed to maximize the terrain information contained in the sector searching area, bring out a high success rate of AUV positioning. The TAN performance of the paths generated using the proposed path planning method was verified in simulations, which show that the TAN can yield accurate positioning results stably on the path planned

Relationship between PaO2/FiO2 and delirium in intensive care: A cross-sectional study

Background: To investigate the relationship between partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and the probability of delirium in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: The investigation was a cross-sectional study that involved the collection of data from patients admitted to the Xiang Ya Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgical Care Unit and Comprehensive Intensive Care Unit from 01 September 2016 to 10 December 2016. Delirium was diagnosed using the simplified version of the Chinese Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) for the ICU. Demographic and medical data were obtained within 24 h of each patient admitted in the ICU. The PaO2/FiO2 of each patient was recorded 24 h after admission in the ICU. The patients were divided into three groups according to PaO2/FiO2 data : normal (PaO2/FiO2 ≥300 mmHg), slightly low (200 ≥PaO2/FiO2 <300 mmHg), and severely low (PaO2/FiO2 <200 mmHg). Baseline characteristics were compared in the three groups. Results of the unadjusted model, minimally adjusted model, and fully adjusted model are presented. Results: A total of 403 participants were included in the study, of which 184 (45.7%) developed delirium. Age (P <0.001), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (P <0.001), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (P <0.001), mechanical ventilation time (P <0.001), history of hypertension (P=0.040), heart disease (P=0.040), sedation (P=0.001), and PaO2/FiO2 (P=0.006) were significantly associated with delirium in univariate analysis. Multivariate regression analysis models were used to further analyze the associations between PaO2/FiO2 and delirium. In the crude model, for 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in PaO2/FiO2, the odds ratio (OR) of delirium was 0.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.9), but there was no significant correlation in the fully adjusted model. There was a non-linear relationship between the PaO2/FiO2 and delirium in a generalized additive model. A two-piecewise linear regression model was used to calculate a PaO2/FiO2 threshold of 243 mmHg. On the left side of the threshold, the OR was 0.9 and the 95% CI was 0.9–1.0 (P=0.013) when PaO2/FiO2 increased by 1 SD. Conclusions: PaO2/FiO2 was negatively associated with delirium when PaO2/FiO2 was below the identified threshold. As a readily available laboratory indicator, PaO2/FiO2 has potential value in the clinical evaluation of risk of delirium in ICU patients

AUV Path Planning Algorithm for Terrain Aided Navigation

Terrain aided navigation (TAN) technology can yield accurate navigation results in long-endurance underwater operation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Most TAN research focus on the high-precision terrain matching algorithms. However, terrain matching algorithms estimate the position of the vehicle by observing a unique combination of features in the terrain, making it difficult to locate a vehicle with flat terrain. This paper presents a path planning method for AUV seabed TAN process to decrease positioning errors by avoiding flat areas. In this paper, a TAN path planning algorithm based on sector search is proposed. Parameters of the sector search algorithm are determined through theoretical analysis, which means the generated path can stably provide accurate TAN location results. Meanwhile, a control coefficient is proposed to maximize the terrain information contained in the sector searching area, bring out a high success rate of AUV positioning. The TAN performance of the paths generated using the proposed path planning method was verified in simulations, which show that the TAN can yield accurate positioning results stably on the path planned

The significance of trisomy 7 mosaicism in noninvasive prenatal screening

Abstract Background This study was an evaluation of the role of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the detection of trisomy 7 in prenatal diagnosis. Method A total of 35 consecutive cases underwent screening for trisomies by cell-free DNA testing between April 2015 and November 2017 due to suspicious NIPT results; these cases represented 0.11% of patients (35/31,250) with similar frequencies of abnormal results among the laboratories performing the tests. NIPT was offered to further screen for common fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Karyotype analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to detect 20, 14, and 25 patients, respectively, who accepted confirmatory diagnostic testing. Results High-risk results by NIPT were recorded for trisomy 7 alone in 29 women: dual aneuploidy in 4 patients and multiple aneuploidy in 2 patients. Karyotype analysis of amniotic fluid cells was normal in all 20 pregnancies, suggesting a probability of confined placental mosaicism. Further CMA data were obtained in 14 of the cases mentioned above, and 2 fetuses were detected with positive results with copy number variation. The NGS results suggested that all these samples were placental chimerisms of chromosome 7, except for one sample that was found to be an additional chimerism of chromosome 2, which was also consistent with the NIPT result. Conclusion Our results may be useful for the counseling of pregnant women in the detection of trisomy 7 by NIPT

Identifying immune checkpoint-related lncRNA biomarkers for immunotherapy response and prognosis in cancers

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could modulate expression of immune checkpoints (ICPs) in tumor-immune. However, precise functions in immunity and potential for predicting ICP inhibitors (ICI) response have been described for only a few lncRNAs. Here, a multiple-step pipeline was developed to identify cancer- and immune-context ICP and lncRNA cooperative regulation pairs (ICPaLncCRPs) across cancers. Immune-related ICPs and lncRNAs were extracted follow immune cell lines and immunologic constant of rejection groups. ICPaLncCRP networks were constructed, which likely to modulate tumor-immune by specific patterns. Common and specific hub ICPaLncs such as MIR155HG, TRG-AS1 and PCED1B-AS1 maybe play central roles in prognosis and circulating. Moreover, these hub ICPaLncs were significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration based on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data. Some ICPaLncCRPs such as IDO1-MIR155HG could predict three- and five-year prognosis of melanoma in two independent datasets. We also validated that some ICPaLncCRPs could effectively predict ICI-response follow six independent datasets. Collectively, this study will enhance our understanding of lncRNA functions and accelerate discovery of lncRNA-based biomarkers in ICI treatment