Low BMI is Associated with Poor OI-IUI Outcomes in Patients with Unexplained Primary Infertility / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of women's body mass index （BMI） on pregnancy outcomes of ovulation induction intrauterine insemination （OI-IUI） in patients with unexplained primary infertility. MethodsThe study included 764 OI-IUI cycles from January 2016 to December 2022 in reproductive center of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. According to BMI，patients were divided into three groups：low BMI （BMI<18.5 kg/m2）， normal BMI （18.5 kg/m2 ≤BMI＜23.0 kg/m2）， and high BMI （BMI≥23.0 kg/m2）. Comparison of clinical data and pregnancy outcomes was performed between the groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between BMI and live birth rate. ResultsFrom the low BMI group to the high BMI group， the HCG positive rate （7.08%，9.74%， 13.19%）， clinical pregnancy rate（5.51%， 7.91%， 13.19%）， and live birth rate （4.72%， 6.90%， 12.50%） increased. Among them， the live birth rate of the high BMI group was significantly higher than that of the low BMI group and the normal BMI group， with a statistically significant difference （P=0.034）. While the early miscarriage rate （14.28%， 10.26%， 5.26%） decreased from the low BMI group to the high BMI group. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI was an independent factor in live birth， and high BMI resulted in a better live birth rate than low BMI （OR=3.15，95%CI=1.191-8.329，P=0.021）. ConclusionLow BMI is associated with poor OI-IUI outcomes in patients with unexplained primary infertility. These patients are encouraged to gain weight in a healthy manner.

The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on in vitro fertilization outcomes of unexplained infertility

Abstract Background Infertility is caused by heterogeneous risks, but most of them are unexplained. The sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) was increasingly acknowledged as a parameter for the evaluation of male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the association between sperm DFI and laboratory and clinical outcomes in a population with unexplained infertility. Methods The clinical data of an infertile population was collected for the selection of reproductive patients with unexplained infertility. The authors classified the patients with normal sperm parameters in a control group (DFI < 25%) and an observation group (DFI ≥ 25%) and compared the difference in basal characteristics, laboratory, and clinical outcomes between the two groups. The authors conducted a correlation analysis to examine the relationship between DFI and the number of D3 good-quality embryos, as well as the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. A total of 176 cases were enrolled in the retrospective study. Results The observation group (n = 88) showed advanced male age, lower sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology assessment than the control group. In addition, lower No. of D3 good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and the live birth rate were shown in the observation group. A negative correlation between the DFI and No. of D3 good-quality embryos (rs = -0.347, p < 0.001) or live birth rate (rs = -0.185, p = 0.028) was shown. Conclusions Sperm DFI was a good indicator for the prediction of D3 good-quality embryos in unexplained infertility couples, but it did not provide sufficient information regarding clinical pregnancy outcome but live pregnancy outcome.

Cytotoxicity of 4 Wild Mushrooms in a Case of Yunnan Sudden Unexplained Death / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To explore the cytotoxicity of four wild mushrooms involved in a case of Yunnan sudden unexplained death (YNSUD), to provide the experimental basis for prevention and treatment of YNSUD.@*METHODS@#Four kinds of wild mushrooms that were eaten by family members in this YNSUD incident were collected and identified by expert identification and gene sequencing. Raw extracts from four wild mushrooms were extracted by ultrasonic extraction to intervene HEK293 cells, and the mushrooms with obvious cytotoxicity were screened by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The selected wild mushrooms were prepared into three kinds of extracts, which were raw, boiled, and boiled followed by enzymolysis. HEK293 cells were intervened with these three extracts at different concentrations. The cytotoxicity was detected by CCK-8 combined with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) Assay Kit, and the morphological changes of HEK293 cells were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope.@*RESULTS@#Species identification indicated that the four wild mushrooms were Butyriboletus roseoflavus, Boletus edulis, Russula virescens and Amanita manginiana. Cytotoxicity was found only in Amanita manginiana. The raw extracts showed cytotoxicity at the mass concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, while the boiled extracts and the boiled followed by enzymolysis extracts showed obvious cytotoxicity at the mass concentration of 0.4 mg/mL and 0.7 mg/mL, respectively. In addition to the obvious decrease in the number of HEK293 cells, the number of synapses increased and the refraction of HEK293 cells was poor after the intervention of Amanita manginiana extracts.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The extracts of Amanita manginiana involved in this YNSUD case has obvious cytotoxicity, and some of its toxicity can be reduced by boiled and enzymolysis, but cannot be completely detoxicated. Therefore, the consumption of Amanita manginiana is potentially dangerous, and it may be one of the causes of the YNSUD.

Sick individuals and sick populations: Yunnan unexplained sudden death from the perspective of population medicine / 中华地方病学杂志

Individuals and populations affected by Yunnan unexplained sudden death have different causes, so different research methods and control strategies should be adopted for these two different causes. By reviewing relevant research literature on Yunnan unexplained sudden death, we reinterpret some characteristics of the disease from the perspective of population medicine. At the same time, it is found that some studies have shown that residents in areas where sudden death occurs have a higher proportion of myocardial damage compared to control areas, making them a population with basic sickness. Population medicine methods can be used to conduct etiology research and disease prevention and control.

Effect of the comprehensive intervention measures on Yunnan unexplained sudden death in Dali Prefecture / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of comprehensive intervention measures on Yunnan unexplained sudden death (YUSD) in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and to provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures.Methods:Since 2010, Yunnan Province had implemented comprehensive intervention measures in ward areas according to the etiological pattern of YUSD. In July 2019, 47 families with YUSD were selected as case families and 23 families without YUSD were selected as control families in 31 natural villages of Heqing, Xiangyun, Yunlong, Eryuan, Jianchuan, Binchuan and Nanjian counties of Dali Prefecture. A unified questionnaire was used to investigate the basic information, economic status, dietary structure, and health literacy of the families during the two periods of "the first sudden death case" and "the present".Results:The annual household income of the case families at present (median, 20 492.6 yuan) was significantly higher than that of the first sudden death case (3 883.4 yuan), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = - 5.27, P < 0.001). At present, rice (76.6%, 36/47) was the main diet of the case families; at the time of the first sudden death case, 23.4% (11/47) of the case families could not eat enough, and there was no such situation in the case families at present. Compared with the time of the first sudden death case, the dietary habits of the case families at present were as follows: the proportion of eating Trogia venenata decreased from 19.0% (39/205) to 0 (0/190), the proportion of eating wild fruit decreased from 17.1% (35/205) to 9.5% (18/190), and the proportion of drinking raw water decreased from 55.1% (113/205) to 42.1% (80/190), and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 22.37, 4.90, 6.86, P < 0.05). Lifestyle and health awareness: the proportion of those who washed their hands before meals and after using the toilet increased from 9.8% (20/205) to 41.6% (79/190), those who did not overwork increased from 16.6% (34/205) to 34.2% (65/190), and those who took good protection when spraying pesticides increased from 7.3% (15/205) to 21.6% (41/190), and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 53.17, 33.94, 16.48, P < 0.001). Toilet habits: the proportion of using outdoor toilet decreased from 75.6% (155/205) to 9.5% (18/190), the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 175.21, P < 0.001). When the first sudden death case occurred, the proportions of eating Trogia venenata and using outdoor toilet in the case families were higher than those in the control families (χ 2 = 22.37, 23.70, P < 0.001), the proportions of those who washed their hands before meals and after using the toilet and those who did not overwork in the case families were lower than those in the control families (χ 2 = 7.38, 4.93, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The economic conditions, production and living conditions of YUSD areas in Dali Prefecture have been significantly improved, and the health literacy and health prevention awareness of the population have been greatly improved. Economic conditions and living standard, dietary structure and health literacy may be related factors of YUSD.

Application of teacher standardized patients combined case-based leaching in the acceptation ability training of general practitioners in medically unexplained physical symptoms / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Due to the reduction of patient cooperation and the limitation of clinical diseases, general practitioners lack effective acceptation training in the training process. To improve this situation, this study applies teacher standardized patients (TSP) combined case-based learning (CBL) to the acceptation ability training of general practitioners in medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). And the acceptation ability and communication ability of 15 general practitioners were evaluated before, during and after the training. It shows that the application of "TSP + CBL" in the acceptation ability training of general practitioners in MUPS can effectively improve the acceptation ability and communication ability of general practitioners.

Trastorno facticio en adultos: a propósito de un caso y revisión de literatura / Factitious disorder in adults: a case report and literature review

RESUMEN: El trastorno facticio consiste en falsificar, inducir o agravar las enfermedades para recibir atención médica, independientemente si están enfermas o no. El impacto que tiene esta patología va desde altos costos en salud asociado a la policonsulta, hospitalizaciones y tratamientos innecesarios; la funcionalidad y calidad de vida de estos pacientes, hasta el costo de vidas humanas. Este trastorno sigue siendo un desafío para los clínicos, puesto que no hay evidencia suficiente sobre la epidemiología, etiología, clínica y manejo dada su complejidad. En este artículo se presentará un caso clínico enfatizando en la evolución de la enfermedad, manejo inicial y posterior durante su hospitalización, junto con una actualización basada en la literatura, en torno al tratamiento de esta patología, con el fin de proponer intervenciones preventivas o protocolos que permitan evitar hospitalizaciones y tratamientos innecesarios. Luego se finalizará con la resolución del caso, pronóstico de esta enfermedad y una conclusión.

ABSTRACT Factitious disorder consists of falsifying, inducing or aggravating illnesses in order to receive medical attention, regardless of whether they are ill or not. The impact of this pathology ranges from high health costs associated with polyconsultation, hospitalizations and unnecessary treatments, the functionality and quality of life of these patients, up to the cost of human lives. This disorder continues to be a challenge for clinicians, since there is insufficient evidence on the epidemiology, etiology, clinic and management given its complexity. In this article, a clinical case will be presented, emphasizing the evolution of the disease, initial and subsequent management during hospitalization, together with an update based on the literature, on the treatment of this pathology, in order to propose preventive interventions or protocols that allow avoiding hospitalizations and unnecessary treatments. Then it ends with the resolution of the case, prognosis of this disease and a conclusion.

Atribución de síntomas en pacientes con síntomas médicamente inexplicables. Un estudio de validación y desarrollo de la escala / Symptom attribution in patients with medically unexplained symptoms. A scale development and validation study

Resumen Introducción: En la atención de pacientes con síntomas físicos médicamente no explicables (SFMNE) es importante lo que el paciente piensa de sus síntomas. Objetivo: Validar propiedades psicométricas de una escala de atribución del síntoma en pacientes con SFMNE y verificar su confiabilidad. Métodos: Se entrevistó a una muestra no probabilística de 400 pacientes adultos, hombres y mujeres, en la consulta de un hospital con medicina familiar, 200 con SFMNE y 200 con patología orgánica concreta. Se diagnosticó a cada grupo con criterios definidos y se aplicó una escala con validez de contenido y de constructo por medio de análisis de componentes principales con rotación varimax. Resultados: La escala quedó integrada por 12 reactivos con dos factores, uno de atribución psicosocial y otro de atribución orgánica del síntoma. El factor de origen psicosocial tuvo una varianza de 49.7 %. La prueba de bondad de ajuste mostró que la matriz de correlaciones fue adecuada y la prueba de esfericidad de Bartlett indicó significación estadística (p < 0.0001); el alfa de Cronbach fue de 0.841. Conclusión.: La escala mostró una validez de constructo aceptable y buena confiabilidad y estabilidad. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados para la investigación de mediciones futuras.

Abstract Introduction: In the care of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) it is important what they think about their symptoms. Objective: To validate the psychometric properties of a symptom attribution scale in patients with MUPS and to verify its reliability. Methods: A non-probabilistic sample of 400 male and female adult patients were interviewed in the outpatient services of a family medicine hospital, 200 with MUPS and 200 with a defined organic pathology. Each group was diagnosed with defined criteria, and a scale with content and construct validity was applied by means of principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Results: The scale was made up of 12 items with two factors, one of symptom psychosocial attribution and others with organic attribution. The psychosocial-origin factor showed a variance of 49.7%. The goodness-of-fit test demostrated that the correlation matrix was adequate, and Bartlett's sphericity test indicated statistical significance (p < 0.0001); Cronbach's alpha was 0.841. Conclusion: The scale showed acceptable construct validity and good reliability and stability. The implications of these results for future measurement research are discussed.

Mediating effect of oxidative stress on association between nicotine and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion / 环境与职业医学

Background Previous studies have confirmed that nicotine exposure is an independent risk factor for miscarriage, but it is not clear whether nicotine causes unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) through oxidative stress. Objective To explore potential mediating effect of oxidative stress on the relationship between nicotine exposure and URSA. Methods Using a 1∶1 matched case-control study, 88 patients with URSA visiting Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from April to October in 2018 were selected as the case group, and 88 pregnant women without adverse pregnancy outcomes and seeking induced abortion in the outpatient clinic of the same hospital were selected as the control group. The levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) in urine were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the level of urinary nicotine was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the associations of nicotine, 8-OHdG, and 8-iso-PGF2α with the risk of URSA. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association of nicotine with 8-OHdG and 8-iso-PGF2α. The potential mediating effect of oxidative stress on URSA after nicotine exposure was explored by dichotomous mediating model. Results The median concentrations (creatinine corrected) of nicotine, 8-OHdG, and 8-iso-PGF2α in urine of the case group were 7.78, 4.84, and 44.10 μg·g−1, respectively, while those of the control group were 6.48, 3.34, and 29.39 μg·g−1, respectively. The concentrations of nicotine, 8-OHdG, and 8-iso-PGF2α in urine of the case group were all higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The results of conditional logistic regression model showed that after adjusting selected confounding factors, compared with the Q1 groups of nicotine and 8-iso-PGF2α, the OR (95%CI) values of URSA in the Q4 groups were 4.20 (1.33-13.29) and 6.25 (1.66-23.59), respectively. Compared with the Q1 group of 8-OHdG, the OR (95%CI) values of URSA in the Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups were 5.47 (1.43-20.93), 4.24 (1.28-14.07), and 6.36 (1.82-22.28), respectively. The results of multiple linear regression showed that after adjusting confounding factors, there was a positive correlation between urinary nicotine and 8-OHdG in both the case group and the control group, and the b (95%CI) values were 0.76 (0.67-0.86) and 0.81 (0.67-0.95) respectively; there was a positive correlation between urinary nicotine and 8-iso-PGF2α in both the case group and the control group, and the b (95%CI) values were 0.65 (0.55-0.75) and 0.76 (0.64-0.87), respectively. The results of dichotomous mediating analysis showed that the mediating effect of 8-iso-PGF2α and its 95%CI on the relationship between nicotine exposure and URSA was 1.518 (0.749-2.311). Conclusion Internal nicotine exposure is a risk factor for URSA and is positively correlated with oxidative stress, and it may lead to URSA through lipid peroxidation damage.

Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of scrub typhus based on 680 unexplained fever patients in Hainan / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus in 680 patients with unexplained fever in Hainan Island and provide guidance for local scrub typhus prevention and control. Methods　Blood samples from patients with clinically diagnosed unexplained fever in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou Municipal People's Hospital and Central South University Xiangya Medical College Affiliated Hospital, People's Hospital of Qiongzhong Li Miao Autonomous County were collected between 2018 and 2021, then samples were tested for Orientia tsutsugamushi specific IgM, IgG antibodies and Orientia tsutsugamushi 56kD-specific antigen genes using colloidal gold immunochromatography and PCR methods. The clinical and epidemiological information of the samples were also collected. Epidemiological analysis was carried out on the obtained sample information and test results. Results　A total of 680 samples from patients with clinically unknown fever were collected. The positive rates of scrub typhus IgM antibody, IgG antibody, PCR were 23.97% (163/680), 36.62% (249/680), 20.88% (142/680), respectively, and eschar or rash was observed in 12.06% (82/680) of all patients. According to the diagnostic criteria, 223 patients were finally diagnosed with scrub typhus. Among them, there were 111 males (49.78%) and 109 females (48.88%); the average age was (53.14±15.12) years old, and the 40-<60 years old was the main incidence group (98 cases, accounting for 43.95%). The ethnicity of the patient with scrub typhus was mainly Han ethnicity (136 cases, accounting for 60.99%). Farmers were the main morbidity group (93 cases, 41.70%). The patient with scrub typhus distributed throughout the island except for Sanya and Wuzhishan, with Haikou and Qiongzhong show the highest number of cases. The number of cases in autumn was the highest (114 cases, 51.12%). The clinical manifestations of infected patients were mainly non-specific symptoms and signs, 36.77% of patients developed skin-specific ulcers or eschars, which were mainly distributed in the shoulder and neck, armpits, elbow fossa, chest and abdomen, back, buttocks, groin, scrotum and other joints and skin folds of the upper and lower limbs. Conclusions　Hainan Island is the foci of scrub typhus and the epidemic time has obvious seasonality. Its prevention should focus on rural areas in autumn, and its clinical features are mainly high fever and eschar or ulceration.

Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico em lactentes que apresentaram Eventos Resolvidos Breves Não Explicados - Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) / Gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants who presented brief resolved unexplained event (brue)

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The term brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE) is a description of the acute event occurring in infants less than 1-year-old that includes at least one of the following characteristics: cyanosis or pallor; absent, decreased, or irregular breathing; marked change in tone or altered level of responsiveness. An investigative proceeding is required to identify the triggering phenomenon in those who are at high risk of complications. Prolonged esophageal pHmetry has been used as a tool in searching for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as one of the underlying etiologies. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to verify the frequency of GERD in infants up to 1-year-old, when pHmetry has been performed for investigating high-risk BRUE (HR-BRUE) and to analyze if clinical characteristics or any particular symptom related by caregivers during BRUE could be correlated to GERD. METHODS: It was performed a cross-sectional study. The data was collected retrospectively of patients less than 1-year-old, who had performed pHmetry in a tertiary hospital for investigating HR-BRUE between October 2008 and January 2018. For the analysis of medical records, a data collection protocol included: gender, age at the first HR-BRUE episode, age at the time of the pHmetry, gestational age, type of delivery (normal or caesarean) and birth weight and symptoms associated to HR-BRUE related by caregivers. Relation between variables were assessed using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 54 infants were included (preterm 25, term 29), 62.9% males, median age at the HR-BRUE was 36 days, 53.7% HR-BRUE episodes had occurred during or right after feeding. According to pHmetry results: nine pHmetry results were considered inconclusive, physiological reflux (n=30) and GERD (n=15). The frequency of GERD diagnosed by pHmetry was 33%. GERD was not statistically related to gender (P-value=0.757), age at first HR-BRUE episode (P-value=0.960), age at the time of the pHmetry (P-value=0.720), prematurity (P-value=0.120) or type of delivery (P-value=0.738). GERD was statistically related to low birth weight (P-value=0.023). There was no association between symptoms reported by caregivers during HR-BRUE and GERD. CONCLUSION: GERD diagnosed by the pHmetry was found in one third of infants that experiencing a HR-BRUE, showing the importance of properly investigation. In half of infants BRUE occurred during or right after feeding. Besides low birth weight, it was not possible to select other data from the clinical history that suggest that these patients would be more likely to have GERD.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O termo Eventos Resolvidos Breves Não Explicados (Brief Resolved Unexplained Event - BRUE) é uma descrição do evento agudo que ocorre em lactentes menores de 1 ano de idade que inclui pelo menos uma das seguintes características: cianose ou palidez; respiração ausente, diminuída ou irregular, alteração acentuada no tônus ou nível alterado de responsividade. É necessário um procedimento investigativo para identificar o fenômeno desencadeante naqueles que apresentam alto risco de complicações. A pHmetria esofágica prolongada tem sido usada como uma ferramenta na pesquisa de doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) como uma das etiologias subjacentes. OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar a frequência da DRGE em lactentes de até 1 ano de idade, quando a pHmetria foi realizada para investigação da BRUE de alto risco, e analisar se alguma característica clínica ou sintoma particular relatado pelos cuidadores durante a BRUE poderia estar correlacionado a DRGE. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, transversal, cujos dados foram coletados retrospectivamente de pacientes menores de 1 ano de idade, que realizaram pHmetria em hospital terciário para investigação de BRUE de alto risco de outubro de 2008 e janeiro de 2018. Para a análise dos prontuários, um protocolo de coleta de dados incluiu: sexo, idade no primeiro episódio de BRUE de alto risco, idade no momento da pHmetria, idade gestacional, tipo de parto (normal ou cesárea), peso ao nascer e sintomas associados a alto risco-BRUE relatado por cuidadores. A relação entre as variáveis foi avaliada por meio do teste exato de Fisher, qui-quadrado e teste de Mann-Whitney. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 54 lactentes (pré-termo 25, termo 29), 62,9% do sexo masculino, idade mediana na BRUE de alto risco foi de 36 dias. De acordo com o relatório do cuidador, 53,7% dos episódios de BRUE de alto risco ocorreram durante ou logo após a alimentação. Resultados da pHmetria: nove resultados da pHmetria foram considerados inconclusivos, refluxo fisiológico (n=30) e DRGE (n=15). A frequência de DRGE diagnosticada por pHmetria foi de 33%. A DRGE não foi estatisticamente relacionada ao sexo (P=0,757), idade no primeiro episódio de BRUE de alto risco (P=0,96), idade no momento da pHmetria (P=0,72) prematuridade (P=0,321) ou tipo de parto (P=0,738). A DRGE foi estatisticamente relacionada ao baixo peso ao nascer (P=0,023). Não houve associação entre os sintomas relatados pelos cuidadores durante BRUE de alto risco e o diagnóstico de DRGE. CONCLUSÃO: A DRGE diagnosticada pela pHmetria foi encontrada em um terço dos lactentes que vivenciaram BRUE de alto risco, mostrando a importância da investigação adequada. Em metade das crianças, o evento ocorreu durante ou logo após a alimentação. Além do baixo peso ao nascer, não foi possível selecionar outros dados da história clínica que sugiram que esses pacientes terão maior probabilidade de apresentar DRGE.

Determination of anxiety levels of turkish university students and affecting factors in COVID-19 pandemic: sample of a private university

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences have created anxiety in various segments of society. In particular, the transition to online education brought by this process has made the education process of university students difficult. Therefore, in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to examine the anxiety levels of university students and their relationship with somatic symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To examine the level of generalised anxiety disorder and to reveal the relationship between somatic symptoms and the generalised anxiety disorder level of Turkish university students. METHODS: Empirical research. Participants in the research constituted a total of 605 students studying at a private university in Istanbul. The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) was used to collect data. Data were analysed using the chi-square test and Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: It was found that, among the participants, 193 (31.90%) of the students had mild anxiety, 149 (24.63%) had moderate anxiety and 121 (20.00%) had severe anxiety. The study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between the number of somatic symptoms and generalised anxiety disorder scores of university students. CONCLUSION: Most of the university students are affected by anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic and this effect is correlated with the frequency of somatic symptoms. In this context, it would be beneficial for universities to plan for acute and long-term psychological services and to cooperate with the government to provide timely crisis-oriented psychological services.

The clinical application value of insertable cardiac monitor in patients with unexplained syncope and palpitations / 中华内科杂志

Objective:The underlying causes of unexplained syncope and palpitations are difficult to determine in clinical practice. This study was designed to investigate the value of the insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) for the diagnosis of the unexplained syncope and palpitations.Methods:A total of 184 patients with syncope or palpitations due to unexplained reasons were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (144 patients with unexplained syncope and 40 patients with unexplained palpitations) from October 2015 to October 2019. Among them, 99 patients (77 patients with unexplained syncope and 22 patients with unexplained palpitations) were received ICM implantation (the ICM implanted group) and 85 patients (67 patients with unexplained syncope and 18 patients with unexplained palpitations) were not (the non-ICM implanted group). The patients in the ICM implanted group were followed up once every 3 months until the occurrence of syncope or palpitations. During follow-up, the electrocardiograph (ECG) data recorded by ICM were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The patients in the non-ICM implanted group underwent routine follow-up.Results:The follow-up time of the ICM implanted group was (29.3±9.3) months, and the follow-up time of the non-ICM implanted group was (27.2±10.4) months. The total detection rate (syncope and palpitations) in the implanted ICM group was much higher than that in the non-ICM implanted group (38.4% vs. 3.5%, P<0.001), with syncope detection rate of 40.3% in the implanted ICM group and 3.0% in the non-ICM implanted group ( P<0.001), and palpitation detection rate of 31.8% in the implanted ICM group and 5.6% in the non-ICM implanted group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Application of ICM greatly improved the diagnosis rate of patients with unexplained syncope and palpitations. It is recommended for patients with unexplained syncope and palpitations to implant ICM as soon as possible.

Recurrent miscarriage in North Indian population: a study of association of polymorphisms in genes coding for the natural killer: cell receptor natural killer group 2, member D and its ligand MHC class I chain-related protein A

Background: The objective of this present study was to investigate the possible association of natural killer group (NKG) receptors gene polymorphisms and MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) gene polymorphism with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods: Three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in NKG2D gene (rs2255336, rs2617160 and rs2617170) and one SNP in MICA gene (MICA129) rs1051792 were assessed in 100 controls and 100 patients employing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and agarose gel electrophoresis.Results: NKG2D (rs2617160) and MICA 129 (rs1051792) variants are associated with RSA risk in North Indian women.Conclusions: The NKG2D and MICA129 gene polymorphisms may influence the success of pregnancy in North Indian women population.

A retrospective study on analyzing the role of oocyte maturation arrest as a causative factor for infertility in unexplained infertility

Background: Birth is often referred to as “the miracle of life” and very rightly so since successful pregnancy represents a complex, a highly coordinated succession of biological processes. In this regard, it is remarkable that pregnancy ever occurs at all. Infertility is a reproductive system disorder affecting 10.7% to 15.5% of couples. Highly heterogeneous in etiology. Investigating the cause is necessary for guiding treatment options. Aim of the study was to determine the percentage of immature oocytes retrieved at the metaphase 1 stage and germinal vesicle stage and its outcome.Methods: Total 30 cases were included for this retrospective analysis of data done at ARC fertility center, Saveetha Medical College. This study analyzed the data of patients with unexplained infertility who underwent ICSI centers (affiliated to Saveetha University) meeting inclusion criteria and willing to participate in the study.Results: The mean number of fertilized oocytes among those with more than 25% immature oocyte proportion was 1.18 while among those with less than 25% immature oocyte proportion was 4.13. The chance of fertilization of the oocyte increases when the percentage of immature oocyte was less than or equal to 25%. The association was found to be statistically significant with p-value <0.05.Conclusions: Thus, some intrinsic oocyte factor could be involved in causing maturation arrest in such couples and resulting in multiple failed IVF cycles.so this oocyte factor could be a major cause in many cases of unexplained infertility.

Comparative Study between Timed Intercourse and Intrauterine Insemination in Ovulation Stimulated Cycles in Unexplained Infertile Couples

Background and Objectives: It cannot be stressed enough that infertility is a problem of the couple and not an individualalone. IUI as a mode of artificial insemination is widely used in treating couples with unexplained infertility. The present studywas done with the objective of comparing the effectiveness of TI and IUI with husband’s sperm in couples with unexplainedinfertility undergoing superovulation with clomiphene.Methodology: In this cross-over study, a total of 60 couples with unexplained infertility were subjected to controlled ovarianhyperstimulation with clomiphene and prospectively randomized to receive either TI (Group A) or IUI (Group B). The groupswere interchanged when pregnancy was not achieved in either group after three cycles of each intervention.Results: A positive pregnancy test was seen in both IUI and TI after cross-over. There were seven pregnancies (four in IUI andthree in TI), out of which 6 (85.71%) were viable pregnancies, while one was non-viable (14.29%). Both IUI and TI had threeviable pregnancies each. The one non-viable pregnancy was from the IUI group.Interpretation and Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed that both TI and IUI are effective treatment modalitiesfor women with unexplained infertility. Although the addition of IUI to ovulation induction does increase the cycle fecundability,it does not improve the fecundity.

Retrospective analysis of intrauterine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in controlled ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination cycle

Background: Persistent thin endometrium affects <1% of patients. Various treatments have been proposed with no satisfactory results. GCSF is one such treatment modality which improves endometrial thickness and implantation. Aim of this study was to analyse the effects of dose and the site of instilling intrauterine G-CSF in COS IUI cycles in patients with unexplained infertility and to note the pregnancy rates among them.Methods: It is a 3-year retrospective study done in obstetrics and gynecology department of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, that included all unexplained infertility cycles with controlled ovulation stimulation-IUI protocols where for a thin endometrium GCSF was used. The method of ovarian stimulation, the drug and dose used, the trigger for ovulation and the ovarian and endometrial response was noted. The day of the intrauterine GCSF and the dose and the site of instillation was noted. The endometrial response to GCSF the outcome for pregnancy was noted. All the data was analyzed statistically.Results: Significant endometrial response was seen with a dose of 100 mg,150 mg and 300 mg. Pregnancy outcome was better when GCSF was instilled just above the level of the os. GCSF instilled at the level of the fundus increases the possibility of ectopic pregnancy.Conclusions: Instillation of GCSF of 100 mg dosage just above the os; is a safe and effective method for improving the endometrial thickness and increasing pregnancy rate.

Comparison of empirical use of low dose aspirin and enoxaprin in the treatment of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

Background: Recurrent pregnancy losses have commonly been defined as three or more consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses. About 1-2% of women suffer from recurrent miscarriages. The cause is multifactorial such as uterine anomalies, endocrine disorders, immunological causes, infections, chromosomal anomalies and maternal autoimmune diseases. In 50-60% of cases recurrent pregnancy losses, the cause remains unclear. Objective of this study was to compare the maternal and fetal outcome in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss treated with LMWH (Enoxaparin) vs Aspirin during pregnancy.Methods: Women with 3 or more pregnancy losses, aged between 18-40 years, booked for antenatal care and delivery in our hospital between January 2012 and December 2016 were followed till 6 months after delivery.Results: A total number of 146 women were assessed for eligibility. We had 62 women in Group A (aspirin group) and 84 women in Group E (enoxaparin group). Enoxaparin was given to all those ladies who had taken aspirin in previous pregnancies with no live outcome. Good neonatal outcome was observed with Enoxaparin.Conclusions: Live birth rates did not show significant difference between the two study groups. But empirical use of enoxaparin in patients with no live birth who have taken low dose aspirin in previous pregnancy had shown improved results, so enoxaparin should be used empirically as a first line agent in such cases.

Letrozole: an emerging array of hope for infertile women

Ovulation induction has been a major breakthrough in the management of female infertility since many decades. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor has been used as a potential therapy for ovulation induction. A large number of clinical evidences have been emerging which cite the beneficial role of Letrozole in conditions like anovulatory infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), unexplained infertility and an incipient role in endometriosis- related infertility with regards to higher live-birth rates. Letrozole is a superior alternative to Clomiphene citrate (CC) which has been used conventionally as ovulation inducer. Clomiphene citrate has certain well-defined disadvantages, whereas Letrozole overcomes these limitations to a reasonable extent. The peripheral anti-estrogenic effect of CC leads to prolonged depletion of estrogens receptors, adversely affecting endometrial growth and development as well as quantity and quality of cervical mucus. Persistent blockade of estrogen receptor leads to CC resistance and is associated with reduced ovulation and pregnancy rates. Available evidences suggest Letrozole is superior to CC owing to the lack of persistent anti-estrogenic action due to its short half- life and lack of action on estrogen receptors. This typically leads to monofollicular growth and also higher live birth rates. The current evidences suggest that Letrozole can be placed as first line therapy for the management of infertility due to PCOS and unexplained infertility.

Application of transesophageal atrial pacing in children with unexplained tachycardia / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical effect of transesophageal atrial pacing (TEAP) in the diagnosis of unexplained tachycardia in children. Methods The results of TEAP in 28 children with unexplained tachycardia diagnosed and treated from September 2017 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and were compared with the intracardiac electrophysiological study. Results A total of 28 children (19 boys; 9 girls) with an average age of 10.8±3.7 years were treated with TEAP .There were 15 cases of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVR7)，8 cases of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNR7)，and 2 cases of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (IAR7)，and a diagnostic rate was 89.29% (25/28).The ectopic tachycardia was not induced in 3 cases. Intracardiac electrophysiological study (IEPS) was performed in 21 patients. One patient had no ectopic tachycardia induced by TEAP and was diagnosed with idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (RVOT-VT) by IEPS. One case of left bypass atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (LP-AVRT) was misdiagnosed of atrial tachycardia (AT).The diagnosis results of other patients using IEPS were consistent with TEAP, and a coincidence rate was 90.48% (19/21). Conclusions The diagnosis of tachycardia by TEAP is highly consistent with the results of IEPS. TEAP is recommended for children with clinically unexplained tachycardia, so as to clarify the diagnosis and classification of tachycardia and provide evidence for further diagnosis and treatment.