Prediction of pulmonary infection in patients with severe myelitis by NPAR combined with spinal cord lesion segments.

Objectives: To investigate the risk factors of pulmonary infection in patients with severe myelitis and construct a prediction model. Methods: The clinical data of 177 patients with severe myelitis at admission from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The predicting factors associated with pulmonary infection were screened by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the nomogram model was constructed, and the predictive efficiency of the model was evaluated, which was verified by calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test and decision curve analysis. Results: Of the 177 patients with severe myelitis, 38 (21.5%) had pulmonary infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio (NPAR) (OR = 6.865, 95%CI:1.746-26.993, p = 0.006) and high cervical cord lesion (OR = 2.788, 95%CI:1.229-6.323, p = 0.014) were independent risk factors for pulmonary infection, and the combined nomogram could easily predict the occurrence of pulmonary infection, with a C-index of 0.766 (95% CI: 0.678-0.854). The calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (χ2 = 9.539, p = 0.299) and decision curve analysis showed that the model had good consistency and clinical applicability. Conclusion: The nomogram model constructed based on NPAR combined with high cervical cord lesion at admission has good clinical application value in predicting pulmonary infection in patients with severe myelitis, which is conducive to clinicians' evaluation of patients.

Moderate calorie restriction attenuates age­associated alterations and improves cardiac function by increasing SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression.

Calorie restriction (CR) extends the lifespan of mammals and improves cardiac function by attenuation of age­associated alterations. Sirtuins (SIRT) are involved in these mechanisms, however, the extent to which CR affects cardiac function and sirtuin expression remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine to what extent CR affects cardiac function and sirtuin expression. A total of 60 female Sprague­Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, including normal control (NC), 25% calorie restriction (25% CR), 45% calorie restriction (45% CR) and high­fat diet (HF). The groups were maintained on these specific regimens for 2 months. CR rats were observed to have significantly lower body weight, heart weight, and left ventricle mass index compared with NC and HF rats. Visceral fat, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased in CR rats. Compared with the 25% CR group, the 45% CR group heart function decreased. The heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, +dp/dt and ­dp/dt of the 45% CR rats decreased, whereas the left ventricular end­diastolic pressure increased. To explore the molecular mechanism of CR on cardiac function, immunoblotting was used to detect the protein expression of SIRT1 and SIRT3. The 25% CR diet increased the expression of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in myocardium, whereas the 45% CR and HF diets resulted in a decrease in SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression. Moderate calorie restriction (25% CR) improves cardiac function by attenuation of age­associated alterations in rats. SIRT1 and SIRT3 are associated with these effects.

miR-193b-3p possesses anti-tumor activity in ovarian carcinoma cells by targeting p21-activated kinase 3.

miR-193b-3p was found to be downregulated and contributed to ovarian cancer (OC) progression. In the present study, we aimed to study the detailed role of miR-193b-3p in the development of OC and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results showed that miR-193b-3p was downregulated while PAK3 was upregulated in OC cells. Ectopic expression of miR-193b-3p and PAK3 knockdown repressed cell proliferation, promoted paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity, and reinforced paclitaxel-mediated caspase-3 activity increase in OC cells. Notably, miR-193b-3p was identified to directly target PAK3 and suppressed PAK3 expression. Moreover, enforced expression of PAK3 partially overturned the effects of miR-193b-3p on OC cell proliferation and paclitaxel sensitivity. In conclusion, miR-193b-3p possessed anti-tumor activity in OC through inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing paclitaxel sensitivity by targeting PAK3. Therefore, our study suggested that the miR-193b-3p/PAK3 axis might be a potential novel therapeutic target for OC.

New construction of an animal model for the orthotopic transplantation of an ovarian tumor.

A new technique has successfully established the non-obese diabetic/severely combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mouse model of ovarian cancer. Under 4% chloral hydrate (0.1 mL/g dose) anesthesia, female mice were inoculated with tumor-cell suspension. The expression rate of OVCAR3 to CA125 was assessed using flow cytometry. The inoculated site was hand palpated and the signs and symptoms related to tumor growth were observed with the naked eye. The allophycocyanin (APC) indirectly labeled mouse-antihuman CA125 and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled anti-mouse MHC Class I molecule (H-2K(d)/H-2D(d)) were observed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The animal model of ovarian cancer constructed using this method can more directly reflect the characteristics of cancer cells. It provides reliable experimental results and presents a technical platform for the research of ovarian cancer stem cells.

[Clinical study on 57 cases with caesarean scar pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate treatment of caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and associated problem. METHODS: From January 2011 to January 2013, 57 cases with CSP undergoing treatment in Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University were studied retrospectively. Among 57 patients, it was divided into 12 cases treated by curettage (curettage group); 22 cases treated by uterine artery embolization(embolization group);8 cases treated by laparotomy(laparotomy group) and 15 cases treated by transvaginal debridement(transvaginal group). RESULTS: (1)Successful rate of curettage group, embolization group, laparotomy group and transvaginal group were 12/12, 86% (19/22), 7/8, 13/15. (2) The intraoperative blood loss and the hospital stay were 20 (17-28) ml,(5.1 ± 1.9) days in curettage group, 10 (5-15) ml, (10.2 ± 3.2) days in embolization group, 200 (80-300) ml, (11.3 ± 3.3) days in laparotomy group, 50 (45-100) ml, (6.8 ± 1.2) days in transvaginal group. There was statistically different between curettage group and embolization group (P < 0.05). There was statistically different between laparotomy group and transvaginal group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Curettage, uterine artery embolization, abdominal and transvaginal scar debridement surgery can be used in treatment of the CSP. It should be carefully chosen with surgical intervention, if myometrium was implanted greater than 1/2, or near to serosa.It should be carefully chosen with vaginal surgery, if the blood flow signals was rich around the lesion.