[Expressions of NLRP1 and NLRC4 inflammasomes in prostate cancer and their clinical value].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of the inflammasomes NLRP1 and NLRC4 in the diagnosis and treatment of PCa. METHODS: Using immunohistochemical staining, we detected the expressions of the inflammasomes NLRP1 and NLRC4 and the inflammatory cytokines IL-18 and IL-1ß in 54 cases of BPH and 58 cases of PCa treated in Pinghu First People's Hospital from January 2022 to May 2022. We analyzed the characteristics of their expressions in the two groups of patients and the correlation of NLRP1 and NLRC4 expressions with tPSA, fPSA and Gleason scores in the PCa patients. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, we compared the expressions of NLRP1 and NLRC4 in different stages of PCa. RESULTS: The NLRP1 and NLRC4 expressions were significantly increased in the PCa patients (P < 0.001). The expression of NLRP1 was linearly correlated with those of IL-1ß and IL-18 (P < 0.05), and so was the expression of NLRC4 with that of IL-18 (P < 0.05). The expressions of NLRP1 and NLRC4 were positively correlated with the Gleason scores of the PCa patients (P < 0.05), the former remarkably higher in T3 and T4 than in T1 (P > 0.05), and the latter markedly higher in T2, T3 and T4 than in T1 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The inflammasomes NLRP1 and NLRC4 are highly expressed in PCa and facilitate tumorgenesis by promoting the maturation and release of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and IL-18, which indicates their important role in the progression of tumors and clinical value in the risk assessment and prognosis of PCa.

[Acid Mine Wasteland Reclamation by Juncus ochraceus Buchen as a Potential Pioneer Plant].

Ecological reclamation is the major method for the revegetation of acid mine wasteland worldwide. In this study the pH, fertility characteristics, and heavy metal content of soils from Laili Mountain mine wasteland were analyzed. The research also studied the morphological characteristics and the heavy metal in Juncus ochraceus Buchen as well as its resistance to acid, adaptability to soil fertility in abandoned land, and tolerance to heavy metal pollution (e.g., Zn and Cu) to determine its remediation potential as a pioneer plant for acid mine wasteland. Results showed that the pH of soils in the study area were acidic, ranging from 3.46 to 4.01.The contents of organic matter, total potassium, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus was poor, being 10.28-25.75 g·kg-1, 8.84-9.32 g·kg-1, 0.56-0.63 g·kg-1, and 1.82-5.72 mg·kg-1 respectively.The contents of Zn, Cu, and Fe in the soil ranged between 54.93 and 114.49 mg·kg-1, 92.53 and 127.59 mg·kg-1, and 47133.60 and 112259.63 mg·kg-1, whereby the Cu content was 1.85-2.55 times higher than the risk screening value. The height of Juncus ochraceus Buchen in the study area ranged from 43.77 cm to 55.42 cm, which was shorter than the average plant height of the control group (51.38-57.66 cm); however, this was not a significant difference, thus indicating that this plant was resistant to acidic soil and heavy metal pollution.Further analysis showed that Juncus ochraceus Buchen had accumulating capacity for both Cu and Zn, and transferring capacity for Zn as well. Thus, it had potential in heavy metal accumulation and absorption.Plant height was significantly related to the available phosphorus content in the rhizosphere soil. In the future, soil fertility could be improved by supplementing fertilizers containing available phosphorus when Juncus ochraceus Buchen is planted on the land of abandoned mines as a pioneer plant. Comprehensive analysis revealed that Juncus ochraceus Buchen had great potential as a pioneer plant to remediate acid mine wasteland.

[Efficacy of yindan xinnaotong soft capsule on cerebral infarction reconvalescents of static blood blocking collaterals syndrome: a randomized controlled study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yindan Xinnaotong Soft Capsule (YXSC) on cerebral infarction (CI) reconvalescents of static blood blocking collaterals syndrome (SBBCS). METHODS: Totally 118 CI reconvalescents of SBBCS were randomly assigned to the test group (treated by YXSC) and the control group [treated by Naoxintong Capsule (NC)], 59 in each group. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Changes of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Chinese medical syndrome scores, and serum lipid indices were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the patient proportion of improving activities of daily life by more than or equal to 75 score was elevated (80.7% vs 62.5%; P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the NIHSS score decreased at post-treatment 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the two groups (P < 0.05). The patient proportion of dropped NIHSS score by more than or equal to 5 score was lowered (80.7% vs 57.14%), and the total effective rate of improving Chinese medical syndromes was superior in the test group after 12-week treatment (89.47% vs 71.43%, all P < 0.05). After 12-week treatment there was no statistical difference in the patient proportion of lowering mRS lower than or equal to 2 or blood lipids between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: YXSC showed certain effect in improving activities of daily life, attenuating the neurological impairment, and elevating the total effective rate of improving Chinese medical syndromes in CI patients in the recovery stage.

[Effects of low-level lead exposure on the neurobehavioral development of infants and early intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of low-level lead exposure on infant's neurobehavioral development and evaluate the effects of early intervention. METHODS: The study population consisted of 276 infants whose blood lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and calcium concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy and developmental status were assessed using the Gesell developmental Diagnosis scales (GDDS) at 6 months of age. All study subjects was divided into three groups: 58 infants in control group, 162 infants in low lead group and 56 infants in high lead group. On the basis infants of both the low and high lead groups were provided with interventional measures for 3 months, and tests for the blood lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium and GDDS were repeated for all infants both 12 and 18 months of ages. RESULTS: Infant' s developmental outcome revealed the developmental quotient was the lowest in the high lead group (86.74 +/- 9. 35), the lesser low in the low lead group (91.52 +/- 10.12) and the highest in control group (100.71 +/- 6.92). Changes in developmental quotient were detected in both the low and high lead groups with statistical significance (P < 0.05) after intervention measures adopted. However, the changes of developmental quotient were more remarkable in the low lead group and after the 18th month there was no statistical significance than control group (t = 1.721, P > 0.05) while the significant difference was found in between the high lead group and the control group (t = 23.495, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-level lead exposure interfered infant's neurobehavioral development and early intervention might improve infant's developmental quotient.

[Infection of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus and morphology of the infected spermatogenic cells in infertile men].

OBJECTIVE: To study the infection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-I) and the morphological characteristics of the infected spermatogenic cells in the semen of infertile men. METHODS: We washed and concentrated the spermatogenic cells obtained from 83 semen samples of infertile men, extracted DNA and then screened HCMV and HSV-II by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was used to detect the expression of correlative virus antigens of the positive semen cells, and the cytology smear was employed to observe the morphological changes of the spermatogenic cells under the microscope after cytology staining. RESULTS: Of all the semen samples, 8 were HCMV positive, 4 HSV-II positive, but none were both HCMV and HSV-II positive. HCMV late antigens were positively and HCMV early antigens negatively expressed in the spermatogenic cells of the 8 HCMV positive cases. In the 4 HSV-II positive cases, 3 were positively and 1 weakly positively expressed. In the semen of the 12 positive cases were found large numbers of immature spermatogenic cells, with different manifestations of apoptosis, such as chromatin pycnosis, vacuoles, damaged nuclear membrane, and apoptotic bodies, but without virus infection-induced specific morphological alteration. Sperm concentration of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Spermatogenic cells infected by HCMV and HSV-II may cause pathologic lesions and affect spermatogenesis. Morphologically, the infected spermatogenic cells may undergo some pathologic alteration, such as apoptosis. The rate of HCMV infection is higher among infertile males with pathologic cells in the semen.