[Surgical site infection after abdominal surgery in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study].

Objective: Surgical site infection (SSI) can markedly prolong postoperative hospital stay, aggravate the burden on patients and society, even endanger the life of patients. This study aims to investigate the national incidence of SSI following abdominal surgery and to analyze the related risk factors in order to provide reference for the control and prevention of SSI following abdominal surgery. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. Clinical data of all the adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery in 68 hospitals across the country from June 1 to 30, 2020 were collected, including demographic characteristics, clinical parameters during the perioperative period, and the results of microbial culture of infected incisions. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI within postoperative 30 days, and the secondary outcomes were ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, cost of hospitalization and the mortality within postoperative 30-day. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors of SSI after abdominal surgery. Results: A total of 5560 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were included, and 163 cases (2.9%) developed SSI after surgery, including 98 cases (60.1%) with organ/space infections, 19 cases (11.7%) with deep incisional infections, and 46 cases (28.2%) with superficial incisional infections. The results from microbial culture showed that Escherichia coli was the main pathogen of SSI. Multivariate analysis revealed hypertension (OR=1.792, 95% CI: 1.194-2.687, P=0.005), small intestine as surgical site (OR=6.911, 95% CI: 1.846-25.878, P=0.004), surgical duration (OR=1.002, 95% CI: 1.001-1.003, P<0.001), and surgical incision grade (contaminated incision: OR=3.212, 95% CI: 1.495-6.903, P=0.003; Infection incision: OR=11.562, 95%CI: 3.777-35.391, P<0.001) were risk factors for SSI, while laparoscopic or robotic surgery (OR=0.564, 95%CI: 0.376-0.846, P=0.006) and increased preoperative albumin level (OR=0.920, 95%CI: 0.888-0.952, P<0.001) were protective factors for SSI. In addition, as compared to non-SSI patients, the SSI patients had significantly higher rate of ICU stay [26.4% (43/163) vs. 9.5% (514/5397), χ(2)=54.999, P<0.001] and mortality within postoperative 30-day [1.84% (3/163) vs.0.01% (5/5397), χ(2)=33.642, P<0.001], longer ICU stay (median: 0 vs. 0, U=518 414, P<0.001), postoperative hospital stay (median: 17 days vs. 7 days, U=656 386, P<0.001), and total duration of hospitalization (median: 25 days vs. 12 days, U=648 129, P<0.001), and higher hospitalization costs (median: 71 000 yuan vs. 39 000 yuan, U=557 966, P<0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of SSI after abdominal surgery is 2.9%. In order to reduce the incidence of postoperative SSI, hypoproteinemia should be corrected before surgery, laparoscopic or robotic surgery should be selected when feasible, and the operating time should be minimized. More attentions should be paid and nursing should be strengthened for those patients with hypertension, small bowel surgery and seriously contaminated incision during the perioperative period.

MiR-137-5p alleviates inflammation by upregulating IL-10R1 expression in rats with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the potential functions of miR-137-5p and interleukin-10R1 (IL-10R1) in mediating the immune inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Firstly, primary microglia were isolated from the spinal cord of newborn rats. Expression levels of miR-137-5p and IL-10R1 in LPS-induced microglia were determined by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, mRNA expressions of Janus kinase (Jak1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were also examined by qRT-PCR. SCI model in rats was established and randomly assigned to three different groups: Sham group, SCI group and miR-137-5p mimic group. Within one week of spinal injury, relative levels of miR-137-5p and IL-10R1 in rats of different groups were detected by qRT-PCR. The mRNA levels of JAK1, tyrosine kinase (Tyk2) and STAT3 in rats were also measured. Moreover, protein expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 in rats was measured by Western blotting. Finally, the improvement of locomotor function in three groups of rats within 4 weeks via BBB rating scale. RESULTS: Transfection of miR-137-5p mimics upregulated relative levels of IL-10R1, JAK1 and STAT3 in in vitro cultured microglia. Similarly, IL-10R1/JAK1/STAT3 pathway was activated in rats administrated with miR-137-5p mimics. Nevertheless, relative levels of classical inflammatory stimulators IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 were downregulated accordingly by miR-137-5p overexpression. Moreover, miR-137-5p effectively improved the locomotor function of rats after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-137-5p exerts an anti-inflammatory response by upregulating IL-10R1, thus improving locomotor function and alleviating spinal cord injury.

Effects of MiR-146a on repair and inflammation in rats with spinal cord injury through the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effects of micro ribonucleic acid-34a (miR-34a) on repair and inflammation of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) through the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 12 healthy rats (control group (CG)) and 24 SCI rats (experimental group (EG-1)) were selected as subjects. A total of 12 experimental rats randomly selected from EG-1 were injected with 5 µL agomiR-146 as EG-2 group. Serum levels of miR-146a, TLR, NF-κB, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-6 of rats in CG and EG-1 were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the protein levels of miR-146a, TLR, NF-κB, IL-8 and IL-6 in rats of CG and EG were detected via Western blotting. Spinal cord tissue sections of SCI rats after treatment with agomiR-146 were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) staining. RESULTS: The mRNA level of miR-146a in SCI rats was significantly lower than that in healthy rats, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mRNA levels of TLR, NF-κB, IL-8 and IL-6 in SCI rats were markedly higher than those in healthy rats, showing significant differences (p < 0.05). However, the relative mRNA level of miR-146a in EG-2 group was significantly higher than that in EG-1 group, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). Relative level of miR-146a was not significantly different between EG-2 group and CG group (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of TLR, NF-κB, IL-8 and IL-6 in EG-2 group were evidently lower than those in EG-1 group, displaying significant differences (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-146a can promote the repair of SCI and reduce inflammatory responses in rats through the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Association of novel polymorphisms of forkhead box L2 and growth differentiation factor-9 genes with egg production traits in local Chinese Dagu hens.

Transcription factor forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) genes have critical roles in the regulation of hen ovarian development. In the present study, these genes were explored as possible molecular markers associated with BW, hen-housed egg production, and egg weight in Chinese Dagu hens. Samples were analyzed using the PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique followed by sequencing analysis, and two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within these candidate genes. Among them, an A/G transition at base position 238 in the coding region of the FOXL2 gene and a G/T transversion at base position 1609 in exon 2 of the GDF9 gene were found to be polymorphic and named SNPs A238G and G1609T, respectively. The SNP A238G (FOXL2) leads to a nonsynonymous substitution (isoleucine77-to-valine), and when the 360 Dagu hen samples were divided into genotypes AA and AB, allele A was found to be present at a higher frequency. Furthermore, the AA genotype correlated with significantly higher hen-housed egg production at 30, 43, 57, and 66 wk of age and with a higher egg weight at 43 wk (P<0.05). For the SNP G1609T (GDF9), the hens were typed into TT and TC genotypes, with the T allele shown to be dominant. The TC genotype was also markedly correlated with higher hen-housed egg production and a higher egg weight (P<0.05). Moreover, four haplotypes were reconstructed based on these two SNPs, with the AATC haplotype found to be correlated with the highest hen-housed egg production at 30 to 66 wk of age and with higher egg weights at 43 wk (P<0.05). Collectively, the two SNPs identified in this study might be used as possible genetic molecular markers to aid in the improvement of egg production traits in chicken breeding.