The role of MRI in "estimating" intraoperative bleeding during cesarean section for placenta accreta: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The prenatal detection of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is crucial for treatment strategy formulation. MRI descriptors may offer a more objective method for predicting PAS and clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of MRI examination for intraoperative blood loss in PAS cesarean section and elucidating the MRI descriptors that are more valuable for predicting intraoperative blood loss. Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 164 pregnant women diagnosed with PAS. Maternal and neonatal perioperative characteristics were systematically collected. To evaluate the relationship between maternal and perioperative characteristics and intraoperative blood loss, as well as the predictive value of MRI descriptors on intraoperative blood loss, a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Patients were pre-grouped based on a combined ultrasound-MRI evaluation, with 108 cases (65.9 %) classified as placenta accreta, 47 cases (28.7 %) as placenta increta, and 9 cases (5.4 %) as placenta percreta. The results demonstrated that intraoperative blood loss was positively associated with partial MRI descriptors (F = 9.751, df = 15), such as placenta accreta (OR: 243.33, p = 0.006), cross-border blood vessels that pass through the uterine muscle layer (OR: 297.76, p = 0.012), interruption of hyperechoic uterus-bladder interface (bladder line) (OR: 342.59, p = 0.011), and subplacental hypervascularity (OR: 365.96, p = 0.027). Conclusions: Preoperative MRI demonstrates promising predictive capabilities in estimating intraoperative blood loss for PAS patients. Pregnant women identified as having a high risk of intraoperative bleeding based on MRI findings should undergo closer antenatal monitoring in late pregnancy, along with more comprehensive preoperative blood preparation, to better ensure maternal and fetal safety.

The Hofmeister series: Anion effect on microbial transglutaminase cross-linked soybean protein isolate hydrogels.

In this paper, the possibility of the kosmotropic anion (CO32-, Citrate3-, SO42-, H2PO4-, CH3COO- and Cl-) to improve the gel properties of microbial transglutaminase (MTG)-crosslinked soybean isolate protein (SPI)-based hydrogels was explored using a soaking strategy. The results of this experiment demonstrated that the hardness of the hydrogel undergoes different degrees of enhancement after different salt treatments in the following order: H2PO4- > CH3COO- > SO42- > Citrate3- > Cl- > CO32-. Rheological results showed that salt treatment led to enhancement of the energy storage modulus of the hydrogels. Further experiments indicated that the water-binding capacity of different salts depended on the salting out effect. Based on the Hofmeister effect, hardness-enhanced SPI-based hydrogels were successfully prepared. The Hofmeister effect offers a simple, an effective and a novel method for the preparation of functional SPI hydrogels.

Inhibition of the P38 MAPK/NLRP3 pathway mitigates cognitive dysfunction and mood alterations in aged mice after abdominal surgery plus sevoflurane.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction, encompassing perioperative psychological distress and cognitive impairment, is a prevalent postoperative complication within the elderly population, and in severe cases, it may lead to dementia. Building upon our prior research that unveiled a connection between postoperative mood fluctuations and cognitive dysfunction with the phosphorylation of P38, this present investigation aims to delve deeper into the involvement of the P38 MAPK/NLRP3 pathway in perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in an abdominal exploratory laparotomy (AEL) aged mice model. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice (male, 18-month-old) underwent AEL with 3 % anesthesia. Then, inhibitors targeting P38 MAPK (SB202190, 1 mg/kg) and GSK3ß (TWS119, 10 mg/kg) were administered multiple times daily for 7 days post-surgery. The NLRP3-cKO AEL and WT AEL groups only underwent the AEL procedure. Behavioral assessments, including the open field test (OFT), novel object recognition (NOR), force swimming test (FST), and fear conditioning (FC), were initiated on postoperative day 14. Additionally, mice designated for neuroelectrophysiological monitoring had electrodes implanted on day 14 before surgery and underwent novel object recognition while their local field potential (LFP) was concurrently recorded on postoperative day 14. Lastly, after they were euthanasized, pathological analysis and western blot were performed. RESULTS: SB202190, TWS119, and astrocyte-conditional knockout NLRP3 all ameliorated the cognitive impairment behaviors induced by AEL in mice and increased mean theta power during novel location exploration. However, it is worth noting that SB202190 may exacerbate postoperative depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in mice, while TWS119 may induce impulsive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that anesthesia and surgical procedures induce alterations in mood and cognition, which may be intricately linked to the P38 MAPK/NLRP3 pathway.

Treatment experience for different risk groups of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma.

Background: Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor with a high risk of mortality. Few studies with large samples of KHE have been reported. KHE may develop into the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP), which is characterized by thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy. The features of severe symptomatic anemia and life-threatening low platelets make the management of KHE associated with KMP challenging. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with KHE and discuss the treatment experience for different risk groups of KHE. Methods: Through a retrospective review of 70 patients diagnosed with KHE between 2017 and 2022 in our center, we classify lesions into three clinicopathological stages based on the tumor involving depth, and divided the severity of KHE into three levels by estimating clinicopathological stages and severity of thrombocytopenia. Treatments of different severity groups were estimated with sufficient data. Results: In our cohort, 27% were neonates, and KHE lesion occurred at birth in 84% of patients. There was a slight male predominance (32 girls and 38 boys). Common clinical characteristics included associated coagulation disorder (100%), locally aggressive cutaneous blue-purple mass (89%), thrombocytopenia (78%), and local pain or joint dysfunction (20%). The lower extremities were the dominant location (35%), followed by the trunk (29%), the maxillofacial region and neck (24%), and the upper extremities (10%). Of the total cohort, 78% developed KMP; the median age at which thrombocytopenia occurred was 27.8 days. The median platelet count of patients who were associated with KMP was 24,000/µL in our cohort. Ninety-two percent of patients were given surgery treatment and 89% of these patients were given high-dose methylprednisolone (5-6 mg/kg daily) before surgery. In 55 patients with KMP, 36% were sensitive to high-dose corticosteroid therapy. Patients from the low-risk group (eight cases) underwent operation, all of whom recovered without recurrence after a maximum follow-up of 5 years. Out of 26 patients from the high-risk group, 25 underwent surgery treatment, with 1 case undergoing secondary surgery after recurrence and 1 case taking sirolimus. Out of 36 cases from the extremely high-risk group, 32 underwent surgery (including 2 cases who underwent external carotid artery ligation and catheterization), 3 of whom underwent secondary operation after recurrence, and the remaining 4 cases took medicine. The mean length of having sirolimus was 21 months; two cases stopped taking sirolimus due to severe pneumonia. Two cases died at 1 and 3 months after discharge. Conclusions: Our study describes the largest assessment of high-risk patients with KHE who have undergone an operation to date, with 5 years of follow-up to track recovery, which provides invaluable knowledge for the future treatment of patients with KHE and KMP from different risk groups: Early surgical intervention may be the most definitive treatment option for most patients with KHE; multimodality treatment is the best choice for the extremely high-risk group.

Polymeric monolithic columns based on natural wood for rapid purification of targeted protein.

With multiscale hierarchical structure, wood is suitable for a range of high-value applications, especially as a chromatographic matrix. Here, we have aimed to provide a weak anion-exchange polymeric monolithic column based on natural wood with high permeability and stability for effectively separating the targeted protein. The wood-polymeric monolithic column was synthesized by in situ polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in wood, and coupled with diethylaminoethyl hydrochloride. The wood-polymeric monolithic column can be integrated with fast-protein liquid chromatography for large-scale protein purification. According to the results, the wood-polymeric monolithic column showed high hydrophilicity, permeability and stability. Separation experiments verified that the wood-polymeric monolithic column could purify the targeted protein (spike protein of SARS-COV-2 and ovalbumin) from the mixed proteins by ion exchange, and the static adsorption capacity was 33.04 mg mL-1 and the dynamic adsorption capacity was 24.51 mg mL-1. In addition, the wood-polymerized monolithic column had good stability, and a negligible decrease in the dynamic adsorption capacity after 20 cycles. This wood-polymerized monolithic column can provide a novel, efficient, and green matrix for monolithic chromatographic columns.

Risk assessment of antimony-arsenic contaminated soil remediated using zero-valent iron at different pH values combined with freeze-thaw cycles.

Soil in mining wastelands is seriously polluted with heavy metals. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is widely used for remediation of heavy metal-polluted soil because of its excellent adsorption properties; however, the remediation process is affected by complex environmental conditions, such as acid rain and freeze-thaw cycles. In this study, the effects of different pH values and freeze-thaw cycles on remediation of antimony (Sb)- and arsenic (As)-contaminated soil by ZVI were investigated in laboratory simulation experiments. The stability and potential human health risks associated with the remediated soil were evaluated. The results showed that ZVI has a significant stabilizing effect on Sb and As in both acidic and alkaline soils contaminated with dual levels of Sb and As, and the freeze-thaw process in different pH value solution systems further enhances the ability of ZVI to stabilize Sb and As, especially in acidic soils. However, it should be noted that apart from the pH=1.0 solution environment, ZVI's ability to stabilize As is attenuated under other circumstances, potentially leading to leaching of its unstable form and thereby increasing contamination risks. This indicates that the F1 (2% ZVI+pH=1 solution+freeze-thaw cycle) processing exhibits superior effectiveness. After F1 treatment, the bioavailability of Sb and As in both soils also significantly decreased during the gastric and intestinal stages (about 60.00%), the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of Sb and As in alkaline soils are eliminated for children and adults, with a decrease ranging from 60.00% to 70.00%, while in acidic soil, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of As to adults and children is acceptable, but Sb still poses non-carcinogenic risks to children, despite reductions of about 65.00%. These findings demonstrate that soil pH is a crucial factor influencing the efficacy of ZVI in stabilizing Sb and As contaminants during freeze-thaw cycles. This provides a solid theoretical foundation for utilizing ZVI in the remediation of Sb- and As-contaminated soils, emphasizing the significance of considering both pH levels and freeze-thaw conditions to ensure effective and safe treatment.

Diverse animal models for Chlamydia infections: unraveling pathogenesis through the genital and gastrointestinal tracts.

Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for infections in various mucosal tissues, including the eyes, urogenital, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tracts. Chronic infections can result in severe consequences such as blindness, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. The underlying mechanisms leading to these diseases involve sustained inflammatory responses, yet thorough comprehension of the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. Chlamydial biologists employ in multiple methods, integrating biochemistry, cell biology, and genetic tools to identify bacterial factors crucial for host cell interactions. While numerous animal models exist to study chlamydial pathogenesis and assess vaccine efficacy, selecting appropriate models for biologically and clinically relevant insights remains a challenge. Genital infection models in animals have been pivotal in unraveling host-microbe dynamics, identifying potential chlamydial virulence factors influencing genital pathogenicity. However, the transferability of this knowledge to human pathogenic mechanisms remains uncertain. Many putative virulence factors lack assessment in optimal animal tissue microenvironments, despite the diverse chlamydial infection models available. Given the propensity of genital Chlamydia to spread to the gastrointestinal tract, investigations into the pathogenicity and immunological impact of gut Chlamydia become imperative. Notably, the gut emerges as a promising site for both chlamydial infection vaccination and pathogenesis. This review elucidates the pathogenesis of Chlamydia infections and delineates unique features of prevalent animal model systems. The primary focus of this review is to consolidate and summarize current animal models utilized in Chlamydia researches, presenting findings, discussions on their contributions, and suggesting potential directions for further studies.

Bioinspired Heterogeneous Construction of Lignocellulose-Reinforced COF Membranes for Efficient Proton Conduction.

The exponential interest in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) arises from the direct correlation between their diverse and intriguing properties and the modular design principle. However, the insufficient interlamellar interaction among COF nanosheets greatly hinders the formation of defect-free membranes. Therefore, developing a methodology for the facile fabrication of these materials remains an enticing and highly desirable objective. Herein, ultrahigh proton conductivity and superior stability are achieved by taking advantage of COF composite membranes where 2D TB-COF nanosheets are linked by 1D lignocellulosic nanofibrils (LCNFs) through π-π and electrostatic interactions to form a robust and ordered structure. Notably, the high concentration of -SO3 H groups within the COF pores and the abundant proton transport paths at COFs-LCNFs interfaces impart composite membranes ultrahigh proton conductivity (0.348 S cm-1 at 80 °C and 100% RH). Moreover, the directional migration of protons along the stacked nanochannels of COFs is facilitated by oxygen atoms on the keto groups, as demonstrated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The simple design concept and reliable operation of the demonstrated mixed-dimensional composite membrane are expected to provide an ideal platform for next-generation conductive materials.

Hirudin ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation: roles of NLRP3-signaling pathway.

Severe hemorrhage shock and resuscitation (HSR) has been reported to induce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), resulting in a poor prognosis. Hirudin, an effective thrombin inhibitor, can offer protection against MIRI. This study aimed to determine if hirudin administration ameliorates HSR-induced MIRI and the underlying mechanism. A rat model of HSR was established by bleeding rats to a mean arterial blood pressure of 30-35 mmHg for 45 min and then resuscitating them with all the shed blood through the left femoral vein. After HSR, 1 mg/kg of hirudin was administrated immediately. At 24 h after HSR, the cardiac injury was assessed using serum CK-MB, cTnT, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, echocardiography, M1-polarized macrophages, and pyroptosis-associated factors, including cleaved caspase-1, Gasdermin D (GSDMD) N-terminal, IL-1ß, and IL-18 were measured by immunofluorescence and western blot assays. Nigericin, a unique agonist, was utilized to evaluate the responsibilities of NLRP3 signaling. Under the HSR condition, rats exhibited a significant increase in myocardial injury score, an elevation of serum cTnT, CK-MB levels, an aggrandization of M1-polarized macrophages, an upregulation of pyroptosis-associated factors, including cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD N-terminal, IL-1ß, and IL-18, but a significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF%) and a reduction of left ventricular fractional shortening (FS%), while hirudin administration partially restored the changes. However, the NLRP3 agonist nigericin reversed the cardioprotective effects of hirudin. We determined the cardioprotective effects of hirudin against HSR-induced MIRI. The mechanism may involve the inhibition of NLRP3-induced pyroptosis.

Exploration of the optimal time to discontinue propranolol treatment in infantile hemangiomas: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Relapse of infantile hemangiomas after withdrawal from propranolol treatment is common. Early withdrawal is believed to increase the risk of relapse. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the optimal time to discontinue propranolol treatment for infantile hemangiomas. METHODS: A prospective study conducted at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Compared to withdrawal after 1-month maintenance treatment, withdrawal after 3-month maintenance, corresponding achieving maximum regression of infantile hemangiomas, was associated with a lower major relapse rate (P = .041). The relapse (P = .055) and adverse event rates (P = .154) between the 2 withdrawal modes were not statistically significant. Compared with direct withdrawal, the relapse (P = .396), major relapse (P = .963), and adverse event rates (P = .458) of gradual withdrawal were not statistically different. Patients with/without relapse could be best distinguished according to whether withdrawal followed a 3-month maintenance and age >13 months (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.603). Patients with/without major relapse could be best distinguished according to whether withdrawal was accompanied by 3-month maintenance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.610). LIMITATIONS: The limitations of this study are nonrandomization and single-center design. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal propranolol withdrawal time to avoid relapse is when the patient is aged >13 months and the lesion has maintained for 3 months after reaching maximum regression, while the optimal time to prevent major relapse is after 3 months of maintenance.

Development of composite electrospun films utilizing soy protein amyloid fibrils and pullulan for food packaging applications.

Electrospun films (ESF) are gaining attention for active delivery due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study investigated the impact of adding soy protein amyloid fibrils (SAFs) to ESF. Functional ESF based on SAFs/pullulan were successfully fabricated, with SAFs clearly observed entangled in the electrospun fibers using fluorescence microscopy. The addition of SAFs improved the mechanical strength of the ESF threefold and increased its surface hydrophobicity from 24.8° to 49.9°. Moreover, the ESF demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In simulated oral disintegration tests, almost 100% of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) dissolved within 4 min from the ESF. In summary, the incorporation of SAFs into ESF improved their mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and enabled them to exhibit antibacterial properties, making them promising candidates for active delivery applications in food systems. Additionally, the ESF showed efficient release of EGCG, indicating their potential for controlled release of bioactive compounds.

M2 Macrophage-Derived Exosomal lncRNA MIR4435-2HG Promotes Progression of Infantile Hemangiomas by Targeting HNRNPA1.

Purpose: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are commonly observed benign tumors that can cause serious complications. M2-polarized macrophages in IHs promote disease progression. In this study, we investigated the role of M2 macrophage-derived exosomal lncRNA MIR4435-2HG in IHs. Patients and Methods: Exosomes derived from M2 polarized macrophages were extracted. Next, using cell co-culture or transfection, we investigated whether M2 polarized macrophage-derived exosomes (M2-exos) can transport MIR4435-2HG to regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of hemangioma-derived endothelial cells (HemECs). RNA-seq and RNA pull-down assays were performed to identify targets and regulatory pathways of MIR4435-2HG. We explored the possible mechanisms through which MIR4435-2HG regulates the biological function of HemECs. Results: M2-exos significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HemECs. Thus, HemECs uptake M2-exos and promote biological functions through the inclusion of MIR4435-2HG. RNA-seq and RNA pull-down experiments confirmed that MIR4435-2HG regulates of HNRNPA1 expression and directly binds to HNRNPA1, consequently affecting the NF-κB signal pathway. Conclusion: MIR4435-2HG of M2-exos promotes the progression of IHs and enhances the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HemECs by directly binding to HNRNPA1. This study not only reveals the mechanism of interaction between M2 macrophages and HemECs, but also provides a promising therapeutic target for IHs.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of health utility values among patients with ischemic stroke.

Purpose: Ischemic stroke (IS) has a considerable impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. A systematic review was conducted to summarize and synthesize the HRQoL reported from IS patients. Methods: An electronic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to February 2022 for studies measuring utility values in IS patients. Basic information about the studies, patient characteristics, measurement of the utility values, and utility values were extracted and summarized. Utility values were pooled according to the time of evaluation, and disease severity was classified with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. The quality of the studies was assessed according to key criteria recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Results: A total of 39 studies comprising 30,853 participants were included in the study. Measured with EQ-5D-3L, the pooled utility values were 0.42 [95% confidential interval (CI): 0.13 to 0.71], 0.55 (95% CI: 0.43 to 0.68), 0.65 (95% CI: 0.52 to 0.78), 0.60 (95% CI: 0.43 to 0.78), and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60 to 0.74) for patients diagnosed with IS within 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months or above among poststroke patients. Four studies reported utility values classified by mRS scores where synthesized estimates stratified by mRS scores ranged from 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85 to 0.97) for patients with an mRS score of 1 to-0.04 (95% CI:-0.18 to 0.11) for those with an mRS score of 5. As for the health dimension profiles, usual activity was the most impacted dimension, while self-care was the least impacted one. Conclusion: This study indicated that the utility values in IS patients kept increasing from stroke onset and became relatively stabilized at 6 months poststroke. Health utility values decreased significantly as mRS scores increased. These results facilitate economic evaluations in utility retrieval and selection. Further exploration was required regarding the factors that affect the HRQoL of IS patients.

A signal peptide peptidase is required for ER-symbiosome proximal association and protein secretion.

During legume-rhizobia symbiosis, differentiation of the symbiosome (engulfed intracellular rhizobia) is necessary for successful nitrogen fixation. To control symbiosome differentiation, host cell subcellular components, e.g., ER (endoplasmic reticulum), must adapt robustly to ensure large-scale host protein secretion to the new organelle. However, the key components controlling the adaption of ER in nodule cells remain elusive. We report that Medicago BID1, a nodule-specific signal peptide peptidase (SPP), is central to ER structural dynamics and host protein secretion. In bid1, symbiosome differentiation is blocked. BID1 localizes specifically to the ER membrane and expresses exclusively in nodule cells with symbiosomes. In the wild type ER forms proximal association structures with symbiosomes, but not in bid1. Consequently, in bid1 excessive ER stress responses are induced and ER-to-symbiosome protein secretion is impaired. In summary, a nodule-specific SPP is necessary for ER-symbiosome proximal association, host protein secretion, and symbiosome differentiation.

NLRP3-GABA signaling pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of impulsive-like behaviors and cognitive deficits in aged mice.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND), such as delirium and cognitive impairment, are commonly encountered complications in aged patients. The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is aberrantly synthesized from reactive astrocytes following inflammatory stimulation and is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in PND. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether the NLRP3-GABA signaling pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of aging mice's PND. METHODS: 24-month-old C57BL/6 and astrocyte-specific NLRP3 knockout male mice were used to establish a PND model via tibial fracture surgery. The monoamine oxidase-B (MAOB) inhibitor selegiline (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered once a day for 7 days after the surgery. PND, including impulsive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment, was evaluated by open field test, elevated plus maze, and fear conditioning. Thereafter, pathological changes of neurodegeneration were explored by western blot and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: Selegiline administration significantly ameliorated TF-induced impulsive-like behaviors and reduced excessive GABA production in reactive hippocampal astrocytes. Moreover, astrocyte-specific NLRP3 knockout mice reversed TF-induced impulsive-like and cognitive impairment behaviors, decreased GABA levels in reactive astrocytes, ameliorated NLRP3-associated inflammatory responses during the early stage, and restored neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that anesthesia and surgical procedures trigger neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits, which may be due to NLRP3-GABA activation in the hippocampus of aged mice.

Three-dimensional porous wood monolithic columns for efficient purification of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2.

Considerable research has been devoted to finding a cost-effective chromatographic matrix with efficient adsorption and high throughput. Wood exhibits complex micro-network structures that make it a powerful contender for a novel environment-friendly chromatographic matrix material. We demonstrate a novel strategy to manufacture a wood monolithic column, which chemically modified the wood and imported diethyl aminoethyl, diethylamine, and amino groups. This wood monolithic column can maintain fully monolithic column performances and highly selective to spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 by ion exchange force. The wood monolithic column was evaluated by static adsorption, dynamic adsorption, and frontal analysis. The results showed that the static adsorption capacity of the wood monolithic column with 2-diethylaminoethylchloride hydrochloride for bovine serum albumin was 14.72 mg/g, and the adsorption process was chemisorption. In addition, it retained 80 % adsorption capacity after 110 repeated adsorption-elution cycles.

The role of IL-6/JAK/STAT signal in female infertility caused by hydrosalpinx.

INTRODUCTION: To explore the role of IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling in tubal infertility. METHODS: The fimbriae tissues of 14 patients with a history of infertility and hydrosalpinx and 14 patients with no history of infertility and no fallopian tube disease were collected. The tissues were then divided into hydrosalpinx group and control group followed by analysis of the protein expression of key factors in the IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed significantly higher level of IL-6, JAK1, p-JAK1, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT1, p-STAT1, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in hydrosalpinx group than those in control group with IL-6 being mainly located in the cytoplasm and p-JAK2, STAT1, p-STAT1, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in the cytoplasm and nucleus. JAK1 and p-JAK1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm and JAK2 is in the cytoplasm and nucleus without difference of their expression between two groups. Consistently, hydrosalpinx group presented significantly higher protein levels of IL-6, JAK1, p-JAK1, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT1, p-STAT1, STAT3, and p-STAT3 than control group without difference of JAK1, p-JAK1, JAK2 level. CONCLUSION: The activation of IL-6/JAK2/STAT1 and STAT3 signaling pathways are found in the hydrosalpinx in infertile patients, indicating that they might be involved in the pathogenesis of hydrosalpinx.

Gut dysbiosis contributes to chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract.

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually infections that cause infertility, and its genital infection induces tubal adhesion and hydrosalpinx. Intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum infection in mice can induce hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract and it has been used for studying C. trachomatis pathogenicity. DBA2/J strain mice were known to be resistant to the chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx. In this study, we took advantage of this feature of DBA2/J mice to evaluate the role of antibiotic induced dysbiosis in chlamydial pathogenicity. Antibiotics (vancomycin and gentamicin) were orally administrated to induce dysbiosis in the gut of DBA2/J mice. The mice with or without antibiotic treatment were evaluated for gut and genital dysbiosis and then intravaginally challenged by C. muridarum. Chlamydial burden was tested and genital pathologies were evaluated. We found that oral antibiotics significantly enhanced chlamydial induction of genital hydrosalpinx. And the antibiotic treatment induced severe dysbiosis in the GI tract, including significantly reduced fecal DNA and increased ratios of firmicutes over bacteroidetes. The oral antibiotic did not alter chlamydial infection or microbiota in the mouse genital tracts. Our study showed that the oral antibiotics-enhanced hydrosalpinx correlated with dysbiosis in gut, providing the evidence for associating gut microbiome with chlamydial genital pathogenicity.