[Effects of family dignity intervention on male infertility patients and their spouses].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of family dignity intervention (FDI) on anxiety, depression, hope level and quality of life (QOL) of male infertility patients and their spouses. METHODS: Using quasi-experimental design, we selected male infertility patients and their spouses undergoing human-assisted reproductive technology (ART) in our Center of Reproductive Medicine from June to December 2022 and divided them into an intervention group (38 couples) and a control group (40 couples). The former underwent a four-stage FDI, including ovulation promotion cycle assessment, family sharing, pre-transplantation interview and post-transplantation follow-up, while the latter received routine nursing. Using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Herth Hope Index and Fertility Quality of Life Scale, we evaluated the effects of FDI before and after transplantation. RESULTS: After FDI, the anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and the total scores on the hope level and all other dimensions remarkably higher in the intervention group than in the control (P < 0.05). The self-confidence of the couples in the intervention groups in ART treatment was markedly increased in comparison with that of the controls, and their scores on physical and mental health were significantly higher than those of the latter (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FDI can effectively relieve the anxiety and depression, raise the hope level and improve the quality of life of both male infertility patients and their spouses.

The efficacy and safety of alpha-adrenergic blockers for medical expulsion therapy in patients with ureteral calculi: A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Alpha-adrenergic blockers are commonly used as a medical expulsive therapy (MET) for patients with ureteral calculi. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of alpha-adrenergic blockers compared with a placebo when used as a MET. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, and the Cochrane Library, for relevant articles from inception to November 2020. Our aim was to identify placebo-controlled trails in which patients were randomized to receive either alpha-adrenergic blockers (tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin, naftopidil, or silodosin) or a placebo for the treatment of ureteral calculi. RESULTS: According to strict inclusion criteria, database searches identified 8 placebo-controlled studies that included 2284 patients. Generally, α-blockers had no significant effect on the clearance of stones in the urinary tract (risk ratio [RR] = 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.11). However, subgroup analysis showed that α-blockers were effective in treating distal urinary tract stones (RR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02-1.15). With regards to adverse events, our analysis showed that the combination of MET with α-blockers was likely to cause dizziness (RR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.06-1.79) and retrograde ejaculation (RR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.81-5.29). CONCLUSION: Although α-blockers cannot improve the overall ureteral stone clearance rate, these drugs are still effective for the treatment of stones in the distal urinary tract. However, the application of α-blockers is likely to cause dizziness and/or retrograde ejaculation.

Strontium­containing α­calcium sulfate hemihydrate promotes bone repair via the TGF­ß/Smad signaling pathway.

Calcium phosphate­based bone substitutes have been widely used for bone repair, augmentation and reconstruction in bone implant surgery. While some of these substitutes have shown excellent biological efficacy, there remains a need to improve the performance of the current calcium phosphate­based bone substitutes. Strontium ions (Sr) can promote new osteogenesis, inhibit osteoclast formation and increase osteoconductivity. However, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of strontium­containing α­calcium sulfate hemihydrate (Sr­CaS) remains unclear. The present study created bone injuries in rats and treated the injuries with Sr­CaS. Then Cell Counting Kit­8, soft agar colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell and Alizarin Red staining assays were performed to assess the bone cells for their proliferation, growth, apoptosis, invasion, and osteogenic differentiation abilities. The bone reconstructive states were measured by the microCT method, hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining. Bone­related factors were analyzed by the reverse transcription­quantitative PCR assay; transforming growth factor (TGF)­ß, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)2/3 and ß­catenin expression was measured by western blot analysis and osteocalcin (OCN) expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Sr­CaS did not significantly affect the proliferation and apoptosis of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs), but did accelerate the migration and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. Sr­CaS promoted bone repair and significantly increased the values for bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and trabecular thickness, but decreased trabecular spacing in vivo in a concentration­-dependent manner. In addition, Sr­CaS dramatically upregulated the expression levels of genes associated with osteogenic differentiation (Runt­related transcription factor 2, Osterix, ALP, OCN and bone sialoprotein) both in vitro and in vivo. Sr­CaS also increased Smad2/3, TGF­ß and phosphorylated­ß­catenin protein expression in vitro and in vivo. These results indicated that materials that contain 5 or 10% Sr can improve bone defects by regulating the TGF­ß/Smad signaling pathway.