Intestinal tuberculosis with small bowel stricture and hemorrhage as the predominant manifestation: Three case reports.

Background: Intestinal tuberculosis is a chronic disease caused by that mainly affects the ileum and cecum. Small bowel tuberculosis, characterized by predominant involvement of the small intestine, is an extremely rare condition with highly atypical clinical presentations, making diagnosis even more challenging.

Case Summary: We report three cases of small intestinal tuberculosis, two of the patients presented primarily with abdominal pain, and one presented with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Effects of psychological intervention on negative emotions and psychological resilience in breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy.

Breast cancer (BC)is the most common malignant tumor in women, and the treatment process not only results in physical pain but also significant psychological distress in patients. Psychological intervention (PI) has been recognized as an important approach in treating postoperative psychological disorders in BC patients. It has been proven that PI has a significant therapeutic effect on post-operative psychological disorders, improving patients' negative emotions, enhancing their psychological resilience, and effectively enhancing their quality of life and treatment compliance.

Development of a two-beveled-fiber polarized fiber-optic Raman probe coupled with a ball lens for in vivo superficial epithelial Raman measurements in endoscopy.

We report on the development of a two-beveled-fiber polarized (TBFP) fiber-optic Raman probe coupled with a ball lens for in vivo superficial epithelial Raman measurements in endoscopy. The two-beveled fibers positioned symmetrically along a ball lens, in synergy with paired parallel-polarized polarizers integrated between the fibers and the ball lens, maximize the Raman signal excitation and collection from the superficial epithelium where gastrointestinal (GI) precancer arises. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and two-layer tissue phantom experiments show that the probe developed detects ∼90% of the Raman signal from the superficial epithelium.

Association between transferred embryos and multiple pregnancy/live birth rate in frozen embryo transfer cycles: A retrospective study.

Background: Physicians need an appropriate embryo transfer strategy to address the challenge of reducing multiple birth rates, while maintaining the couples' live birth rate during assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: We included 10,060 frozen embryo transfer cycles from January 2015 to March 2020 in reproductive medical center of Ruijin hospital, Shanghai, China. Patients were grouped according to the number and grade of cleavage-stage embryo or blastocysts transferred.

Gastric ulcer treated using an elastic traction ring combined with clip: A case report.

Background: There is a high annual incidence of acute, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Chinese adults. Early endoscopic intervention can reduce rates of rebleeding, surgery, and mortality. The metal clip is the most common method for establishing homeostasis; however, it possesses several limitations.

Submucosal esophageal abscess evolving into intramural submucosal dissection: A case report.

Background: Here we report a rare case of submucosal esophageal abscess evolving into intramural submucosal dissection.

Case Summary: An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department with a chief complaint of dysphagia and fever. Laboratory tests showed mild leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein level.

Antagonistic surround responses in different cones are mediated by feedback synapses from different horizontal cells.

Cone photoreceptors are the first neurons along the visual pathway that exhibit center-surround antagonistic receptive fields, the basic building blocks for spatial information processing in the visual system. The surround responses in cones are mediated by the horizontal cells (HCs) via multiple feedback synaptic mechanisms. It has been controversial on which mechanisms are responsible for the surround-elicited depolarizing responses in cones (ΔV(s)), and whether the surround responses of various types of cones are mediated by the same HC feedback mechanisms.

An IgD-Fc-Ig fusion protein restrains the activation of T and B cells by inhibiting IgD-IgDR-Lck signaling in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis and the destruction of small joints. Emerging evidence shows that immunoglobulin D (IgD) stimulation induces T-cell activation, which may contribute to diseases pathogenesis in RA. In this study, we investigated the downstream signaling pathways by which IgD activated T cells as well as the possible role of IgD in the T-B interaction.

ACTN1 supports tumor growth by inhibiting Hippo signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Alpha actinins (ACTNs) are major cytoskeletal proteins and exhibit many non-muscle functions. Emerging evidence have uncovered the regulatory role of ACTNs in tumorigenesis, however, the expression pattern, biological functions, and underlying mechanism of ACTN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unexplored.

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of a HCC tissue microarray (n = 157) was performed to determine the expression pattern and prognostic value of ACTN1 in HCC.

Development and Validation of an Automatic Image-Recognition Endoscopic Report Generation System: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Conventional gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy reports written by physicians are time consuming and might have obvious heterogeneity or omissions, impairing the efficiency and multicenter consultation potential. We aimed to develop and validate an image recognition-based structured report generation system (ISRGS) through a multicenter database and to assess its diagnostic performance.

Methods: First, we developed and evaluated an ISRGS combining real-time video capture, site identification, lesion detection, subcharacteristics analysis, and structured report generation.

[Effects of straw returning and fertilization on soil fertility and yield and quality of edible sweetpotato].

Two-year field experiments were conducted in 2017-2018 to examine the effects of wheat straw returning and fertilization on soil fertility and enzyme activities, as well as the yield and qua-lity of edible sweetpoato. There were five treatments, including conventional fertilization+zero straw (CK), conventional fertilization+50% straw returning (50%S), zero fertilization+100% straw returning (100%S-F), conventional fertilization+100% straw returning (100%S), conventional fertilization+100% straw retuning+150 kg N·hm (100%S+N). The treatments of straw returning and fertilization significantly increased the contents of available phosphorus (P), hydroly-zable nitrogen (N), total N, and organic matter in soils, and increased the activities of soil catalase, alkaline phosphorylase, urease, and invertase.

BI-OAc-Accelerated C3-H Alkylation of Quinoxalin-2(1)-ones under Visible-Light Irradiation.

An efficient, photoredox-catalyst-free radical alkylation of quinoxalin-2(1)-ones has been described. This reaction utilizes 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines (R-DHPs) as alkyl radical precursors and acetoxybenziodoxole (BI-OAc) as an electron acceptor to undergo single-electron transfer with photoexcited R-DHPs. The benign conditions allow for good compatibility in the scope of both quinoxalin-2(1)-ones and R-DHPs.

Integrin-linked kinase improves uterine receptivity formation by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and up-regulating MMP-3/9 expression.

A receptive endometrium is a prerequisite for successful embryo implantation, and about one-third of repeated embryo implantation failure attribute to defective endometrial receptivity. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK), a 59kDa serine/threonine-protein kinase, plays a vital role in multiple cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. However, its role in endometrial receptivity is still unclear.

Jinbei Oral Liquid ameliorates bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in rats via reversion of Th1/Th2 shift.

Objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal interstitial lung disease with high mortality. The pivotal role of Th1/Th2 immunological balance in the development and progression of IPF has been demonstrated previously. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Jinbei Oral Liquid (JBOL) on IPF and its relationship with Th1/Th2 shift.

Estrogen inhibits autophagy and promotes growth of endometrial cancer by promoting glutamine metabolism.

Background: Excessive estrogen exposure is an important pathogenic factor in uterine endometrial cancer (UEC). Recent studies have reported the metabolic properties can influence the progression of UEC. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Sperm DNA fragmentation in Chinese couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

We aimed to study the association between sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in the Chinese population via a retrospective observational study of Chinese couples who had experienced RPL between May 2013 and August 2018. The study population included 461 men from couples with RPL and 411 men from a control group (couples with clinical pregnancy via in vitro fertilization owing to female causes). Routine semen analysis, sperm chromatin analysis, and microscopic (high-power) morphological analysis were performed using semen samples.

Comparative proteomics reveal negative effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and antagonist on human endometrium.

The two major ovarian-stimulation protocols for in vitro fertilization are gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) protocol or GnRH antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol; however, comparisons of their relative efficacy remain controversial. Additionally, conflicting data exist regarding their effects on endometrial receptivity. Thus, this study investigated how GnRH-a and GnRH-ant treatments alter the endometrium during the mid-secretory phase.

Inhibition of PSMD4 blocks the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver with high mortality and frequent recurrence. Although various therapies provide potential cure for HCC patients, unfortunately the five-year survival rate of advanced HCC remains dismal. It is critical to explore the pathogenesis of HCC and identify novel biomarkers for early HCC diagnosis.

Experimental research on ADSCs-NCSS in wound repair.

New collagen sponge scaffold (NCSS) combined with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in the repair of full-thickness skin wound in nude mice was investigated. Human ADSCs were extracted via enzyme digestion; NCSS materials were prepared using modified method; the tissue-engineered skin substitute was constructed using ADSCs combined with NCSS. Two 10 mm full-thickness skin wounds were designed on the back of 24 female nude mice, respectively.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted immune magnetic liposomes capture circulating colorectal tumor cells efficiently.

Aim: To compare the capacity of newly developed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted immune magnetic liposomes (EILs) epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) immunomagnetic beads to capture colorectal circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

Methods: EILs were prepared using a two-step method, and the magnetic and surface characteristics were confirmed. The efficiency of capturing colorectal CTCs as well as the specificity were compared between EILs and EpCAM magnetic beads.

Prognostic significance of the pretreatment serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in Chinese patients with non-metastatic cervical cancer.

This study was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the pretreatment serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in a Chinese cohort of patients with early-stage or locally advanced cervical cancer. The pretreatment serum GGT levels were examined in 290 cervical cancer patients with stage I-III disease and 230 healthy controls selected from a cancer-free population in the same region. Patients were assigned to normal or high-risk GGT groups, as previously described, and the GGT levels were correlated to clinicopathologic parameters and survival data.

[Effects of long-term fertilization on soil fertility in yellow fluvo-aquic soil].

Based on the long-term field fertilization experiment in yellow fluvo-aquic soil, this study selected 2 types of soil physical, 8 items of soil chemical, and 5 soil biological properties for principal component-cluster analysis to valuate comprehensively effects of long-term fertilization on soil fertility. Results showed that significant differences of soil properties were found among the fertilization treatments. Compared with no organic manure treatment (NPK), all treatments of organic manure (M) or its combination with inorganic fertilizers (MN, MNP, MNPK) significantly reduced soil bulk density, and increased soil total porosity, the contents of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, microbial biomass, and activities of catalase, urease, alkaline phosphatase and invertase.