Chlamydia trachomatis enhances HPV persistence through immune modulation.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common sexually transmitted infections globally, and CT infection can enhance HPV persistence. Epidemiological analysis has shown that patients with CT/HPV coinfection have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer and exhibit more rapid progression to cervical cancer than patients with HPV infection alone. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

Comparison of three measures for insomnia in ischemic stroke patients: Pittsburgh sleep quality index, insomnia severity index, and Athens insomnia scale.

Objective: This study investigated the consistency and determined the optimal threshold values of three scales in the diagnosis of insomnia of ischemic stroke (IS) patients.

Methods: Participants in this study consisted of 569 acute IS patients. All 569 patients completed the assessment of the three insomnia scales.

Influences of surface treatments with abrasive paper and sand-blasting on surface morphology, hydrophilicity, mineralization and osteoblasts behaviors of n-CS/PK composite.

The surfaces of nano-calcium silicate (n-CS)/polyetheretherketone (PK) composites were treated with abrasive paper and sand-blasting, and the surfaces performances of the as-treated composites were studied. The results showed that the surface roughness, hydrophilicity and mineralization of the simulated body fluid (SBF) of the composites surfaces were significantly improved, and the properties of the composites treated by with sand-blasting were better than those treated with abrasive paper. Moreover, the treated composites significantly promoted osteoblasts responses, such as cell attachment, spreading, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, compared to un-treated composites, and the cellular responses to the composites treated with sand-blasting were better than those treated with abrasive paper.

Molecular epidemiological survey of Treponema pallidum in pregnant women in the Zhabei District of Shanghai.

Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of syphilis, such as incidence, vertical transmission and genotypes, in pregnant women in the Zhabei District of Shanghai. In addition, the changes in genotypes and the efficiency of genotyping were evaluated.

Methodology: We screened 3022 pregnant women for syphilis in the Shanghai Zhabei Central Hospital.

Preoperative oral carbohydrate improved postoperative insulin resistance in rats through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Background: Preoperative oral carbohydrate (OCH) improves postoperative insulin resistance (PIR) and insulin sensitivity. However, the exact mechanisms involved in the improvement of PIR with respect to preoperative OCH are still not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of preoperative OCH and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in reducing PIR in rats.

The role of placental protein 14 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Placental protein 14 (PP-14) is the principal secretory phase product of endometrium and has been shown to inhibit cell immune function. But its role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis is controversy. The objective of this study is to determine the concentrations of PP-14 in peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum and PP-14 protein expression in endometriotic lesions in women with ovarian endometriosis (n = 75) when compared to women without endometriosis (n = 49) between day 7 and day 20 of their menstrual cycle.