American journal of translational research最新文献

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver condition during pregnancy, associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. While inflammatory markers are important predictors in oncology and cardiovascular disease, their role in ICP remains unclear. This study investigates changes in platelet parameters and blood-derived inflammatory markers around the onset of ICP and evaluates their potential as independent risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed inflammatory markers, including the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Derived NLR (dNLR), Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Neutrophil-Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NMLR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) along with variations in platelet parameters in 49 ICP patients and 250 healthy controls during late pregnancy, specifically at disease onset. Additionally, changes in these parameters were assessed among the same 49 ICP patients compared to 1439 healthy controls during early pregnancy.

Results: During an episode of ICP, individuals exhibited increased platelet parameters, including PCT, P-LCR, PDW and MPV, compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies. The levels of WBC, NEUT, NLR, dNLR, NMLR, SIRI, and SII were also elevated in the ICP group relative to the control group. Prior to disease onset, platelet parameters such as PCT and PDW, along with inflammatory markers including NEUT, NLR, NMLR, SIRI, and SII, were significantly higher in ICP patients. Additionally, a notable increase in HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, and RDW-CV was observed in the ICP group, while MCHC was decreased. Logistic regression analysis identified MCV, PDW and SII as risk factors for developing ICP.

Conclusions: PCT, PDW, NEUT, NLR, NMLR, SIRI, and SII levels were significantly elevated both before and during the progression of ICP. Notably, MCV, PDW, and SII were identified as independent risk factors, representing new predictive indicators for the development of ICP.

Objective: To explore the application value of Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care in strabismus ambulatory surgery and evaluate its impact on postoperative complications, children's quality of life, and parental satisfaction.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 257 children who underwent strabismus ambulatory surgery in our hospital from February 2022 to December 2023. The children were divided into a control group (n=149), which received routine nursing services and telephone follow-up, and an observation group (n=108), which received Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care through a mobile medical platform. Evaluations were conducted using the Chinese versions of the Empowerment of Parents in The Intensive Care (EMPATIC-30), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC).

Results: The observation group showed significantly better outcomes in postoperative VAS scores, PedsQLTM scores, CDI scores, and MASC scores compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The readmission rate in the observation group (10.19%) was significantly lower than in the control group (22.82%) (P=0.009). Parents with children in the observation group scored significantly higher on all dimensions of the EMPATIC-30 compared to those in the control group (all P<0.0001). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group (6.48%) compared to the control group (18.79%) (P=0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the intervention program and surgical time were independent risk factors affecting postoperative complications.

Conclusion: Internet Family Engagement Continuum of Care significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative complications in children undergoing strabismus ambulatory surgery, improves the quality of life and mental health of the children, and enhances parental satisfaction and engagement.

Objective: To investigate the effects of allylestrenol on sex hormone levels and delivery outcomes in women with threatened abortion.

Methods: This retrospective analysis examined clinical data of patients with threatened abortion treated at Huzhou Maternity & Child Health Care Hospital from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. A total of 149 eligible patients were screened and divided into two groups: a control group (n=75) treated with progesterone capsules from January to December 2021, and an observation group (n=74) treated with allylestrenol from January to December 2022. Delivery outcomes, sex hormone levels, complications, and adverse effects were compared between the two groups.

Results: Successful delivery was achieved in 62 cases (83.78%) in the observation group and 61 cases (81.33%) in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in β-HCG and progesterone levels after treatment compared to baseline (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in post-treatment β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-HCG) levels between the two groups (P>0.05), while progesterone levels were significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05). Among patients with successful deliveries, there were no significant differences in preterm birth, oligohydramnios, or fetal growth restriction between the two groups (all P>0.05). However, the observation group showed a significantly higher rate of normal vaginal deliveries compared to the control group (P<0.05). Neonates in the observation group had significantly higher gestational ages and birth weights (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in the incidence of macrosomia, low birth weight, or neonatal asphyxia (all P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in safety indicators between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Allylestrenol is comparable to progesterone in improving delivery outcomes for women with threatened abortion, with the added benefits of reducing cesarean section rates and prolonging gestational age, and without increasing safety risk.

Objective: Evidence suggests that diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) may disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis by targeting multiple components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, potentially harming human health. However, the relationship between DEHP exposure and thyroid function remains debated. We performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association between DEHP exposure and thyroid function.

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for relevant studies that provided quantitative data on the association between DEHP and thyroid hormones. The ROBINS-E tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Pearson correlation coefficients or regression coefficients (β) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the relationship between DEHP exposure and thyroid hormone levels.

Results: Twenty-three studies were included. In adults, thyroxine (TT4) levels (pooled coefficient -0.05, 95% CI [-0.08, -0.03]) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels (pooled coefficient -0.04, 95% CI [-0.06, -0.02]) were negatively associated with urinary DEHP concentration. Additionally, DEHP exposure in adults was positively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (pooled coefficient 0.03, 95% CI [0.02, 0.04]). In pregnant women, urinary DEHP concentration was negatively correlated with FT4 levels (pooled correlation coefficient -0.04, 95% CI [-0.06, -0.02]). However, no significant association was observed between DEHP exposure and thyroid function in children and adolescents.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates a significant association between DEHP exposure and serum thyroid hormone levels in adults. However, DEHP exposure appears to have no significant effect on thyroid function in children and adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of butylphthalein injection combined with alteplase thrombolysis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and its effects on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) levels.

Methods: A total of 127 ACI patients admitted to Shandong Provincial Third Hospital between March 2020 and June 2023 were included and divided into a butylphthalein group (n = 67) and a control group (n = 60) based on their treatment regimen. All patients received basic treatment. Additionally, the control group underwent intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase, while the butylphthalein group received butylphthalein injection combined with alteplase thrombolysis. Both groups were treated for two consecutive weeks.

Results: The overall clinical efficacy rate in the butylphthalein group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, cerebral infarction size and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were significantly reduced in both groups (both P < 0.05), with greater reductions observed in the butylphthalein group (both P < 0.05). The peak systolic velocity (Vs) of the posterior cerebral, vertebral, and basilar arteries increased significantly in both groups after treatment compared with baseline (all P < 0.05), with higher values in the butylphthalein group (all P < 0.05). The resistance index (RI) of these arteries decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05) and was lower in the butylphthalein group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, Lp-PLA2, and CXCL16 were significantly lower after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.05), with greater reductions in the butylphthalein group (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse effects between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of butylphthalein injection and alteplase intravenous thrombolysis is effective in improving clinical outcomes, reducing neurological deficits, enhancing microcirculation, and lowering serum Lp-PLA2 and CXCL16 levels in patients with ACI. This therapy is worth clinical promotion.

Objective: To identify independent risk factors for Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in pediatric patients.

Methods: This study enrolled 180 pediatric patients (90 with HSP, 90 with HSPN) hospitalized at the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from December 2022 to October 2023, with a follow-up of at least six months. Clinical data were collected at the time of the first onset of HSP. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors, which were subsequently evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, a calibration plot, a nomogram, and decision curve analysis.

Results: A predictive model was constructed based on serum cystatin C, serum creatinine, immunoglobulin M, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). ROC curve analysis showed high predictive accuracy, with an AUC of 0.9444, sensitivity of 0.82, and specificity of 0.98 at the optimal cutoff point. The calibration curve indicated strong agreement between predicted and actual outcomes. Decision curve analysis suggested that the model provides significant net benefits across different risk thresholds.

Conclusion: This model effectively predicts the risk of HSPN, facilitating early intervention and improved patient outcomes.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among voluntary blood donors and provide a foundation for improving the donor recruitment strategies and developing a more scientific and effective HIV screening strategy.

Methods: HIV testing data from voluntary blood donors in Nanchang, collected from January 2021 to February 2024, were analyzed. According to the serologic and nucleic acid sequence detection mode, two different reagents were used for ELISA detection and NAT detection. The reactive samples were subjected to western blot confirmatory test, and the confirmed positive samples were sent to the provincial CDC for viral load detection.

Results: Among 264,615 voluntary blood donors, 166 cases (0.627‰) were initially reactive: 165 cases detected by ELISA and 1 by NAT. Confirmed positive samples showed 100% positivity for gp160, gp120, and p24, while the p24 detection rate in the HIV indeterminate group was highest at 78.13%. Among the 24 confirmed positive specimens, 21 (87.5%) had a viral load (VL) > 5,000 copies/mL, and 3 (12.5%) had a viral load (VL) < 5,000 copies/mL.

Conclusions: Confirmed HIV-positive donors exhibited varying levels of viral replication. It is necessary to develop more scientific and effective HIV screening strategies and conduct viral load testing for indeterminate cases to retain qualified blood donors while ensuring blood safety.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between platelet parameters, morning peak blood pressure (MPBP) in hypertensive patients, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms.

Methods: This study included 245 primary hypertensive patients treated between February 2019 and February 2022, who were divided into two groups based on MPBP status: 144 patients with MPBP and 101 without MPBP. Baseline data and early morning fasting blood samples from the antecubital vein were collected. Multiple linear regression was employed to analyze factors influencing MPBP.

Results: Patients with MPBP had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and 24-hour systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared to those without MPBP (all P < 0.05). ACE genotypes were classified as I, DD, and ID, showing significant differences between groups. Patients with MPBP had a significantly higher proportion of the DD genotype and D allele frequency than those without MPBP (P < 0.05). Platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) were also elevated in MPBP patients all (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified TC, LDL-C, hs-CRP, DD genotype, PLT, MPV, PDW and PCT as independent risk factors for MPBP (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with MPBP, platelet parameters and ACE polymorphism, specifically the DD genotype and MPV, are independent risk factors. Monitoring these parameters may help reduce cardiovascular events associated with MPBP.

Objectives: In vitro experiments were manipulated to investigate the effect of the PIMREG (PICALM-interacting mitotic regulator gene) expression level on the malignant phenotype of liver cancer cells and their tumorigenesis ability in nude mice, and bioinformatics were used to analyze the clinical diagnostic and prognostic value in liver cancer.

Methods: After liver cancer-related data were obtained from the TCGA database and GTEx database, the differences in PIMREG expression in liver cancer and normal liver tissue were compared using bioinformatics, and their correlation with the clinical pathological characteristics of liver cancer and the prognosis value were analyzed. A knockdown and overexpression model of PIMREG was constructed using Huh7 cells. The effect of the PIMREG expression level on the malignant phenotype of Huh7 cells was tested through CCK-8 and Transwell experiments. At the same time, animal knockdown and overexpression models were constructed to study the effect of the PIMREG expression level on the tumorigenesis ability in nude mice.

Results: Bioinformatics analysis showed that PIMREG mRNA was significantly overexpressed in liver cancer tissue (P<0.001). There were differences in T-staging (P<0.001), pathological staging (P=0.002), vascular infiltration (P<0.001), histological grading (P<0.001), and AFP levels (P<0.001) between the high- and low-expression groups. A high expression of PIMREG is associated with a poor prognosis, manifested as a significant decrease in the overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival rates of patients (P values of 0.006, 0.014, and 0.002, respectively). In the PIMREG overexpression model, the proliferation rate and invasion ability of Huh7 cells were significantly increased, and the tumorigenesis ability of nude mice was significantly enhanced. In the knockdown model, the opposite results were observed.

Conclusions: The PIMREG gene is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, and increasing its expression level can significantly promote the malignant phenotype of liver cancer cells and their tumorigenesis ability in nude mice. Knocking down its expression level has the opposite effect. The expression level of PIMREG is related to the pathological stages of liver cancer patients, and its elevated expression is a risk factor for poor prognosis. PIMREG may become a new target for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of liver cancer.

Therapeutic modalities for psychogenic erectile dysfunction (PED) are poorly targeted because of the lack of specific pathological features. The common symptoms of PED include psychological stress-related negative emotions and erectile dysfunction. Exploring their common therapeutic targets is helpful in the development of effective PED treatment strategies. Adenosine locally acts as a vasodilator or neuromodulator in the penis and promotes erection. Recent studies have demonstrated that adenosine (ADO) signaling is also involved in psychological stress. Herein, we review the pathogenesis of PED and the interaction between ADO and the erection regulator nitric oxide (NO) in brain and penile tissues. In addition, we summarize the regulatory role of ADO signal transduction in penile erection, psychological stress and negative emotions. Through our study, we found that ADO is involved in psychological stress and erectile events by combining adenosine A₁ receptors (A₁R) and adenosine A_2A receptors (A_2AR). The application of A₁R selective agonists may promote erection and improve psychological state.