Immunohistochemical analysis of the vimentin filaments in Sertoli cells is a powerful tool for the prediction of spermatogenic dysfunction

The close interaction between male germ cells and Sertoli cells, a type of somatic cell found in the seminiferous tubules of mammalian testis, is essential for the normal progression of spermatogenesis in mammals. Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein that primarily provides mechanical support, preserves cell shape, and maintains the nuclear position, and it is often used as a marker to identify Sertoli cells. Vimentin is known to be involved in many diseases and aging processes; however, how vimentin is related to spermatogenic dysfunction and the associated functional changes is still unclear. In a previous study, we reported that vitamin E deficiency affected the testes, epididymis, and spermatozoa of mice, accelerating the progression of senescence. In this study, we focused on the Sertoli cell marker vimentin and explored the relationship between the cytoskeletal system of Sertoli cells and spermatogenic dysfunction using testis tissue sections that caused male reproductive dysfunction with vitamin E deficiency. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that the proportion of the vimentin-positive area in seminiferous tubule cross-sections was significantly increased in testis tissue sections of the vitamin E-deficient group compared with the proportion in the control group. The histological analysis of testis tissue sections from the vitamin E-deficient group showed that vimentin-positive Sertoli cells were greatly extended from the basement membrane, along with an increased abundance of vimentin. These findings suggest that vimentin may be a potential indicator for detecting spermatogenic dysfunction.     

Serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with primary biliary cholangitis and the vice versa: A Tunisian study

BackgroundPrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of the liver characterized by destructive lymphocytic cholangitis and anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Anti-gp210 and anti-Sp100, are used for the diagnosis of PBC in AMA-negative PBC patients. Patients with PBC have a propensity to have an extrahepatic manifestation which is especially autoimmune.ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the frequency of serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (CCP-Ab or RF) in PBC patients and to do the vice versa.MethodsOur PBC study included 70 patients with PBC and 80 healthy blood donors (HBD) and our RA study included 75 patients with RA and 75 HBD. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (CCP-Ab) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were performed by indirect ELISA. AMA, anti-Sp100 and anti-gp210 were determined by indirect immunofluorescence.ResultsRA autoantibodies (CCP-Ab or RF) were more frequent in PBC patients than in HBD (65.7% vs. 8.7% p 〈1 0 ⁻⁶). CCP-Ab were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls (15.7% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.004). Nine patients had both CCP-Ab and RF vs. none of controls (12.8% vs. 0%; p = 0.001). RF were detected in 45 patients with PBC and in 5 HBD (64.3% vs. 6.2%; p 〈1 0 ⁻⁶). In PBC patients, RF were more frequent than CCP-Ab (64.3% vs. 15.7%; p 〈1 0 ⁻⁶). RF-IgG were present in 18.5% of patients; RF-immunoglobulin (Ig) A in 34.3% and RF-IgM in 54.3%. These frequencies were significantly higher than those found in control group (1.2% for RF-IgG (p 〈1 0 ⁻³); 0% for RF-IgA (p 〈1 0 ⁻⁶); and 6.2% for RF-IgM (p 〈1 0 ⁻⁶)). In our PBC patients, RF-IgA were more frequent than RF-IgG (34.3% vs. 18.5%; p = 0.03) and than CCP-Ab (34.3% vs. 15.7%; p = 0.01). Six patients had only RF-IgA versus none of the control group (8.6% vs. 0%; p = 0.01). AMA, anti-Sp100 and anti-gp 210 were absent in all RA patients.ConclusionsSerological markers of RA were more frequent in PBC patients than in HBD and the vice versa was not true.     

Identification of peptides presented through the MHC-II of dendritic cells stimulated with Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) represents a species of concern, because of its ability to modulate the host’s innate immune response, and therefore influence trajectory of adaptative immunity. Since eradicative response against mycobacteria, and M. tuberculosis/M. avium, relies on peptides actively presented on a Major Histocompatibility complex-II (MHC-II) context, we assessed paradoxical stimulation of Dendritic Cell resulting on immature immunophenotype characterized by membrane minor increase of MHC-II and CD40 despite of high expression of the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in supernatants. Identification of M. avium leucine rich peptides forming short α-helices shutting down Type 1T helper (Th1), contribute to the understanding of immune evasion of an increasingly prevalent pathogen, and may provide a basis for future immunotherapy to infectious and non-infectious disease.     

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of the vascular cognitive impairment associated with cerebral small vessel disease

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of the vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) associated with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD–VCI) and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical acupuncture treatment for CSVD–VCI.MethodVarious databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese BioMedical Literature Service System, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to acupuncture treatment for CSVD–VCI. The quality of the included trials was evaluated, and a meta-analysis was conducted using the Review Manager 5.4 software.ResultsTen articles on RCTs were included, involving 761 patients, i.e., 381 in the acupuncture group and 380 in the control group. The meta-analysis results indicated that the use of acupuncture alone and acupuncture alongside other therapies for CSVD–VCI could improve the overall clinical response rate [odds ratio = 3.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (2.05, 6.00), P < 0.00001], increase the patients’ Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores [mean difference (MD) = 3.33, 95%CI (2.98, 3.68), P < 0.00001], Mini-Mental State Examination scores [MD = 2.78, 95%CI (2.51, 3.06), P < 0.00001], and activities of daily living scores [MD = 6.30, 95%CI (4.22, 8.37), P < 0.00001], and shorten the latency of auditory evoked potential P300 [MD = −14.67, 95%CI (−19.54, −9.80), P < 0.00001].ConclusionAcupuncture alone and acupuncture alongside other therapies are superior to non-acupuncture-based therapies in the treatment of CSVD–VCI. However, due to the small number of relevant available articles and their general low quality, this conclusion may be biased. More clinical RCTs with a larger sample size and higher quality are needed to support this theory.     

儿科临床研究协调员职业培训现状的调查与需求分析

目的 了解儿科临床研究协调员（clinical research coordinator,CRC）职业培训现状,探讨儿科CRC基地化培训建设,以促进儿科CRC的能力提升。方法 采用匿名问卷调研法,于2023年7月25日至10月16日期间,通过问卷星向调查对象发放自行设计的问卷,以进行儿科CRC职业培训及基地化培训需求相关情况的调查分析。采用Excel对数据进行整理。计数资料以例数或者率表示。结果 回收有效问卷328份。调查结果显示,认为当前CRC培训充分且可以满足实际工作需求的仅为7.62%（25人）,另有4.88%（16人）的人认为没有CRC培训,46.34%（152人）的人认为培训不足以支撑实际工作的要求。87.50%（287人）的人认为CRC需要持续的培训。46.95%（154人）的人选择了有经验的CRC是较为合适的带教人员之一,但是需要3年及以上CRC工作经验。46.95%（154人）选择了CRC合适的培训时长为3个月。培训方式的选择从高到低为：有经验的CRC带教实习（90.85%,298人）、实操技能手把手带教（88.41%,290人）、案例分析讨论（87.20%,286人）、流程模拟（83.23%,273人）、授课（76.52%,251人）。培训后考核方式的选择从高到低为：案例分析（76.52%,251人）、操作模拟（74.09%,243人）、流程模拟（73.17%,240人）、笔试（66.16%,217人）、面试（63.72%,209人）。结论 目前,儿科CRC的培训还不足以满足实际工作需求,急需制定一个符合工作需要的CRC培训体系并进行推广实践,从基础上促进中国儿科临床研究健康生态的构建。     

The efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine Guilu Erxian Jiao in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveA systematic review was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Guilu Erxian Jiao (GEJ) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsWe searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Electronic Periodical Services, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials, from the inception of each source to April 20, 2021. Primary outcome included overall efficacy, pain score, and Lequesne index score; secondary outcome included adverse events. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 1.0). The meta-analysis was performed based on a random-effects model due to anticipated clinical heterogeneity. The grading of overall evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021233573).ResultsEight studies were included. Compared to controls, GEJ exhibited superior overall efficacy for treating OA (risk ratio (RR) = 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–1.35). Regarding pain score, there was no statistical difference between GEJ and controls (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.27; 95% CI = −0.91 – 1.46). No significant difference was found in Lequesne score between GEJ and controls (MD = −0.25; 95% CI = −0.52 – 0.01). No statistical difference in adverse reactions was observed between GEJ and controls (risk difference (RD) = −0.01; 95% CI = −0.05–0.03).ConclusionOur findings suggest that GEJ may have positive effects on overall efficacy in treating OA. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding pain score, Lequesne score, and knee joint function score.     

Efficacy of myofascial therapy and kinesitherapy in improving function in shoulder pathology with prolonged immobilization: A randomized,single-blind,controlled trial

BackgroundThe best physiotherapeutic approach in shoulder pathology that generates prolonged immobilization is still uncertain. Kinesitherapy remains the most widely used option. Myofascial therapy is a therapeutic approach in which the aim is to release fascial tension and regain mobility although its efficacy in shoulder pathology has not been sufficiently studied. This Prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial in a university hospital setting aimed to compare the efficacy of myofascial therapy and kinesitherapy in improving function in shoulder pathology with prolonged immobilization.MethodsPatients were randomly assigned to a control group or to the intervention group.Both groups completed a therapeutic exercise program. Main Outcome Measures: The QuickDash questionnaire was the primary outcome, Pain Visual Analog Scale and the Range Of Motion of the shoulder were the secondary outcomes. The outcomes were evaluated at baseline (T0), at 4 (T2), 8 (T2), and 12 weeks (T3)Results44 participants were included. In the analysis of evolution over time, a significant improvement in functionality and range of motion measurements was observed in both groups (p < 0.05), although at 12 weeks only Myofasical Group achieved a clinically and statistically significant reduction in pain. Comparative analysis at 12 weeks revealed no statistically significant differences between the two therapies in the variables explored.ConclusionsBoth, myofascial therapy and kinesitherapy can improve function, mobility, and pain in patients with painful shoulder associated with prolonged immobilization, with no significant differences between therapies, although in the medium term only myofascial therapy achieves a clinically and statistically significant improvement in pain.Trial registrationTrial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04944446.     

小白菊内酯对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响及机制研究

目的:探讨小白菊内酯对血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响及作用机制。方法:培养大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC),Western印迹杂交法检测c-fos,c-myc,p15,p16,p18,p19蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测VSMC周期情况,[³H]TdR参入测定VSMC的DNA合成。结果:小白菊内酯以时间依赖关系抑制c-fos,c-myc蛋白表达,但不影响p15,p16,p18,p19蛋白表达,以剂量依赖关系使VSMC周期中的G₀/G₁期细胞比例明显增多,S期细胞比例显著减少,同时抑制VSMC的[³H]TdR参入。结论:小白菊内酯可能通过抑制c-fos,c-myc蛋白表达,而不是影响p15,p16,p18,p19蛋白表达来抑制VSMC增殖。