Long-term mortality of living kidney donors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Urology and Nephrology - To date, several studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the mortality risk faced by living kidney donors and controls. Our study assessed the...     

Analysis of pharmacological mechanisms of Yinyanghuo as treatment of erectile dysfunction with network pharmacology-based strategy

Erectile dysfunction is considered an important health problem that impacts the quality of life of men. Yinyanghuo, also called Epimedium or Horny Goat Weed, is a frequently used Chinese traditional herbal medicine, commonly used in treating erectile dysfunction in China. A network pharmacology method was performed systematically, at a molecular level, to analyse the pharmacological mechanism of Yinyanghuo as erectile dysfunction therapy. The network pharmacology method used in this study primarily includes prescreening of the active compounds, prediction of targets, network analysis and gene enrichment analysis. This network analysis proved that 4 targets (AR, NR3C2, PDE5A and BMP2) could be the targets of Yinyanghuo therapy on erectile dysfunction. Besides, gene enrichment analysis predicted that Yinyanghuo might have a role in erectile dysfunction by regulating 10 molecular functions, 8 cellular components, 10 biological processes and 36 possible targets related to 10 signalling pathways. Our study demonstrated the molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of Yinyanghuo against erectile dysfunction with a holistic approach and demonstrated a powerful method for analysing pharmacological mechanisms and rational utilisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine clinically.     

Mechanism of Graft Damage Caused by NTPDase1-activated Macrophages in Acute Antibody-Mediated Rejection

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect and mechanism of macrophage activation and graft damage caused by nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (NTPDase1) in acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).MethodsAcute AMR was induced in different skin-grafted nude mouse models with wild-type NTPDase1 expression, transgene-enhanced NTPDase1 expression, or NTPDase1 gene knockout. Several methods (eg, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC], immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and luciferin/luciferase assays) were used to study (at the histologic and molecular levels) the extracellular adenosine diphosphate (ADP) concentration, macrophage proliferation, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen expression on the surface of macrophages, B-cell activating factor (BAFF) expression in the peripheral blood serum, and the total number of SmIg-positive B cells during acute AMR. The relative activity of NTPDase1 in B cells and epithelial cells, pathologic changes, and the incidence of positive C4d deposition around the capillaries of skin grafts on the different nude mice were studied.ResultsMacrophages proliferated significantly when acute AMR occurred. The higher the NTPDase1 expression level, the lower the extracellular ADP concentration, the expression of MHC class II antigens on the surface of macrophages, the expression of BAFF in the peripheral blood serum, and the total number of SmIg-positive B cells, indicating negative correlations. The relative activity of NTPDase1 in B cells and epithelial cells of the skin graft was different among the different mice. The higher the NTPDase1 expression level, the lower the degree of pathologic damage to the skin graft.ConclusionsImbalance in extracellular ADP degradation by NTPDase1 may promote macrophage activation, and activated macrophages may be an important cause of graft damage.     

补脾和胃泄浊法联合常规西药治疗早中期慢性肾功能不全脾虚湿盛证临床研究

目的：观察补脾和胃泄浊法治疗早中期慢性肾功能不全脾虚湿盛证的临床疗效。方法：选择94例早中期慢性肾功能不全患者,按随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组各47例。对照组给予常规西药治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予补脾和胃泄浊法治疗。评价2组临床疗效,比较2组治疗前后中医证候评分、肾功能、肾血流变化、炎症因子水平及免疫功能。结果：观察组总有效率为89.36%,高于对照组72.34%(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组各项中医证候评分低于治疗前(P<0.05),且观察组各项中医证候评分低于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组血肌酐(SCr)、尿素氮(BUN)、胱抑素C (Cys-C)、β₂-微球蛋白(β₂-MG)、白细胞介素-6 (IL-6)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)及免疫球蛋白抗体G (IgG)水平较治疗前降低,且观察组低于对照组(P<0.05);2组肾小球滤过率(e GFR)、补体C3水平较治疗前升高,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后,观察组平均灌注强度(Imix)、血流速度(Vmix)高于治疗前和对照组(P<0....     

Analgesic Effects of Ultrasound‐Guided Iliohypogastric/Ilioinguinal Nerve Block Combined with Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block in Total Hip Arthroplasty via Direct Anterior Approach: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the combination of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks (LFCNB) and iliohypogastric/ilioinguinal nerve blocks (IHINB) on postoperative pain and functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) via the direct anterior approach (DAA).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, patients undergoing THA via the DAA between January 2019 and November 2019 were stratified into two groups based on their date of admission. Sixty‐seven patients received LFCNB and IHINB along with periarticular infiltration analgesia (PIA) (nerve block group), and 75 patients received PIA alone (control group). The outcomes included postoperative morphine consumption, postoperative pain assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the QoR‐15 score, and functional recovery measured as quadriceps strength, time to first straight leg rise, daily ambulation distance, and duration of hospitalization. The Oxford hip score and the UCLA activity level rating were assessed at 1 and 3 months after surgery. In addition, postoperative complications were recorded. Patients were also compared based on the type of incision used during surgery (traditional longitudinal or “bikini” incision).ResultsPatients in the nerve block group showed significantly lower postoperative morphine consumption, lower resting VAS scores within 12 h postoperatively, lower VAS scores during motion within 24 h postoperatively, and better QoR‐15 scores on postoperative day 1. These patients also showed significantly better functional recovery during hospitalization. At 1‐month and 3‐month outpatient follow up, the two groups showed no significant differences in Oxford hip score or UCLA activity level rating. There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications. Similar results were observed when patients were stratified by type of incision, except that the duration of hospitalization was similar.ConclusionCompared to PIA alone, a combination of LFCNB and IHINB along with PIA can improve early pain relief, reduce morphine consumption, and accelerate functional recovery, without increasing complications after THA via the DAA.     

Comparison of the anxiety,depression and their relationship to quality of life among adult acute leukemia patients and their family caregivers: a cross-sectional study in China

Quality of Life Research - To compare the anxiety, depression and explore their relationship to quality of life (QoL) among adult acute leukemia (AL) patients and family caregivers (FCs) in China....     

Soil microbial activities and carbon and nitrogen fixation

Soil microbial activity that reflects microbiological processes of soil microorganisms is the potential indicator of soil quality, as plants rely on soil microorganisms to mineralize organic nutrients for growth and development. Soil microorganisms also process plant litter and residues into soil organic matter, a direct and stable reservoir of carbon and nitrogen that consists of living and dead organic materials subject to rapid biological decomposition. In natural systems, the action of soil microorganisms is a major determinant of efficient nutrient cycling. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on the fate of soil microorganisms in terms of carbon and nitrogen fixation.     

Surface modification of titanium implant by microarc oxidation and hydrothermal treatment

Surface modification of titanium implant is processed by microarc oxidation and hydrothermal treatment. A porous surface with a biologically active bone-like apatite layer was formed. The apatite layer consists of very fine crystals and high crystallinity and is integrated with the titanium alloy substrate with a graded structure without a distinct interface. Such a bioactive layer is expected not only to enhance the bony ingrowth into the porous structure, but also to improve the interlocking between implant and bone.