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Objective To examine the association between exposure to ambient PM2.5 chemical components and semen quality in Southwest China. Methods We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate 1 105 sperm donors who lived in Sichuan Province, China and underwent semen examination in Sichuan Province human sperm bank from October 2019 to December 2021.Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its chemical components in lag 0-90 d, lag 0-9 d, lag 10-14 d and lag 70-90 d were assessed by extracting monthly PM2.5 and its chemical components values from a few validated grid datasets at each subject's residential address. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between PM2.5 and its chemical components. A linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 chemical components and semen quality parameters. Results PM2.5 is highly positively correlated with its chemical components. PM2.5, NH4+, SO42-, NO3-, OM, and BC exposures were significantly associated with decreased total motility (P < 0.05). OM exposure was significantly associated with decreased in sperm progressive motility (P < 0.05), and the mean change in sperm progressive motility was -1.166 (95% CI: -2.174 -- -0.171) for per IQR (3.1 µg/m³) increase in OM. Conclusion PM2.5 and its chemical components are risk factors for sperm total motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature induces structural and physiological damage to plants. However, studies on the effects of constant high temperature on climbing plant species are limited. To estimate the response of photosynthetic capacity of two creeper species, Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Sieb. et Zucc.) and Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch, to constant high-temperature treatment at noon, we measured photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters at 35, 40, and 45 °C (25 °C was the control treatment). High temperature significantly reduced photosynthetic pigment content, whereas carotenoid content showed the opposite trend. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, actual quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and the coefficient of photochemical quenching all showed a decreasing trend, with increasing stress duration, whereas the non-regulated thermal energy loss and regulated thermal energy loss indexes increased. As temperature increased, intercellular CO2 concentration initially decreased and then increased. Non-stomatal restriction factors were the main cause of the decrease in photosynthetic rate when temperature exceeded 40 °C. These parameters recovered to pre-stress levels only in plants grown at 35 °C upon stress relief. P. quinquefolia showed higher photosynthetic heat resistance and resilience than P. tricuspidata. Our results revealed photosynthetic adaptation and recovery mechanisms in two creepers grown under high-temperature stress. Molecular and genetic approaches should be considered to gain deeper insight into the mechanism underlying high temperature adaptation in these two creepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evulate the therapeutic effect and safety of reteplase in treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Methods Ninety-five patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who admitted in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were divided into 2 groups: reteplase group (54 cases) and urokinase group (41 cases). Patients in reteplase group were intravenous injection of 18mg of reteplase for twice, and the interval was 30 minute, and patients in urokinase group were given intravenous injection of 1500, 000U urokinase in 30 minutes. The recanalization rate of coronary artery, the incidence of cardiovascular complications, reocclusion, hemorrhage and mortality were compared between two groups. Results There was statistically significant difference in the recanalization rate of coronary artery between two groups (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of cardiovascular complications, reocclusion, hemorrhage and mortality between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Reteplase is a highly active and safe thrombolytic drug in treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with earlier recanalization, higher recanalization rate of coronary artery, more convenient administration way, longer maintaining time and less adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a typical tight sand gas reservoir with strong heterogeneous in Sulige Gasfield，Ordos Basin. The proved reserve，which has been calculated with volumetric method，is inaccurate due to the limited data.In this paper，with strongly inhomogeneous tight sandstone gas reservoir in He8 and Shan1 member of Su 14 block in Sulige Gasfield as the study objective，we put forward the method of recalculating reserves confined by database of geological knowledge about reservoir. Based on geological knowledge database established by analyzing reservoir architecture of wells in infill drilling pilot，we described the geometry and boundary of effective reservoir sand body. According to the thought “dividing the reservoir into units horizontally and minor layers vertically”，the reserves were recalculated with volumetric method. In addition，the reserves were classified and evaluated synthetically according to the cumulative output of gas well，reserves abundance and internal rate of return (IRR). The result shows that the recalculated reserves reduced due to the decrease of gas bearing area and the abundance of reserves.The decrease of gas bearing area，which was caused by the sand body thinning to cutting up，the errors due to the incomplete well pattern and the inhomogeneous of reservoir，is a main reason for reserves reduction. The recalculation and evaluation show that the material base of reserve in the study area is solid，and it can maintain stable production for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The threats to the safety of humans and the environment and the resistance of agricultural chemicals to plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria highlight an urgent need to find safe and efficient alternatives to chemical fungicides and bactericides. In this study, a series of Berberine (BBR) derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria., Results: Bioassay results indicated that compounds A11, A14, A20, A21, A22, A25, A26, E1, E2, E3, Z1 and Z2 showed high inhibitory activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. Especially, A25 showed a broad spectrum and the highest antifungal activity among these compounds. Its EC 50 value against Botrytis cinerea was 1.34 μg mL -1 . Compound E6 possessed high inhibitory activity against Xanthomonas oryzae and Xanthomonas Campestris, with MIC 90 values of 3.12 μg mL -1 and 1.56 μg mL -1 . A Topomer CoMFA model was generated for 3D-QSAR studies based on anti-B. cinerea effects, with high predictive accuracy, showed that the addition of an appropriate substituent group at the para-position of benzyl of BBR derivatives could effectively improve the anti-B. cinerea activity. In addition, compound A25 could significantly inhibit the spore germination of Botrytis cinerea at low concentration, and compound F4 exhibited remarkable curative and protective efficiencies on rice bacterial leaf blight., Conclusion: This study indicates that the BBR derivatives are hopeful for further exploration as the lead compound with novel antimicrobial agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Sperm head morphology is crucial for male factor infertility diagnosis and assessment of male reproductive potential. Several criteria are available to analyze sperm head morphology, but they are limited by poor methodology comparability and population applicability. This study aimed to explore comprehensive and new normal morphometric reference values for spermatozoa heads in fertile Asian males. An automated sperm morphology analysis system captured 23 152 stained spermatozoa from confirmed fertile males. Of these samples, 1856 sperm head images were annotated by three experienced laboratory technicians as "normal". We employed 14 novel morphometric features to describe sperm head size (head length, head width, length/width ratio, and girth), shape (ellipse intersection over union, girth intersection over union, short-axis symmetry, and long-axis symmetry), area (head, acrosome, postacrosomal areas, and acrosome area ratio), and degrees of acrosome and nuclear uniformity. This straight-forward method for the morphometric analysis of sperm by accurate visual measurements is clinically applicable. The measured parameters present valuable information to establish morphometric reference intervals for normal sperm heads in fertile Asian males. The presented detailed measurement data will be valuable for interlaboratory comparisons and technician training. In vitro fertilization and andrology laboratory technicians can use these parameters to perform objective morphology evaluation when assessing male fertilization potential., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © The Author(s)(2023).)

Background: Prior reports have indicated that the abnormal expression of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) genes is related to malignant tumors. However, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the precise role of snRNPs is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic roles of SNRPB/D1/D2/D3/E/F/G and their correlation to immune infiltration in HCC., Methods: The study was carried out via the following databases, software, and experimental validation: ONCOMINE, GEPIA2, UALCAN, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, ArrayExpress, Kaplan-Meier plotter, cBioPortal, STRING, DAVID 6.8, TIMER, Cytoscape software, and immunohistochemistry experiments., Results: Overexpressed SNRPB/D1/D2/D3/E/F/G proteins were found in HCC tissues. The transcription levels of 7 snRNPs genes were related to the TP53 mutation and tumor grades. SNRPB/D1/D2/D3/F/G expression was significantly correlated with cancer staging, whereas SNRPE was not. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that upregulation of SNRPB/D1/D2/E/G was relevant to worse OS in HCC patients, especially in patients with alcohol consumption and those without viral hepatitis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that expression of SNRPB/D1/D3/E/F/G were independent prognostic factors for unfavorable OS in HCC. In addition, a high mutation rate of snRNPs genes (44%) was also found in HCC. The mRNA expression levels of snRNPs were meaningfully and positively related to six types of infiltrating immune cells (B cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophil, macrophage, and dendritic cells). Also, SNRPB/D1/G genes were significantly associated with molecular markers of various immune cells in HCC., Conclusions: SNRPB/D1/D3/E/F/G are potential prognostic biomarkers for a short OS in HCC, and SNRPB/D1/G were novel immune therapy targets in HCC patients., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2022.)

Objective: To search for an effective method for cryopreservation of rare human sperm (RHS) by comparing the effect of RHS cryopreservation technology with that of conventional cryopreservation technology on post-thaw sperm from patients with severe oligozoospermia., Methods: Semen samples obtained from 82 patients with severe oligozoospermia were preserved by RHS cryopreservation technology, and another 24 samples cryopreserved by conventional technology, the former divided into groups A (sperm concentration < 1×10⁶/ml, n = 54) and B (1×10⁶/ml ≤ sperm concentration < 5×10⁶/ml, n = 28), and the latter included in group C (sperm concentration < 15×106 /ml, n = 24). The survival rate of post-thaw sperm and recovery rate of progressively motile sperm (PMS) were compared among the three groups., Results: The survival rate of post-thaw sperm was significantly higher in groups A and B than in C (［62.8 ± 18.7］% and ［61.9 ± 17.2］% vs ［50.7 ± 13.5］%, P < 0.05), and so was the recovery rate of PMS (［68.7 ± 18.4］% and ［70.7 ± 15.5］% vs ［29.2 ± 12.4］% , P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B in either of the two parameters (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: The cryopreservation technology for rare human sperm may yield relatively stable post-thaw results and deserves a wide clinical application in preserving male fertility.

Objective: To explore the levels of T-lymphocyte subsets and IL-17, IL-35, IFN-γ in peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma(MM) and their clinical significance., Methods: A total of 86 MM patients in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2017 were enrolled in MM group and 30 healthy persons were enrolled in control group, the CD4 + /CD8 + T cells ratio, CD4 + CD25 high/+ CD127 low/- Treg level in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometer. The levels of IL-17, IL-35 and IFN-γ in peripheral serum were detected by ELISA, and the differences of detected indicators between different groups were compared., Results: Compared with control group, the proportion of CD4 + T cells and CD4 + /CD8 + T cells ratio decreased, the proportion of CD8 + T cells and Treg increased in MM group. The differences of T lymphocyte subsets level between group III stage of MM and control group were statistically significant (P<0.05). With enhancing of clinical stages, Treg level showed a increasing trend, especially in III stage (P<0.05), the serum level of IL-17 as followed in turn: III stage>II stage>I stage>control, the serum level of IL-35 and IFN-γ as followed in turn: control>I stage>II stage>III stage (P<0.05). In terms of disease status, the propurtion of Treg cells as fllowed in turn: disease progression stage>stable stage>control (P<0.05), the serum level of IL-17 as followed in turn also: disease progression stage>stable stage (P<0.05), while the serum level of IL-35 and IFN-γ as followed in turn: control>disease table stage>progression stage (P<0.05)., Conclusion: The abnomal level of T-lymphocyte subsets, Treg, IL-17, IL-35 and IFN-γ are related with progression and prognosis of MM patients.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term effect of the black film covering combined with niclosamide on Oncomelania hupensis snail control in marshland and lake regions., Methods: A ditch with snails in Anxiang County was selected as the experimental sites. The ditch was divided into 3 groups: a film group, a niclosamide group, and a niclosamide and film group. The snails were surveyed before the test and 1, 3, 5, 7 days after the experiment., Results: After the film covering, the highest temperature of the surface of soil was 63.7 degrees C on the first day, and the temperature higher than 40 degrees C lasted 4.34 hours. On the second day, the highest temperature was 52.3 degrees C, and the temperature higher than 40 degrees C lasted 4.96 hours. On the fourth day and fifth day, the temperature was lower than 30 degrees C, while the temperature was lower than 34 degrees C on the sixth day. On the seventh day of the experiment, the snail death rates of the film group, the niclosamide group, and the niclosamide and film group on the soil surface were 16.36%, 58.40% and 53.57%, respectively. On the seventh day, the snail death rates of the film group, and the niclosamide and film group under the soil were 20.00% and 40.00%, respectively, while no snails were found under the soil in the niclosamide group 3 days after the experiment. In mesh bags, the snail death rates of the film group, the niclosamide group, and the niclosamide and film group were 84.00%, 95.33% and 95.33%, respectively., Conclusion: The short-term effect of the black film covering on snail control is not obvious, and the black film covering does no promote the molluscicidal effect of niclosamide.

Objective: To observe the effect of the compound Chinese traditional drug Xianling Gubao Capsule on the semen quality of infertile males., Methods: We treated 66 infertile men with Xianling Gubao Capsule for 24 months, and analyzed the semen quality and sperm morphology before and after the treatment., Results: Two months after the medication, sperm concentration was increased by a small margin, but no statistically significant changes were observed in sperm vitality and motility (P > 0.05), the rate of morphologically normal sperm was significantly raised from 25.8% before treatment to 57.6% (P < 0.05) in those with the normal rate > or = 15%, but decreased from 53.0% to 25.8% (P < 0.05) in those with the normal rate < 9%. Among the 7 cases of oligospermia, the rate of morphologically normal sperm was elevated to an average of 10.9% after the 4-month medication, significantly different from the baseline rate of 5.8% (P < 0.05). Five spontaneous pregnancies and 1 successful IVF-ICSI were achieved during the treatment., Conclusion: Xianling Gubao Capsule can improve semen quality and significantly increase the percentage of morphologically normal sperm.

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial resistance and molecular prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS) in Chengdu., Methods: Disk diffusion method was used to test antimicrobial resistance of 2038 CoNS isolated from 15 hospitals and 6 CDCs (center for disease control and prevention) in Chengdu, the results were interpreted according to the guideline of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. CoNS were typed with plasmid and PFGE (pulsed field gel electrophoresis) profiles., Results: (1) S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, and S. saprophyticus accounted for 82.2% of the CoNS isolated from Chengdu, with different constituent ratio of CoNS among patients, medical staff, sick children and normal people. (2) CoNS resisted to one or more antimicrobial agents with resistance rate of 80.4% . CoNS resisted highly to SMZ, penicillin-G, ampicillin, erythromycin, TMP-SMZ and tetracycline, but were susceptible to vancomycin, norfloxacin and amikacin. 25 antimicrobial resistance profiles were acquired, and Amp + Ery + P-G + SMZ, Amp + Gen + Str + Tet, Amp + P-G + Tet, Chl + Ery + P-G + SMZ + TS, Ern + Nov + P-G + SMZ + TS, as well as P-G + SMZ + TS were main profiles. The main antimicrobial resistance profiles of CoNS isolated from patients, medical staff, sick children and normal people had some differences, but the antimicrobial resistance of main biochemical subtypes was similar a lot. (3) Plasmid prevalence of CoNS was 72.9%, with 12 plasmid profiles ( I -H ) of all CoNS. The main profiles were I , U , and MI type, which accounted for 80.1% of 1485 CoNS with plasmid. (4) 29 PFGE genotypes and 112 subtypes were found in 2038 strains. Genotypes A, B, C, D and E were the predominant types in CoNS from patients, medical staff, sick children and normal people and contributed 89.1% to 2038 CONS. Genotypes A was the major type and had similar constituent ratio in CoNS from 4 sources, and no enough similarity of constituent ratio in other dominant genotypes., Conclusion: Antimicrobial resistance rate of CoNS was very high in Chengdu and multi-resistance existed in various populations generally. High homology was found in CoNS from different sources, especially from medical staff as well as sick children and infant, and a latent inter-transmission may occur in these populations. So it was no time to delay the monitoring and investigation of antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology for CoNS in Chengdu.