The analysis of the ejaculate,better known as spermiogram,represents the first and main step to identify whether a series of sperm quality parameters are within the norm and therefore are consistent with normal sperm ...The analysis of the ejaculate,better known as spermiogram,represents the first and main step to identify whether a series of sperm quality parameters are within the norm and therefore are consistent with normal sperm fertilizing capacity.Among these,sperm concentration and motility are the first parameters to be evaluated through an estimation carried out by expert examiners.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the associations between the post-wash total progressively motile sperm count(TPMSC)in the first intrauterine insemination(IUI)cycle and pregnancy outcomes of the second IUI cycle.Data ...This study aimed to investigate the associations between the post-wash total progressively motile sperm count(TPMSC)in the first intrauterine insemination(IUI)cycle and pregnancy outcomes of the second IUI cycle.Data were retrieved from the clinical database at the Reproductive Center of Peking University Third Hospital(Beijing,China)between January 2011 and December 2022.Couples were included in this retrospective cohort study if they had unexplained or mild male factor infertility and were treated with IUI for two consecutive cycles using the same protocol.A total of 8290 couples were included in the analysis.The mean±standard deviation(s.d.)age of women was 32.0±3.5 years.We categorized groups based on the post-wash TPMSC(×10^(6))levels in the first IUI cycle:group 1(0<TPMSC<1,n=1290),group 2(1≤TPMSC<2,n=863),group 3(2≤TPMSC<3,n=800),group 4(3≤TPMSC<4,n=783),group 5(4≤TPMSC<5,n=1541),group 6(5≤TPMSC<6,n=522),group 7(6≤TPMSC<7,n=547),group 8(7≤TPMSC<8,n=175),group 9(8≤TPMSC<9,n=556),group 10(9≤TPMSC<10,n=192),and group 11(TPMSC≥10,n=1021).The primary outcome was live birth rate of the second IUI cycle.Live birth rates were 7.9%,5.8%,7.6%,7.4%,7.3%,8.4%,7.5%,7.4%,8.8%,8.9%,and 7.6%in each group,respectively.There were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates or live birth rates between any groups and those with the post-wash TPMSC<1×10^(6).In an IUI program for unexplained and mild male factor infertility,the post-wash TPMSC in the first IUI cycle was not significantly associated with the live birth rate in the second IUI cycle.展开更多
According to the World Health Organization(WHO)manual,sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer,while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment.However,in China,thous...According to the World Health Organization(WHO)manual,sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer,while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment.However,in China,thousands of laboratories do not use the improved Neubauer hemocytometer or method;instead,the Makler counting chamber is one of the most widely used chambers.To study sources of error that could impact the measurement of the apparent concentration and motility of sperm using the Makler counting chamber and to verify its accuracy for clinical application,67 semen samples from patients attending the Department of Andrology,West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University(Chengdu,China)between 13 September 2023 and 27 September 2023,were included.Compared with applying the cover glass immediately,delaying the application of the cover glass for 5 s,10 s,and 30 s resulted in average increases in the sperm concentration of 30.3%,74.1%,and 107.5%,respectively(all P<0.0001)and in the progressive motility(PR)of 17.7%,30.8%,and 39.6%,respectively(all P<0.0001).However,when the semen specimens were fixed with formaldehyde,a delay in the application of the cover glass for 5 s,10 s,and 30 s resulted in an average increase in the sperm concentration of 6.7%,10.8%,and 14.6%,respectively,compared with immediate application of the cover glass.The accumulation of motile sperm due to delays in the application of the cover glass is a significant source of error with the Makler counting chamber and should be avoided.展开更多
Bioconvection plays an inevitable role in introducing sustainable and environment-friendly fuel cell technologies.Bio-mathematical modelling of such designs needs continuous refinements to achieve strong agreements in...Bioconvection plays an inevitable role in introducing sustainable and environment-friendly fuel cell technologies.Bio-mathematical modelling of such designs needs continuous refinements to achieve strong agreements in experimental and computational results.Actually,microorganisms transport a miscellaneous palette of ingredients in manufacturing industrial goods particularly in fertilizer industries.Heat transfer characteristics of molecular structure are measured by a physical phenomenon which is allied with the transpiration of heat within matter.Motivated by bioinspired fuel cells involved in near-surface flow phenomena,in the present article,we examine the transverse swimming of motile gyrotactic microorganisms numerically in a rheological Jeffery fluid near a stretching wall.The leading physical model is converted in a nonlinear system of ODEs through proper similarity alterations.A numerical technique called shooting method with R-K Fehlberg is applied via mathematical software and graphical presentations are obtained.The influence of all relative physical constraints on velocity,temperature,concentration,and volume fraction of gyrotactic microorganisms is expressed geometrically.It is found that heat and mass flux at the surface as well as density of motile microorganism’s declines for Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameter.Comparison in tabular form is made with existing literature to validate the results for limiting cases with convective boundary conditions.展开更多
Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm(IUI-D)is an assisted reproductive technology(ART)offered to couples with definitive male infertility or risk of genetic disease transmission.Here,we sought to evaluate our pr...Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm(IUI-D)is an assisted reproductive technology(ART)offered to couples with definitive male infertility or risk of genetic disease transmission.Here,we sought to evaluate our practice in IUI-D and identify factors that influenced the success rate.We performed a retrospective,single-center study of all IUI-D procedures performed at Lille University Medical Center(Lille,France)between January 1,2007,and December 31,2017.Single and multivariate analyses with a mixed logistic model were used to identify factors associated with clinical pregnancies and live births.We included 322 couples and 1179 IUI-D procedures.The clinical pregnancy rate was 23.5%,and the live birth rate was 18.9%per IUI-D.In a multivariate analysis,the women’s age was negatively associated with the live birth rate.The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor associated with both clinical pregnancies and live births,with a chosen threshold of 0.75 million.The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were,respectively,17.3%and 13.0%below the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold and 25.9%and 21.0%at or above the threshold(all P=0.005).The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor that significantly influenced both pregnancies and live-birth rates after IUI-D.Indeed,below a threshold of 0.75 million motile spermatozoa inseminated,those rates were significantly lower.Application of this number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold may help centers to allocate donations more effectively while maintaining reasonable waiting times for patients.展开更多
The current article investigates the impact of the bioconvection in an unsteady flow of magnetized Cross nanofluid with gyrotactic microorganisms and activation energy over a linearly stretched configuration.The analy...The current article investigates the impact of the bioconvection in an unsteady flow of magnetized Cross nanofluid with gyrotactic microorganisms and activation energy over a linearly stretched configuration.The analysis has been performed by utilizing the realistic Wu's slip boundary and zero mass flux conditions.The effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and the activation energy are also addressed.The governing flow equations are deduced to a dimensionless form by considering suitable transformations which are numerically targeted via a shooting algorithm.The physical visualization of each physical parameter governing the flow problem has been displayed graphically for distribution of velocity,temperature,concentration and motile microorganisms.The numerical treatment for the variation of skin friction coefficient,local Nusselt number,local Sherwood number and motile density number is performed in tabular forms.展开更多
Oxidative stress(OS)is detri me ntal to sperm fun ctio ns,and the oxidation reductio n pote ntial(ORP)is a good measure of OS as it considers the balance betwee n oxidants and reducta nts.Total motile sperm count(TMSC...Oxidative stress(OS)is detri me ntal to sperm fun ctio ns,and the oxidation reductio n pote ntial(ORP)is a good measure of OS as it considers the balance betwee n oxidants and reducta nts.Total motile sperm count(TMSC)is viewed as the single most im porta nt semen analysis parameter that can predict male infertility severity,and its correlation with ORP has never been undertaken.The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between ORP and TMSC,to identify the ORP cutoff value based on the TMSC result,and to compare this cutoff value with previously reported ORP cutoff values in literature.One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight infertile patients and 100 fertile controls were enrolled.Demographic and semen data of the participants were retrieved and analyzed.Wilcox on's rank-sum test compared variables betwee n infertile men and fertile controls;Spearman's correlation assessed the static ORP(sORP)-TMSC relationship for the whole sample and among each group individually.Using a 20×10^6TMSC threshold,receiver operator characteristic(ROC)analysis determined the sORP cutoff associated with the highest predictive values.TMSC was significantly negatively correlated with sORP across all participants(r=0.86,P<0.001),among infertile patients(r=0.729,P<0.001),and among fertile controls(r=0.53,P<0.001).A 20-million TMSC threshold determined an sORP cutoff value of 2.34 mV/106sperm/ml to be associated with 82.9%sensitivity,82.8%specificity,91.5%positive predictive value(PPV),68.5%negative predictive value(NPV),and 82.9%overall accuracy.Compared with previously reported cutoff values in searched literature,the 2.34 mV/10^6sperm/ml cutoff value identified in our study yielded the highest overall diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of in fertile men.展开更多
Infertility is often cited as one of the causes of a declining birthrate, which has become a serious social problem in recent years. Processes by which motile sperm can be safely and easily sorted are therefore import...Infertility is often cited as one of the causes of a declining birthrate, which has become a serious social problem in recent years. Processes by which motile sperm can be safely and easily sorted are therefore important for infertility treatment. Therefore, as a new sorting method, microfluidic sperm sorter using the microfluidic system has been developed. To improve more separation efficiency of this device, it is necessary to know the behaviors of motile sperm in the microchannel where the sperm undergo shear flow. The previous study implied the necessity of the modeling of motile sperm in the shear flow. In the present study, therefore, we experimentally investigated the behavior of the motile sperm in the Taylor-Couette flow using PTV (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) method. The experimental results showed that the ascent of the shear stress led to the increase in the sperm velocity, and the direction of the sperm velocity was opposite to that of the flow.展开更多
Plant organelles are highly motile, with speed values of 3-71μm/s in cells of land plants and about 20-60 μm/s in characean algal cells. This movement is believed to be important for rapid distribution of materials ...Plant organelles are highly motile, with speed values of 3-71μm/s in cells of land plants and about 20-60 μm/s in characean algal cells. This movement is believed to be important for rapid distribution of materials around the cell, for the plant＇s ability to respond to environmental biotic and abiotic signals and for proper growth. The main machinery that propels motility of organelles within plant cells is based on the actin cytoskeleton and its motor proteins the myosins.Most plants express multiple members of two main classes： myosin VIII and myosin XI. While myosin VIII has been characterized as a slow motor protein, myosins from class XI were found to be the fastest motor proteins known in all kingdoms. Paradoxically, while it was found that myosins from class XI regulate most organelle movement, it is not quite clear how or even if these motor proteins attach to the organelles whose movement they regulate.展开更多
Dear Editor,Historically,dipeptidyl peptidase 4(DPP4),found in alveolar regions,has been recognized as the primary receptor for several merbecoviruses like MERS-CoV(Meyerholz et al.,2016).However,angiotensin-convertin...Dear Editor,Historically,dipeptidyl peptidase 4(DPP4),found in alveolar regions,has been recognized as the primary receptor for several merbecoviruses like MERS-CoV(Meyerholz et al.,2016).However,angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2),highly expressed in the motile cilia of human airway epithelial cells(Sungnak et al.,2020),has been identified as the functional receptor for sarbecoviruses(e.g.,SARS-CoV-2,SARS-CoV)and setracoviruses(e.g.,HCoV-NL63).Recent studies have shown that some bat-circulating MERS-related coronaviruses(MERSr-CoVs),such as MOW15-22,PnNL2018B and HKU5,can use ACE2 to enter cells(Ma et al.,2025;Park et al.,2025).Even more worrying is that one novel bat-infecting merbecovirus HKU5-CoV lineage 2(BtHKU5-CoV-2)has been reported to use human ACE2 as a cell entry receptor(Chen et al.,2025).These ACE2-utilizing merbecoviruses expand the diversity,geographic distribution,and transmission potential of coronaviruses,posing a significant threat of spillover to humans.If an ACE2-utilizing MERSr-CoV acquire the high lethality of MERS-CoV and the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 using ACE2 as a receptor,it could trigger a global pandemic with catastrophic consequences for humanity.Therefore,it is essential to evaluate serological cross-reactivity in sera from SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals against ACE2-using MERSr-CoVs,and urgent to develop preventive vaccines and pan-coronavirus antivirals confront the potential threat(Jiang and Wu,2025).展开更多
Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population.However,to date,which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate.The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether...Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population.However,to date,which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate.The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether certain preintervention sperm parameters are predictive of successful varicocele repair,defined as an improvement in total motile sperm count(TMSC).We performed a retrospective study on 111 patients with varicocele who had undergone varicocele repair,collected from the Department of Endocrinology,Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition,University of Catania(Catania,Italy),and the Unit of Urology at the Selcuk University School of Medicine(Konya,Türkiye).The predictive analysis was conducted through the use of the Brain Project,an innovative tool that allows a complete and totally unbiased search of mathematical expressions that relate the object of study to the various parameters available.Varicocele repair was considered successful when TMSC increased by at least 50% of the preintervention value.For patients with preintervention TMSC below 5×10^(6),improvement was considered clinically relevant when the increase exceeded 50% and the absolute TMSC value was>5×10^(6).From the preintervention TMSC alone,we found a model that predicts patients who appear to benefit little from varicocele repair with a sensitivity of 50.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.Varicocele grade and serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)levels did not play a predictive role,but it should be noted that all patients enrolled in this study were selected with intermediate-or high-grade varicocele and normal FSH levels.In conclusion,preintervention TMSC is predictive of the success of varicocele repair in terms of TMSC improvement in patients with intermediate-or high-grade varicoceles and normal FSH levels.展开更多
BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling p...BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling pathway associated with intestinal flora and Cajal stromal cells.Moreover,intestinal flora can also affect the regulation of SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,thus affecting the expression of Cajal stromal cells.Cajal cells are the pacemakers of gastrointestinal motility.AIM To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis(B.lactis)BLa80 on the intestinal flora of rats in simulated microgravity and on the gastrointestinal motility-related SCF/c-kit pathway.METHODS The internationally recognized tail suspension animal model was used to simulate the microgravity environment,and 30 rats were randomly divided into control group,tail suspension group and drug administration tail suspension group with 10 rats in each group for a total of 28 days.The tail group was given B.lactis BLa80 by intragastric administration,and the other two groups were given water intragastric administration,the concentration of intragastric administration was 0.1 g/mL,and each rat was 1 mL/day.Hematoxylin&eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in each segment of the intestine of each group,and the expression levels of SCF,c-kit,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)and p-ERK in the gastric antrum of each group were detected by Western blotting and PCR.The fecal flora and mucosal flora of rats in each group were detected by 16S rRNA.RESULTS Simulated microgravity resulted in severe exfoliation of villi of duodenum,jejunum and ileum in rats,marked damage,increased space between villi,loose arrangement,shortened columnar epithelium of colon,less folds,narrower mucosal thickness,reduced goblet cell number and crypts,and significant improvement after probiotic intervention.Simulated microgravity reduced the expressions of SCF and c-kit,and increased the expressions of ERK and P-ERK in the gastric antrum of rats.However,after probiotic intervention,the expressions of SCF and ckit were increased,while the expressions of ERK and P-ERK were decreased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).In addition,simulated microgravity can reduce the operational taxonomic unit(OTU)of the overall intestinal flora of rats,B.lactis BLa80 can increase the OTU of rats,simulated microgravity can reduce the overall richness and diversity of stool flora of rats,increase the abundance of firmicutes in stool flora of rats,and reduce the abundance of Bacteroides in stool flora of rats,most of which are mainly beneficial bacteria.Simulated microgravity can increase the overall richness and diversity of mucosal flora,increase the abundance of Bacteroides and Desulphurides in the rat mucosal flora,and decrease the abundance of firmicutes,most of which are proteobacteria.After probiotics intervention,the overall Bacteroidetes trend in simulated microgravity rats was increased.CONCLUSION B.lactis BLa80 can ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury,regulate intestinal flora,inhibit ERK expression,and activate the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,which may have a facilitating effect on gastrointestinal motility in simulated microgravity rats.展开更多
Objective Acupuncture therapies are known for their effectiveness in treating a variety of gastric diseases,although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood.This study tested the effectiveness...Objective Acupuncture therapies are known for their effectiveness in treating a variety of gastric diseases,although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood.This study tested the effectiveness of electroacupuncture(EA)at acupoints Zhongwan(RN12)and Weishu(BL21)for managing gastric motility disorder(GMD)and investigated the underlying mechanisms involved.Methods A GMD model was used to evaluate the impact of EA on various aspects of gastric function including the amplitude of gastric motility,electrogastrogram,food intake,and the rate of gastric emptying.Immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore the activation of spinal neurons by EA,specifically examining the presence of cholera toxin B subunit(CTB)-positive neurons and fibers emanating from acupoints RN12 and BL21.The stimulation ofγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-ergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn,the inhibition of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn,and their collective effects on the activity of sympathetic nerves were examined.Results EA at RN12 and BL21 significantly improved gastric motility compromised by GMD.Notably,EA activated spinal neurons,with CTB-positive neurons and fibers from RN12 and BL21 being detectable in both the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal dorsal horn.Further analysis revealed that EA at these acupoints not only stimulated GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn but also suppressed sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn,effectively reducing excessive activity of sympathetic nerves triggered by GMD.Conclusion EA treatment at RN12 and BL21 effectively enhances gastric motility in a GMD model.The therapeutic efficacy of this approach is attributed to the activation of spinal neurons and the modulation of the spinal GABAergic-sympathetic pathway,providing a neurobiological foundation for the role of acupuncture in treating gastric disorders.展开更多
BACKGROUND Overweight children exhibit a higher prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders compared with their normal-weight peers,yet the underlying reasons remain unclear.Gastrointestinal motility,a key pat...BACKGROUND Overweight children exhibit a higher prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders compared with their normal-weight peers,yet the underlying reasons remain unclear.Gastrointestinal motility,a key pathophysiological factor in functional gastrointestinal disorders,may be influenced by body mass index(BMI).AIM To evaluate the impact of BMI on gastric motility parameters in children with functional abdominal pain disorders(FAPDs).METHODS We assessed gastric motility in 176 children with FAPDs(61.4%females,mean age 7.94 years,SD 1.96 years)and 63 healthy controls(57.1%females,mean age 9.17 years,SD 1.90 years)at the Gastroenterology Research Laboratory,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka.FAPDs were diagnosed and subtyped using the Rome IV criteria:Functional abdominal pain 97 patients;irritable bowel syndrome 39 patients,functional dyspepsia(FD)25 patients;and abdominal migraine 15 patients.Gastric motility was measured using a validated ultrasound method.Weight and height were measured using sensitive standard scales.RESULTS The BMIs of children with FAPDs and controls were 15.04 and 15.46 kg/m^(2),respectively(P=0.33).Fasting antral area(FAA)and antral area at 1 min(AA1)and 15 min(AA15)were significantly greater in patients with FAPD with a higher BMI(2.71 cm^(2),12.57 cm^(2),and 7.19 cm^(2),respectively)compared with those with a lower BMI(2.12 cm^(2),10.68 cm^(2),and 6.13 cm^(2),respectively)(P<0.01).BMI positively correlated with FAA and AA15(r=0.18 and r=0.19,respectively)(P<0.01)in those with FAPDs.In controls,only AA1 was greater in the higher BMI group(12.51 cm^(2)vs 9.93 cm^(2))and had a positive correlation(r=0.33)(P≤0.01).Subgroup analysis revealed that in patients with FD,BMI negatively correlated with gastric emptying rate(GER)(r=-0.59)and antral motility index(MI)(r=-0.49),while in functional abdominal pain,MI positively correlated(r=0.25)with BMI(P≤0.01).CONCLUSION In children with FAPDs,higher BMI was associated with increased gastric antral distention during fasting and postprandial periods(as indicated by FAA,AA1,and AA15)but not with contractility and transit(MI,GER).However,in the FD subgroup,high BMI correlated with reduced GER and MI.This indicates the possible role of BMI in gastric hypomotility and the pathophysiology of FD.These findings underscore the importance of lifestyle and dietary interventions aimed at optimizing BMI in the management of FAPDs,particularly FD.展开更多
Background Konjac oligosaccharide(KOS),which is produced through the degradation of konjac glucomannan via enzymatic,chemical,or physical treatments,has been found to have laxative effects.The current study aimed to e...Background Konjac oligosaccharide(KOS),which is produced through the degradation of konjac glucomannan via enzymatic,chemical,or physical treatments,has been found to have laxative effects.The current study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the laxative effect of KOS.Methods KOS was administered by gavage to wild-type and 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor(5-HT4R)-knockout C57BL/6 mice subjected to loperamide-induced constipation for four weeks.Following treatment,feces,blood,small intestine,colonic tissue,and intestinal contents were collected.Constipation-related parameters,gastrointestinal hormones,and Ca2+concentrations were evaluated.Histopathological changes were examined via hematoxylin and eosin staining.Immunofluorescence staining,Western blotting,and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the 5-HT4R/cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)/protein kinase A(PKA)pathway.Isolated smooth muscle cells(SMCs)were treated with KOS and GR113808(a 5-HT4R antagonist),morphologically observed under an inverted microscope,and identified byα-SMA immunofluorescence staining.Cell viability was assessed via CCK-8 assays.5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB pathway activity in SMCs was detected via Western blotting.Results KOS alleviated loperamide-induced constipation in mice.KOS activated the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB pathway in loperamide-induced constipated mice.The protective effect of KOS was significantly diminished in 5-HT4R−/−mice.KOS promoted the proliferation of SMCs by activating the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB signaling pathway.Conclusion KOS improves loperamide-induced constipation by activating the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB signaling pathway.展开更多
[Objectives]To investigate the effects of Visceral Manipulation combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery,and to evaluate its impacts on in...[Objectives]To investigate the effects of Visceral Manipulation combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery,and to evaluate its impacts on inflammatory stress response,gastrointestinal motility recovery,and blood oxygen levels.[Methods]A prospective randomized controlled design was adopted.Eighty patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected and randomly divided into an observation group(40 cases)and a control group(40 cases).The observation group received Visceral Manipulation therapy in addition to routine Enhanced Recovery after Surgery care,while the control group received only routine Enhanced Recovery after Surgery care.Clinical indicators,inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-6,hs-CRP),traumatic stress hormones(cortisol,epinephrine,norepinephrine),gastrointestinal motility indicators(GAS,MTL,GIP),and blood oxygen levels were measured and compared between the two groups on postoperative days 1,5,and 10.[Results]The observation group showed significantly better outcomes in postoperative abdominal distension,time to first flatus and defecation,and hospital stay compared to the control group(P<0.05).Inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-6,hs-CRP),traumatic stress hormones(cortisol,epinephrine,norepinephrine),and gastrointestinal motility indicators(GAS,MTL,GIP)were significantly improved in the observation group(P<0.05).Postoperative blood oxygen levels were also significantly higher in the observation group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Visceral Manipulation combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery can significantly improve postoperative recovery in gastrointestinal surgery patients,alleviate inflammatory stress responses,promote gastrointestinal functional recovery,and enhance blood oxygen levels,demonstrating promising clinical application prospects.展开更多
Triclocarban(TCC)is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial widely used in various personal care products,textiles,and children’s toys.TCC has potential reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals.However,little is kno...Triclocarban(TCC)is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial widely used in various personal care products,textiles,and children’s toys.TCC has potential reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals.However,little is known regarding the effect of TCC on human sperm function.In this study,an in vitro assay was used to investigate the effects of TCC on normal human spermatozoa and the possible underlying mechanisms involved.Semen from healthy male donors was collected and cultured in complete Biggers,Whitten and Whittingham(BWW)and low-sugar BWW media,followed by treatment with TCC at concentrations of 0,0.1μmol l^(−1),1μmol l^(−1),10μmol l^(−1),and 100μmol l^(−1) for 4 h.TCC was found to reduce the sperm total motility and progressive motility.Moreover,the sperm kinematic parameters,straight-line velocity(VSL),average path velocity(VAP),and curvilinear velocity(VCL)were affected in a dose-dependent manner.After treatment with TCC at the lowest effective concentration of 10μmol l^(−1),TCC caused a significant decrease in mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate(ATP)production and mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)and a significant increase in reactive oxygen species(ROS),similar to the observations with the positive control carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone(FCCP),suggesting that TCC may decrease sperm motility by affecting the oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)pathway.In a sugar-free and low-sugar BWW culture environment,TCC enhanced the damaging effect on sperm motility and ATP,MMP,and lactate decreased significantly,suggesting that TCC may also affect the glycolytic pathway that supplies energy to spermatozoa.This study demonstrates a possible mechanism of TCC toxicity in spermatozoa involving both the OXPHOS and glycolysis pathways.展开更多
Postoperative ileus(POI)remains a prevalent and significant challenge following abdominal surgeries,precipitating patient distress,prolonged hospital stays,and escalated medical expenditures.Conventionally addressed v...Postoperative ileus(POI)remains a prevalent and significant challenge following abdominal surgeries,precipitating patient distress,prolonged hospital stays,and escalated medical expenditures.Conventionally addressed via pharmacological interventions,POI is increasingly being explored through adjunctive therapeutic strategies,with acupuncture gaining recognition as a promising option.Acupuncture has demonstrated encouraging potential in promoting gastrointestinal motility in patients with POI.Moreover,recent research has shed light on the therapeutic mechanisms underlying its efficacy.This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of acupuncture as a treatment for POI,highlighting advancements in clinical research and recent elucidations of its mechanistic underpinnings.It aspires to contribute a pivotal reference point for scholars and enthusiasts keen on garnering a deeper understanding of acupuncture’s role in managing POI.展开更多
Zhang et al delivered a paradigm-shifting understanding of electroacupuncture(EA)’s action in diabetic gastroparesis through a well-defined vagal pathway.Their work bridged traditional acupuncture and modern neurogas...Zhang et al delivered a paradigm-shifting understanding of electroacupuncture(EA)’s action in diabetic gastroparesis through a well-defined vagal pathway.Their work bridged traditional acupuncture and modern neurogastroenterology,highlighting EA as a viable strategy for refractory diabetic gastroparesis.The study integrated electrophysiology(gastric slow-wave recordings),functional assays(phenol red gastric emptying,and intestinal propulsion),dynamic positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging,histopathology,and molecular biology(Western blot,immunofluorescence,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).This comprehensive approach robustly confirmed EA’s efficacy in restoring gastric motility,interstitial cells of Cajal function,and neuropeptide balance.Future studies should prioritize clinical translation and explore synergies with pharmacological agents.展开更多
Moringa oleifera have laxative effects,but their active compositions and mechanisms are not very clear thus far.To this end,we systematically explored the active components and mechanism of M.oleifera leaves in reliev...Moringa oleifera have laxative effects,but their active compositions and mechanisms are not very clear thus far.To this end,we systematically explored the active components and mechanism of M.oleifera leaves in relieving constipation by using the slow transit constipation(STC)mouse model and network pharmacology.The results of animal experiments showed that M.oleifera aqueous extract(MOA)had good laxative activity,and its 70%alcohol soluble part(ASP)also showed significant laxative activity(P<0.01).Network pharmacological prediction results suggested that L-phenylalanine(Phe)was the key compound of ASP,and it might relieve constipation through tachykinin receptor 1(TACR1)and three kinds of adrenergic receptors,includingα_(1A)(ADRA1A),α_(2A)(ADRA2A),andα_(2B)(ADRA2B).Further animal experiment results showed that Phe significantly promoted gastrointestinal motility.Phe may relieve STC by enhancing the release of substance P(SP)and upregulating the m RNA expression of TACR1 in the ileum.Importantly,Phe may also promote intestinal movement by downregulating the m RNA expression of ADRA2A and ADRA2B and upregulating the m RNA expression of Calm and the m RNA and protein expression of myosin light chain 9 in the ileum,thereby activating the G protein-coupled receptor-myosin light chain signaling pathway.These results lay a foundation for the application of M.oleifera and Phe in constipation.展开更多
文摘The analysis of the ejaculate,better known as spermiogram,represents the first and main step to identify whether a series of sperm quality parameters are within the norm and therefore are consistent with normal sperm fertilizing capacity.Among these,sperm concentration and motility are the first parameters to be evaluated through an estimation carried out by expert examiners.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program(2022YFC2705305)clinical key project of Peking University Third Hospital(BYSYZD2023007)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(81925013).
文摘This study aimed to investigate the associations between the post-wash total progressively motile sperm count(TPMSC)in the first intrauterine insemination(IUI)cycle and pregnancy outcomes of the second IUI cycle.Data were retrieved from the clinical database at the Reproductive Center of Peking University Third Hospital(Beijing,China)between January 2011 and December 2022.Couples were included in this retrospective cohort study if they had unexplained or mild male factor infertility and were treated with IUI for two consecutive cycles using the same protocol.A total of 8290 couples were included in the analysis.The mean±standard deviation(s.d.)age of women was 32.0±3.5 years.We categorized groups based on the post-wash TPMSC(×10^(6))levels in the first IUI cycle:group 1(0<TPMSC<1,n=1290),group 2(1≤TPMSC<2,n=863),group 3(2≤TPMSC<3,n=800),group 4(3≤TPMSC<4,n=783),group 5(4≤TPMSC<5,n=1541),group 6(5≤TPMSC<6,n=522),group 7(6≤TPMSC<7,n=547),group 8(7≤TPMSC<8,n=175),group 9(8≤TPMSC<9,n=556),group 10(9≤TPMSC<10,n=192),and group 11(TPMSC≥10,n=1021).The primary outcome was live birth rate of the second IUI cycle.Live birth rates were 7.9%,5.8%,7.6%,7.4%,7.3%,8.4%,7.5%,7.4%,8.8%,8.9%,and 7.6%in each group,respectively.There were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates or live birth rates between any groups and those with the post-wash TPMSC<1×10^(6).In an IUI program for unexplained and mild male factor infertility,the post-wash TPMSC in the first IUI cycle was not significantly associated with the live birth rate in the second IUI cycle.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32171264 and No.81974226)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2023NSFSC1609)。
文摘According to the World Health Organization(WHO)manual,sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer,while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment.However,in China,thousands of laboratories do not use the improved Neubauer hemocytometer or method;instead,the Makler counting chamber is one of the most widely used chambers.To study sources of error that could impact the measurement of the apparent concentration and motility of sperm using the Makler counting chamber and to verify its accuracy for clinical application,67 semen samples from patients attending the Department of Andrology,West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University(Chengdu,China)between 13 September 2023 and 27 September 2023,were included.Compared with applying the cover glass immediately,delaying the application of the cover glass for 5 s,10 s,and 30 s resulted in average increases in the sperm concentration of 30.3%,74.1%,and 107.5%,respectively(all P<0.0001)and in the progressive motility(PR)of 17.7%,30.8%,and 39.6%,respectively(all P<0.0001).However,when the semen specimens were fixed with formaldehyde,a delay in the application of the cover glass for 5 s,10 s,and 30 s resulted in an average increase in the sperm concentration of 6.7%,10.8%,and 14.6%,respectively,compared with immediate application of the cover glass.The accumulation of motile sperm due to delays in the application of the cover glass is a significant source of error with the Makler counting chamber and should be avoided.
文摘Bioconvection plays an inevitable role in introducing sustainable and environment-friendly fuel cell technologies.Bio-mathematical modelling of such designs needs continuous refinements to achieve strong agreements in experimental and computational results.Actually,microorganisms transport a miscellaneous palette of ingredients in manufacturing industrial goods particularly in fertilizer industries.Heat transfer characteristics of molecular structure are measured by a physical phenomenon which is allied with the transpiration of heat within matter.Motivated by bioinspired fuel cells involved in near-surface flow phenomena,in the present article,we examine the transverse swimming of motile gyrotactic microorganisms numerically in a rheological Jeffery fluid near a stretching wall.The leading physical model is converted in a nonlinear system of ODEs through proper similarity alterations.A numerical technique called shooting method with R-K Fehlberg is applied via mathematical software and graphical presentations are obtained.The influence of all relative physical constraints on velocity,temperature,concentration,and volume fraction of gyrotactic microorganisms is expressed geometrically.It is found that heat and mass flux at the surface as well as density of motile microorganism’s declines for Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameter.Comparison in tabular form is made with existing literature to validate the results for limiting cases with convective boundary conditions.
文摘Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm(IUI-D)is an assisted reproductive technology(ART)offered to couples with definitive male infertility or risk of genetic disease transmission.Here,we sought to evaluate our practice in IUI-D and identify factors that influenced the success rate.We performed a retrospective,single-center study of all IUI-D procedures performed at Lille University Medical Center(Lille,France)between January 1,2007,and December 31,2017.Single and multivariate analyses with a mixed logistic model were used to identify factors associated with clinical pregnancies and live births.We included 322 couples and 1179 IUI-D procedures.The clinical pregnancy rate was 23.5%,and the live birth rate was 18.9%per IUI-D.In a multivariate analysis,the women’s age was negatively associated with the live birth rate.The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor associated with both clinical pregnancies and live births,with a chosen threshold of 0.75 million.The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were,respectively,17.3%and 13.0%below the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold and 25.9%and 21.0%at or above the threshold(all P=0.005).The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor that significantly influenced both pregnancies and live-birth rates after IUI-D.Indeed,below a threshold of 0.75 million motile spermatozoa inseminated,those rates were significantly lower.Application of this number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold may help centers to allocate donations more effectively while maintaining reasonable waiting times for patients.
基金the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Research Groups Program under grant number(R.G.P.2/66/40)。
文摘The current article investigates the impact of the bioconvection in an unsteady flow of magnetized Cross nanofluid with gyrotactic microorganisms and activation energy over a linearly stretched configuration.The analysis has been performed by utilizing the realistic Wu's slip boundary and zero mass flux conditions.The effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and the activation energy are also addressed.The governing flow equations are deduced to a dimensionless form by considering suitable transformations which are numerically targeted via a shooting algorithm.The physical visualization of each physical parameter governing the flow problem has been displayed graphically for distribution of velocity,temperature,concentration and motile microorganisms.The numerical treatment for the variation of skin friction coefficient,local Nusselt number,local Sherwood number and motile density number is performed in tabular forms.
文摘Oxidative stress(OS)is detri me ntal to sperm fun ctio ns,and the oxidation reductio n pote ntial(ORP)is a good measure of OS as it considers the balance betwee n oxidants and reducta nts.Total motile sperm count(TMSC)is viewed as the single most im porta nt semen analysis parameter that can predict male infertility severity,and its correlation with ORP has never been undertaken.The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between ORP and TMSC,to identify the ORP cutoff value based on the TMSC result,and to compare this cutoff value with previously reported ORP cutoff values in literature.One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight infertile patients and 100 fertile controls were enrolled.Demographic and semen data of the participants were retrieved and analyzed.Wilcox on's rank-sum test compared variables betwee n infertile men and fertile controls;Spearman's correlation assessed the static ORP(sORP)-TMSC relationship for the whole sample and among each group individually.Using a 20×10^6TMSC threshold,receiver operator characteristic(ROC)analysis determined the sORP cutoff associated with the highest predictive values.TMSC was significantly negatively correlated with sORP across all participants(r=0.86,P<0.001),among infertile patients(r=0.729,P<0.001),and among fertile controls(r=0.53,P<0.001).A 20-million TMSC threshold determined an sORP cutoff value of 2.34 mV/106sperm/ml to be associated with 82.9%sensitivity,82.8%specificity,91.5%positive predictive value(PPV),68.5%negative predictive value(NPV),and 82.9%overall accuracy.Compared with previously reported cutoff values in searched literature,the 2.34 mV/10^6sperm/ml cutoff value identified in our study yielded the highest overall diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of in fertile men.
文摘Infertility is often cited as one of the causes of a declining birthrate, which has become a serious social problem in recent years. Processes by which motile sperm can be safely and easily sorted are therefore important for infertility treatment. Therefore, as a new sorting method, microfluidic sperm sorter using the microfluidic system has been developed. To improve more separation efficiency of this device, it is necessary to know the behaviors of motile sperm in the microchannel where the sperm undergo shear flow. The previous study implied the necessity of the modeling of motile sperm in the shear flow. In the present study, therefore, we experimentally investigated the behavior of the motile sperm in the Taylor-Couette flow using PTV (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) method. The experimental results showed that the ascent of the shear stress led to the increase in the sperm velocity, and the direction of the sperm velocity was opposite to that of the flow.
基金a grant from the Israeli Science Foundation (ISF) 401/09
文摘Plant organelles are highly motile, with speed values of 3-71μm/s in cells of land plants and about 20-60 μm/s in characean algal cells. This movement is believed to be important for rapid distribution of materials around the cell, for the plant＇s ability to respond to environmental biotic and abiotic signals and for proper growth. The main machinery that propels motility of organelles within plant cells is based on the actin cytoskeleton and its motor proteins the myosins.Most plants express multiple members of two main classes： myosin VIII and myosin XI. While myosin VIII has been characterized as a slow motor protein, myosins from class XI were found to be the fastest motor proteins known in all kingdoms. Paradoxically, while it was found that myosins from class XI regulate most organelle movement, it is not quite clear how or even if these motor proteins attach to the organelles whose movement they regulate.
文摘Dear Editor,Historically,dipeptidyl peptidase 4(DPP4),found in alveolar regions,has been recognized as the primary receptor for several merbecoviruses like MERS-CoV(Meyerholz et al.,2016).However,angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2),highly expressed in the motile cilia of human airway epithelial cells(Sungnak et al.,2020),has been identified as the functional receptor for sarbecoviruses(e.g.,SARS-CoV-2,SARS-CoV)and setracoviruses(e.g.,HCoV-NL63).Recent studies have shown that some bat-circulating MERS-related coronaviruses(MERSr-CoVs),such as MOW15-22,PnNL2018B and HKU5,can use ACE2 to enter cells(Ma et al.,2025;Park et al.,2025).Even more worrying is that one novel bat-infecting merbecovirus HKU5-CoV lineage 2(BtHKU5-CoV-2)has been reported to use human ACE2 as a cell entry receptor(Chen et al.,2025).These ACE2-utilizing merbecoviruses expand the diversity,geographic distribution,and transmission potential of coronaviruses,posing a significant threat of spillover to humans.If an ACE2-utilizing MERSr-CoV acquire the high lethality of MERS-CoV and the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 using ACE2 as a receptor,it could trigger a global pandemic with catastrophic consequences for humanity.Therefore,it is essential to evaluate serological cross-reactivity in sera from SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals against ACE2-using MERSr-CoVs,and urgent to develop preventive vaccines and pan-coronavirus antivirals confront the potential threat(Jiang and Wu,2025).
文摘Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population.However,to date,which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate.The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether certain preintervention sperm parameters are predictive of successful varicocele repair,defined as an improvement in total motile sperm count(TMSC).We performed a retrospective study on 111 patients with varicocele who had undergone varicocele repair,collected from the Department of Endocrinology,Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition,University of Catania(Catania,Italy),and the Unit of Urology at the Selcuk University School of Medicine(Konya,Türkiye).The predictive analysis was conducted through the use of the Brain Project,an innovative tool that allows a complete and totally unbiased search of mathematical expressions that relate the object of study to the various parameters available.Varicocele repair was considered successful when TMSC increased by at least 50% of the preintervention value.For patients with preintervention TMSC below 5×10^(6),improvement was considered clinically relevant when the increase exceeded 50% and the absolute TMSC value was>5×10^(6).From the preintervention TMSC alone,we found a model that predicts patients who appear to benefit little from varicocele repair with a sensitivity of 50.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.Varicocele grade and serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)levels did not play a predictive role,but it should be noted that all patients enrolled in this study were selected with intermediate-or high-grade varicocele and normal FSH levels.In conclusion,preintervention TMSC is predictive of the success of varicocele repair in terms of TMSC improvement in patients with intermediate-or high-grade varicoceles and normal FSH levels.
文摘BACKGROUND Simulated microgravity environment can lead to gastrointestinal motility disturbance.The pathogenesis of gastrointestinal motility disorders is closely related to the stem cell factor(SCF)/c-kit signaling pathway associated with intestinal flora and Cajal stromal cells.Moreover,intestinal flora can also affect the regulation of SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,thus affecting the expression of Cajal stromal cells.Cajal cells are the pacemakers of gastrointestinal motility.AIM To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium lactis(B.lactis)BLa80 on the intestinal flora of rats in simulated microgravity and on the gastrointestinal motility-related SCF/c-kit pathway.METHODS The internationally recognized tail suspension animal model was used to simulate the microgravity environment,and 30 rats were randomly divided into control group,tail suspension group and drug administration tail suspension group with 10 rats in each group for a total of 28 days.The tail group was given B.lactis BLa80 by intragastric administration,and the other two groups were given water intragastric administration,the concentration of intragastric administration was 0.1 g/mL,and each rat was 1 mL/day.Hematoxylin&eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in each segment of the intestine of each group,and the expression levels of SCF,c-kit,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)and p-ERK in the gastric antrum of each group were detected by Western blotting and PCR.The fecal flora and mucosal flora of rats in each group were detected by 16S rRNA.RESULTS Simulated microgravity resulted in severe exfoliation of villi of duodenum,jejunum and ileum in rats,marked damage,increased space between villi,loose arrangement,shortened columnar epithelium of colon,less folds,narrower mucosal thickness,reduced goblet cell number and crypts,and significant improvement after probiotic intervention.Simulated microgravity reduced the expressions of SCF and c-kit,and increased the expressions of ERK and P-ERK in the gastric antrum of rats.However,after probiotic intervention,the expressions of SCF and ckit were increased,while the expressions of ERK and P-ERK were decreased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).In addition,simulated microgravity can reduce the operational taxonomic unit(OTU)of the overall intestinal flora of rats,B.lactis BLa80 can increase the OTU of rats,simulated microgravity can reduce the overall richness and diversity of stool flora of rats,increase the abundance of firmicutes in stool flora of rats,and reduce the abundance of Bacteroides in stool flora of rats,most of which are mainly beneficial bacteria.Simulated microgravity can increase the overall richness and diversity of mucosal flora,increase the abundance of Bacteroides and Desulphurides in the rat mucosal flora,and decrease the abundance of firmicutes,most of which are proteobacteria.After probiotics intervention,the overall Bacteroidetes trend in simulated microgravity rats was increased.CONCLUSION B.lactis BLa80 can ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury,regulate intestinal flora,inhibit ERK expression,and activate the SCF/c-kit signaling pathway,which may have a facilitating effect on gastrointestinal motility in simulated microgravity rats.
基金supported by the Anhui Province Scientific Research Planning Project(No.2023AH050851 and No.2022AH050438)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81904095,No.82205274 and No.82101483)+2 种基金Research Project of Xin’an Medical and Chinese Medicine Modernization Research Institute(No.2023CXMMTCM016)Anhui University of Chinese Medicine 2018–2019 High-level Talents Introduction Support Plan(No.2019rcyb002)Excellent Youth Project of Anhui Universities of China(No.2022AH030065).
文摘Objective Acupuncture therapies are known for their effectiveness in treating a variety of gastric diseases,although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood.This study tested the effectiveness of electroacupuncture(EA)at acupoints Zhongwan(RN12)and Weishu(BL21)for managing gastric motility disorder(GMD)and investigated the underlying mechanisms involved.Methods A GMD model was used to evaluate the impact of EA on various aspects of gastric function including the amplitude of gastric motility,electrogastrogram,food intake,and the rate of gastric emptying.Immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore the activation of spinal neurons by EA,specifically examining the presence of cholera toxin B subunit(CTB)-positive neurons and fibers emanating from acupoints RN12 and BL21.The stimulation ofγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-ergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn,the inhibition of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn,and their collective effects on the activity of sympathetic nerves were examined.Results EA at RN12 and BL21 significantly improved gastric motility compromised by GMD.Notably,EA activated spinal neurons,with CTB-positive neurons and fibers from RN12 and BL21 being detectable in both the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal dorsal horn.Further analysis revealed that EA at these acupoints not only stimulated GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn but also suppressed sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn,effectively reducing excessive activity of sympathetic nerves triggered by GMD.Conclusion EA treatment at RN12 and BL21 effectively enhances gastric motility in a GMD model.The therapeutic efficacy of this approach is attributed to the activation of spinal neurons and the modulation of the spinal GABAergic-sympathetic pathway,providing a neurobiological foundation for the role of acupuncture in treating gastric disorders.
基金Supported by The University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka,Research Council Grant No.G23.
文摘BACKGROUND Overweight children exhibit a higher prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders compared with their normal-weight peers,yet the underlying reasons remain unclear.Gastrointestinal motility,a key pathophysiological factor in functional gastrointestinal disorders,may be influenced by body mass index(BMI).AIM To evaluate the impact of BMI on gastric motility parameters in children with functional abdominal pain disorders(FAPDs).METHODS We assessed gastric motility in 176 children with FAPDs(61.4%females,mean age 7.94 years,SD 1.96 years)and 63 healthy controls(57.1%females,mean age 9.17 years,SD 1.90 years)at the Gastroenterology Research Laboratory,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka.FAPDs were diagnosed and subtyped using the Rome IV criteria:Functional abdominal pain 97 patients;irritable bowel syndrome 39 patients,functional dyspepsia(FD)25 patients;and abdominal migraine 15 patients.Gastric motility was measured using a validated ultrasound method.Weight and height were measured using sensitive standard scales.RESULTS The BMIs of children with FAPDs and controls were 15.04 and 15.46 kg/m^(2),respectively(P=0.33).Fasting antral area(FAA)and antral area at 1 min(AA1)and 15 min(AA15)were significantly greater in patients with FAPD with a higher BMI(2.71 cm^(2),12.57 cm^(2),and 7.19 cm^(2),respectively)compared with those with a lower BMI(2.12 cm^(2),10.68 cm^(2),and 6.13 cm^(2),respectively)(P<0.01).BMI positively correlated with FAA and AA15(r=0.18 and r=0.19,respectively)(P<0.01)in those with FAPDs.In controls,only AA1 was greater in the higher BMI group(12.51 cm^(2)vs 9.93 cm^(2))and had a positive correlation(r=0.33)(P≤0.01).Subgroup analysis revealed that in patients with FD,BMI negatively correlated with gastric emptying rate(GER)(r=-0.59)and antral motility index(MI)(r=-0.49),while in functional abdominal pain,MI positively correlated(r=0.25)with BMI(P≤0.01).CONCLUSION In children with FAPDs,higher BMI was associated with increased gastric antral distention during fasting and postprandial periods(as indicated by FAA,AA1,and AA15)but not with contractility and transit(MI,GER).However,in the FD subgroup,high BMI correlated with reduced GER and MI.This indicates the possible role of BMI in gastric hypomotility and the pathophysiology of FD.These findings underscore the importance of lifestyle and dietary interventions aimed at optimizing BMI in the management of FAPDs,particularly FD.
文摘Background Konjac oligosaccharide(KOS),which is produced through the degradation of konjac glucomannan via enzymatic,chemical,or physical treatments,has been found to have laxative effects.The current study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the laxative effect of KOS.Methods KOS was administered by gavage to wild-type and 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor(5-HT4R)-knockout C57BL/6 mice subjected to loperamide-induced constipation for four weeks.Following treatment,feces,blood,small intestine,colonic tissue,and intestinal contents were collected.Constipation-related parameters,gastrointestinal hormones,and Ca2+concentrations were evaluated.Histopathological changes were examined via hematoxylin and eosin staining.Immunofluorescence staining,Western blotting,and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the 5-HT4R/cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)/protein kinase A(PKA)pathway.Isolated smooth muscle cells(SMCs)were treated with KOS and GR113808(a 5-HT4R antagonist),morphologically observed under an inverted microscope,and identified byα-SMA immunofluorescence staining.Cell viability was assessed via CCK-8 assays.5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB pathway activity in SMCs was detected via Western blotting.Results KOS alleviated loperamide-induced constipation in mice.KOS activated the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB pathway in loperamide-induced constipated mice.The protective effect of KOS was significantly diminished in 5-HT4R−/−mice.KOS promoted the proliferation of SMCs by activating the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB signaling pathway.Conclusion KOS improves loperamide-induced constipation by activating the 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB signaling pathway.
基金Supported by Guiding Project of Shiyan City,Hubei Province in 2022(22Y30).
文摘[Objectives]To investigate the effects of Visceral Manipulation combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery,and to evaluate its impacts on inflammatory stress response,gastrointestinal motility recovery,and blood oxygen levels.[Methods]A prospective randomized controlled design was adopted.Eighty patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected and randomly divided into an observation group(40 cases)and a control group(40 cases).The observation group received Visceral Manipulation therapy in addition to routine Enhanced Recovery after Surgery care,while the control group received only routine Enhanced Recovery after Surgery care.Clinical indicators,inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-6,hs-CRP),traumatic stress hormones(cortisol,epinephrine,norepinephrine),gastrointestinal motility indicators(GAS,MTL,GIP),and blood oxygen levels were measured and compared between the two groups on postoperative days 1,5,and 10.[Results]The observation group showed significantly better outcomes in postoperative abdominal distension,time to first flatus and defecation,and hospital stay compared to the control group(P<0.05).Inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-6,hs-CRP),traumatic stress hormones(cortisol,epinephrine,norepinephrine),and gastrointestinal motility indicators(GAS,MTL,GIP)were significantly improved in the observation group(P<0.05).Postoperative blood oxygen levels were also significantly higher in the observation group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Visceral Manipulation combined with Enhanced Recovery after Surgery can significantly improve postoperative recovery in gastrointestinal surgery patients,alleviate inflammatory stress responses,promote gastrointestinal functional recovery,and enhance blood oxygen levels,demonstrating promising clinical application prospects.
基金supported by Non-Profit Central Research Institute Fund of National Research Institute for Family Planning(No.2022GJZD01 and No.2022GJZD0101)Jiangxi Provincial Health Commission Science and Technology Program(No.202410288).
文摘Triclocarban(TCC)is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial widely used in various personal care products,textiles,and children’s toys.TCC has potential reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals.However,little is known regarding the effect of TCC on human sperm function.In this study,an in vitro assay was used to investigate the effects of TCC on normal human spermatozoa and the possible underlying mechanisms involved.Semen from healthy male donors was collected and cultured in complete Biggers,Whitten and Whittingham(BWW)and low-sugar BWW media,followed by treatment with TCC at concentrations of 0,0.1μmol l^(−1),1μmol l^(−1),10μmol l^(−1),and 100μmol l^(−1) for 4 h.TCC was found to reduce the sperm total motility and progressive motility.Moreover,the sperm kinematic parameters,straight-line velocity(VSL),average path velocity(VAP),and curvilinear velocity(VCL)were affected in a dose-dependent manner.After treatment with TCC at the lowest effective concentration of 10μmol l^(−1),TCC caused a significant decrease in mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate(ATP)production and mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)and a significant increase in reactive oxygen species(ROS),similar to the observations with the positive control carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone(FCCP),suggesting that TCC may decrease sperm motility by affecting the oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)pathway.In a sugar-free and low-sugar BWW culture environment,TCC enhanced the damaging effect on sperm motility and ATP,MMP,and lactate decreased significantly,suggesting that TCC may also affect the glycolytic pathway that supplies energy to spermatozoa.This study demonstrates a possible mechanism of TCC toxicity in spermatozoa involving both the OXPHOS and glycolysis pathways.
基金Supported by Clinical Key Project of Peking University Third Hospital,No.BYSY2023049Funding from State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion,Center for Reproductive Medicine,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Peking University Third Hospital,No.BYSYSZKF2023027.
文摘Postoperative ileus(POI)remains a prevalent and significant challenge following abdominal surgeries,precipitating patient distress,prolonged hospital stays,and escalated medical expenditures.Conventionally addressed via pharmacological interventions,POI is increasingly being explored through adjunctive therapeutic strategies,with acupuncture gaining recognition as a promising option.Acupuncture has demonstrated encouraging potential in promoting gastrointestinal motility in patients with POI.Moreover,recent research has shed light on the therapeutic mechanisms underlying its efficacy.This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of acupuncture as a treatment for POI,highlighting advancements in clinical research and recent elucidations of its mechanistic underpinnings.It aspires to contribute a pivotal reference point for scholars and enthusiasts keen on garnering a deeper understanding of acupuncture’s role in managing POI.
文摘Zhang et al delivered a paradigm-shifting understanding of electroacupuncture(EA)’s action in diabetic gastroparesis through a well-defined vagal pathway.Their work bridged traditional acupuncture and modern neurogastroenterology,highlighting EA as a viable strategy for refractory diabetic gastroparesis.The study integrated electrophysiology(gastric slow-wave recordings),functional assays(phenol red gastric emptying,and intestinal propulsion),dynamic positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging,histopathology,and molecular biology(Western blot,immunofluorescence,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).This comprehensive approach robustly confirmed EA’s efficacy in restoring gastric motility,interstitial cells of Cajal function,and neuropeptide balance.Future studies should prioritize clinical translation and explore synergies with pharmacological agents.
文摘Moringa oleifera have laxative effects,but their active compositions and mechanisms are not very clear thus far.To this end,we systematically explored the active components and mechanism of M.oleifera leaves in relieving constipation by using the slow transit constipation(STC)mouse model and network pharmacology.The results of animal experiments showed that M.oleifera aqueous extract(MOA)had good laxative activity,and its 70%alcohol soluble part(ASP)also showed significant laxative activity(P<0.01).Network pharmacological prediction results suggested that L-phenylalanine(Phe)was the key compound of ASP,and it might relieve constipation through tachykinin receptor 1(TACR1)and three kinds of adrenergic receptors,includingα_(1A)(ADRA1A),α_(2A)(ADRA2A),andα_(2B)(ADRA2B).Further animal experiment results showed that Phe significantly promoted gastrointestinal motility.Phe may relieve STC by enhancing the release of substance P(SP)and upregulating the m RNA expression of TACR1 in the ileum.Importantly,Phe may also promote intestinal movement by downregulating the m RNA expression of ADRA2A and ADRA2B and upregulating the m RNA expression of Calm and the m RNA and protein expression of myosin light chain 9 in the ileum,thereby activating the G protein-coupled receptor-myosin light chain signaling pathway.These results lay a foundation for the application of M.oleifera and Phe in constipation.
