Objective This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among Chinese reproductive-age women toward uterine adenomyosis. Methods This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and September 2023 at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of reproductive-age women, and assess their KAP toward uterine adenomyosis. Results A total of 520 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 127 (24.42%) were diagnosed with uterine adenomyosis, and 120 (23.08%) were accompanied by uterine fibroids. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 3.54 ± 3.72 (possible range:0–10), 20.96 ± 3.19 (possible range:5–25) and 24.01 ± 4.95 (possible range:7–35), respectively. The structural equation model demonstrated that knowledge had direct effects on attitudes and practices, as indicated by a path coefficient of 0.714 ( p < 0.001) and 1.510 ( p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, attitudes had direct effects on practices, with a path coefficient of 0.226 ( p = 0.001). Conclusion The findings revealed that reproductive-age women have insufficient knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor practices toward the uterine adenomyosis. Comprehensive training programs are needed to improve reproductive-age women practices in this area.
Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the leading causes of vascular disease, producing high morbidity and mortality in many countries. Autophagy plays an important role when cells are facing serious circumstances, such as oxidative stress induced by Ox-LDL (oxidized low-density lipoprotein). Recent studies have revealed that DEX (dexamethasone acetate) and RAPA (rapamycin) exhibit efficient AS therapeutic ability by protecting endothelial cells and killing foam cells, respectively. Herein, we hypothesize that combining DEX and RAPA together in a specific nanocarrier system can achieve better AS therapy while limiting harmful effects. As a proof of concept, DEX and RAPA coloaded mPEG 2k -DSPE calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles (DR-NPs) were prepared by using a biomineralization method. DR-NPs increased HUVEC survival and induced foam cell apoptosis in vitro , which were correlated with autophagy activity. DR-NPs efficiently aggregated at AS plaques in the carotid artery and abdominal artery in ApoE – / – mice 24 h after i.v. injection. Moreover, DR-NPs exhibited excellent plaque regression ability, with smaller necrotic cores and lipid core areas observed after in vivo treatment. Furthermore, the function of vascular endothelial cells was largely promoted, as evidenced by the dramatically decreased expression levels of adhesion factors, such as MMP-2, MMP-9 and ICAM-1. Consequently, DR-NPs can act as an effective AS therapeutic agent and broaden the AS therapeutic approach by inducing autophagy.
Objective To investigate the effects of mechanical stretch on the pelvic floor dysfunction and study the regulation of mechanical stretch on the morphology and extracellular matrix mRNA expression of fibroblasts derived from human uterosacral ligament.Methods 13 patients who underwent hysterectomy surgery due to uterine benign diseases in the Obstetric and Gynecological Department of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from October 2009 to September 2010 and had no pelvic organ prolapse were recruited in this study.Fibroblasts of uterosacral ligament were cultured by collagenase digestion and identified by morphology and immunocytochemical methods.Fibroblasts of 3 ～ 4 generations were stretched by flexcell-4000 tension system for 0,4,15,24 hours.Total RNA was extracted from the fibroblasts and mRNA of Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ,matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprot einase-1were measured with real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results In response to mechanical stretch,the morphology and orientation of the uterosacral ligament fibroblasts were changed as well as their synthetic function.Collagen Ⅰ mRNA for 4 or 15 hours' stretch (0.777 ± 0.251,0.730 ± 0.248)were statistically down regulated compared with 0 hour ( 1.000 ±0.284),( q =4.5786,4.6458,p ＜0.05).But for 24 hours'stretch,the mRNA expression ( 1.102 ±0.308) of collagen Ⅰ restored to the level of 0 hours.The expressions of collagen Ⅲ mRNA for 4,15,24 hours' stretch (4.771 ± 0.879,6.146 ± 1.109,5.022 ± 0.907 )were statistically up regulated compared with 0 hour (1.001 ± 0.284),(q =15.9481,21.7647,17.0099,P ＜ 0.01 ).MMP-1mRNA for 4,15,24 hours' stretch (6.420 ± 2.143,23.695 ± 2.221,20.169 ±2.794) were statistically up regulated compared with 0 hour ( 1.000 ±0.414),( q =9.3421,39.1178,33.0403,P ＜ 0.01 ).TIMP-1 mRNA for 4,15 hours' stretch (0.455 ± 0.370,0.481 ± 0.386)were statistically down regulated compared with 0 hour( 1.000 ± 0.425 ),( q =6.5265,6.3106,P ＜0.05).But for 24 hours'stretch,the mRNA expression( 0.883 ± 0.538 ) restored to the level of 0 hours.Conclusions The morphology,orientation and the synthesis function of the uterosacral ligament fibroblasts can be regulated by mechanical stress.Extracellular matrix remodeling may be adaptive changes due to the mechanical stress.
Key words:
Mechanics; Sacrum; Ligaments/CY ; Fibroblasts/CY/ME; Extracellular matrix/ME
Legume root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonium through symbiosis with a prokaryotic microsymbiont broadly called rhizobia. Auxin signaling is required for determinant nodule development; however, the molecular mechanism of auxin-mediated nodule formation remains largely unknown. Here, we show in soybean (Glycine max) that the microRNA miR167 acts as a positive regulator of lateral root organs, namely nodules and lateral roots. miR167c expression was up-regulated in the vasculature, pericycle, and cortex of soybean roots following inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA110 (the microsymbiont). It was found to positively regulate nodule numbers directly by repressing the target genes GmARF8a and GmARF8b (homologous genes of Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana] AtARF8 that encode auxin response factors). Moreover, the expression of miR167 and its targets was up- and down-regulated by auxin, respectively. The miR167-GmARF8 module also positively regulated nodulation efficiency under low microsymbiont density, a condition often associated with environmental stress. The regulatory role of miR167 on nodule initiation was dependent on the Nod factor receptor GmNFR1α, and it acts upstream of the nodulation-associated genes NODULE INCEPTION, NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY1, EARLY NODULIN40-1, NF-YA1 (previously known as HAEM ACTIVATOR PROTEIN2-1), and NF-YA2. miR167 also promoted lateral root numbers. Collectively, our findings establish a key role for the miR167-GmARF8 module in auxin-mediated nodule and lateral root formation in soybean.
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