Given that ovarian stimulation is vital for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and results in elevated serum estrogen levels, exploring the impact of elevated estrogen exposure on oocytes and embryos is necessary. We investigated the effects of various ovarian stimulation treatments on oocyte and embryo morphology and gene expression using a mouse model and estrogen-treated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to two types of conventional ovarian stimulation and ovarian hyperstimulation; mice treated with only normal saline served as controls. Hyperstimulation resulted in high serum estrogen levels, enlarged ovaries, an increased number of aberrant oocytes, and decreased embryo formation. The messenger RNA (mRNA)‍-sequencing of oocytes revealed the dysregulated expression of lysine-specific demethylase 6b (Kdm6b), which may be a key factor indicating hyperstimulation-induced aberrant oocytes and embryos. In vitro, Kdm6b expression was downregulated in mESCs treated with high-dose estrogen; treatment with an estrogen receptor antagonist could reverse this downregulated expression level. Furthermore, treatment with high-dose estrogen resulted in the upregulated expression of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and phosphorylated H2A histone family member X (γ-H2AX). Notably, knockdown of Kdm6b and high estrogen levels hindered the formation of embryoid bodies, with a concomitant increase in the expression of H3K27me3 and γ-H2AX. Collectively, our findings revealed that hyperstimulation-induced high-dose estrogen could impair the demethylation of H3K27me3 by reducing Kdm6b expression. Accordingly, Kdm6b could be a promising marker for clinically predicting ART outcomes in patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Female ; Mice ; Demethylation/drug effects* ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Estrogens/administration & dosage* ; Gene Expression/drug effects* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oocytes ; Ovary/drug effects* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Animals

Environmental toxicants have been linked to aging and age-related diseases. The emerging evidence has shown that the enhancement of detoxification gene expression is a common transcriptome marker of long-lived mice, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Meanwhile, the resistance to toxicants was increased in long-lived animals. Here, we show that farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid (OCA), a marketed drug for the treatment of cholestasis, may extend the lifespan and healthspan both in C. elegans and chemical-induced early senescent mice. Furthermore, OCA increased the resistance of worms to toxicants and activated the expression of detoxification genes in both mice and C. elegans. The longevity effects of OCA were attenuated in Fxr ^-/- mice and Fxr homologous nhr-8 and daf-12 mutant C. elegans. In addition, metabolome analysis revealed that OCA increased the endogenous agonist levels of the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a major nuclear receptor for detoxification regulation, in the liver of mice. Together, our findings suggest that OCA has the potential to lengthen lifespan and healthspan by activating nuclear receptor-mediated detoxification functions, thus, targeting FXR may offer to promote longevity.

Interfering hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly holds promise as a therapeutic approach for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Novel anti-HBV agents are urgently needed to overcome drug resistance challenges, with targeted protein degradation (TPD) emerging as a hopeful strategy. Herein, we report the first degradation of HBV core protein (HBC), a multifunctional structural protein, using small-molecule degraders developed by hydrophobic tagging (HyT) technology. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis identified compound HyT-S7, featuring an adamantyl group, exhibiting potent inhibitory activity (EC₅₀ = 0.46 μmol/L, HepAD38 cells) and degradation ability (DC₅₀ = 3.02 ± 0.54 μmol/L) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the autophagy-lysosome pathway was a potential driver of HyT-S7-induced HBC degradation. Remarkably, HyT-S7 effectively degraded 11 drug-resistant mutants, including highly resistant strains P25G and T33N, to Phase III drug GLS4. Furthermore, cellular thermal shift assay, surface plasmon resonance assay, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed the precise mode of HyT-S7 binding to HBC with the adamantyl group potentially mimicking protein misfolding to facilitate HBC degradation. This first proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of HyT-mediated TPD in HBC as a promising avenue for discovering novel HBV and other antiviral agents with favorable drug resistance profiles.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Fuzheng Huaji Decoction against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The active ingredients and targets of Fuzheng Huaji Decoction were identified using TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction databases. NSCLC-related targets from GeneCards and PharmGKB were intersected with the targets of the Decoction, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify the core targets, which were analyzed with GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Cultured A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of Fuzheng Huaji Decoction-medicated serum, and the changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and protein expressions were examined using CCK-8 assay, annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: Fuzheng Huaji Decoction contained 140 active ingredients, and 707 drug-disease intersecting targets were identified. Among these targets, TP53, AKT1, HIF1A, GAPDH, ALB, EGFR, CTNNB1, and TNF were identified as the core targets which were involved in the biological processes related to kinases and receptors and the PI3K-AKT, Ras, calcium, and MAPK pathways. Molecular docking studies indicated strong binding affinity of the active ingredients with TP53, AKT1, and HIF1A. In cultured A549 cells, treatment with 2.5%, 5%, and 10% Fuzheng Huaji Decoction-medicated serum significantly inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and downregulated the expression levels of HIF1A, p-AKT (Thr308), and TP53 proteins. CONCLUSIONS Fuzheng Huaji Decoction inhibits proliferation of NSCLC cells possibly by downregulating the expressions of HIF1A, p-AKT (Thr308), and TP53.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; A549 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion is a special kind of compound injury, with low temperature, high permeability, high alkali, high salt content, and bacterial infection being the main causes. The injury is also characterized with complex damage mechanisms, difficulty to treat, and poor prognosis. At present, the damage mechanisms of craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion are mainly studied by establishing the experimental animal models at the levels of tissue, cell, organelle, molecule, etc. However, the craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion is more complex than the simple onshore craniocerebral injury, therefore, a stable disease model is not easy to construct. Most researches on the specific injury mechanisms are relatively single and one-sided, with many different views in existence, and the damage mechanisms of craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion have hitherto not been clear. The authors reviewed the research progress in the damage mechanisms of craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion, in order to promote the in-depth study of the mechanism of craniocerebral injury with seawater immersion and provide reference for its clinical treatment.

Objective Chlorination is often used to disinfect recreational water in large amusement parks;however,the health hazards of chlorination disinfection by-products(DBPs)to occupational populations are unknown.This study aimed to assess the exposure status of chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and the health risks to employees of large amusement parks. Methods Exposure parameters of employees of three large amusement parks in Shanghai were investigated using a questionnaire.Seven typical chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and spray samples were quantified by gas chromatography,and the health risks to amusement park employees exposed to chlorinated DBPs were evaluated according to the WHO's risk assessment framework. Results Trichloroacetic acid,dibromochloromethane,bromodichloromethane,and dichloroacetic acid were detected predominantly in recreational water.The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of the five DBPs did not exceed the risk thresholds.In addition,the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of mixed exposure to DBPs were within the acceptable risk limits. Conclusion Typical DBPs were widely detected in recreational water collected from three large amusement parks in Shanghai;however,the health risks of DBPs and their mixtures were within acceptable limits.

177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.

Lumbar interbody fusion is a surgical method for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. By establishing the stability of the lumbar segment, it solves the related symptoms caused by lumbar degenerative diseases. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF) is a mature technology for treating lumbar degenerative diseases and improving the stability of the lumbar segment. In recent years, the emergence of lumbar interbody fusion under the small-channel working tube has made it have more minimally invasive characteristics compared to MIS-TLIF, with smaller incisions, less bleeding, and shorter recovery time. However, due to its long operation time, low efficiency of endplate treatment, and high complications incidence rate, it has not been widely popularized. At present, the large-channel endoscopic system, because of its larger field of view under the endoscope and more efficient endoscopic operation tools, reduces the operation time, improves the efficiency of endplate treatment, and reduces the postoperative related complications incidence rate. According to the surgical approach, it can be divided into transforaminal approach, posterior approach, oblique anterior approach, etc. According to the channel mode, it can also be divided into uniaxial endoscopy and unilateral dual-channel endoscopy, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, the safety and effectiveness of spinal endoscopic posterior lumbar interbody fusion(Endo-PLIF) under the large-channel have achieved satisfactory results. This article reviews the research progress of Endo-PLIF under the large-channel, including surgical indications and contraindications, anatomical basis, surgical techniques, the choice of cages, the choice of fixation methods, safety and effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, and explores its clinical application and prospects.

Objective:To investigate the related risk factors of surgical appendectomy after endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) in children.Methods:From September 2019 to November 2023 at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University,the data from all related children with appendectomy after ERAT were analyzed. The general situation and main clinical manifestations of the children were collected. According to the effect of ERAT,the patients were divided into transfer to surgical group and appendicitis recurrence group by the reasons and time of transfer to surgical treatment. The indexes such as ERAT and reoperation process and pathological types of appendix after operation were collected,and the clinical experience was summarized.Results:Among the 242 children who underwent ERAT,32 cases underwent appendectomy again,including 19 males and 13 females,with an average age of（9.16±2.77）years,and the reoperation rate was 13.2%. The clinical manifestation was abdominal pain (32 cases,100.0%),mainly right lower abdominal pain (28 cases,87.5%),and the main duration was less than 3 months (30 cases,93.8%). Abdominal ultrasound or CT before ERAT mainly indicated appendicitis (11 cases,34.4%) and appendicitis complicated with appendiceal calculus (11 cases,34.4%). There were 9 children in transferred to surgical group,of which 5 cases were transferred to surgery because of ERAT intubation failure,and 4 cases were transferred to surgery because of appendix perforation or abscess. Postoperative pathology showed acute suppurative appendicitis in 5 cases and acute gangrenous appendicitis in 4 cases. There were 23 children in appendicitis recurrence group,whose abdominal pain was relieved after ERAT,but their symptoms were repeated after discharge. After clinical evaluation,they were diagnosed as recurrent appendicitis and underwent surgical appendectomy. Most of them were reoperated within 6 months after ERAT (21 cases,91.3%).Postoperative pathology was mainly chronic appendicitis (10 cases,43.5%).Conclusion:Acute suppurative appendicitis and acute gangrenous appendicitis are prone to catheterization or endoscopic failure during ERAT,and there is a high risk of surgical transfer. ERAT may relieve the symptoms of chronic appendicitis in children. If the symptoms are repeated,surgery is still needed to remove the appendix.