ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the ethanol extract of Epimedium brevicornu （EEBM） intervenes in mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells （ADSCs） to delay aging in castrated rats. MethodsForty-five 3-month-old SPF female SD rats were ovariectomized and randomly divided into model group， ADSCs treatment group， and ADSCs groups treated with low， medium， and high concentrations of EEBM （1， 50， 100 μg·L^-1）， referred to as the AE low， medium， and high concentration groups， with 9 rats in each group. After tail vein injection of 200 μL of the corresponding stem cell suspension， aging-related indicators including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor （p21）， tumor suppressor gene （p53）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3）， and lipofuscin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group， the IL-6 content in the AE low， medium， and high concentration groups was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Lipofuscin， MDA， and IL-8 levels in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low， medium， and high concentration groups were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while SOD content was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the ADSCs treatment group， lipofuscin and IL-8 levels in the AE low， medium， and high concentration groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The MDA content was significantly decreased in the AE medium concentration group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， protein levels of p21， p53， Bax， and Caspase-3 in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low， medium， and high concentration groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the ADSCs treatment group， protein levels of p21， p53， Bax， and Caspase-3 in the AE low， medium， and high concentration groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the Bcl-2 protein level in the AE low concentration group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionThe results of this experiment show that EEBM-treated ADSCs or ADSCs may delay aging in castrated rats by inhibiting cell apoptosis， reducing cell cycle inhibitors and pro-inflammatory factors， enhancing antioxidant capacity， and reducing oxidative reactions. Moreover， EEBM-treated ADSCs demonstrate stronger anti-aging effects than ADSCs alone. This study provides experimental evidence supporting the clinical use of EEBM to intervene in ADSCs and delay aging.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for the occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)in lean individuals and construct a risk prediction model.Methods Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database in the United States(from January 2017 to March 2020),1 123 adult individuals were included in this study.Then the participants were randomly divided into a training set(n=561)and a validation set(n=562)through simple random sampling.Data on their demographics,anthropometrics,lifestyle,underlying diseases,and laboratory test results were collected.LASSO regression analysis was used to screen potential variables in the training set,and multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify independent risk factors for lean MASLD.Based on these risk factors,a prediction model for lean MASLD was constructed(LMPM).To evaluate the clinical value of the LMPM,it was compared with two commonly used prediction models for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,the fatty liver index(FLI)and the hepatic steatosis index(HSI).The performance of the model was evaluated and internally validated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC),net reclassification index(NRI),integrated discrimination improvement(IDI),calibration curve,decision curve,and clinical impact curve.Results Age,waist circumference,and triglycerides(TG)were identified as independent risk factors for the development of MASLD in lean individuals.The LMPM,constructed based on these indicators,demonstrated good discriminative ability in both the training and validation sets,with AUC values of 0.86(95%CI:0.82～0.89)and 0.81(95%CI:0.77～0.85),respectively,which were significantly better than those of FLI[training set:AUC=0.83(95%CI:0.79～0.87);validation set:AUC=0.74(95%CI:0.70～0.79)]and HSI[training set:AUC=0.71(95%CI:0.66～0.76);validation set:AUC=0.71(95%CI:0.65～0.76)].Compared with FLI and HSI,the LMPM showed improvements in NRI and IDI in both the training and validation sets.The calibration curve demonstrated its high accuracy,and both the decision curve analysis and the clinical impact curve analysis indicated that the LMPM provided greater clinical benefits.Conclusion Age,waist circumference,and TG are independent risk factors for lean MASLD.Based on these factors,a prediction model,named LMPM,is developed to assess the risk of MASLD in lean individuals,which exhibits good predictive performance and has certain guiding significance for the timely identification of high-risk populations.

Infant formula milk powder(infant formula)contains a variety of fatty acids that require hydrolysis and derivation,and the calibration methods are complex and variable,affecting the accuracy of quantification.Using the gas chromatography with flame ionization detector(GC-FID)under internal standard and external standard calibration methods,the effects of using fatty acid methyl esters(FAMEs)and triacylglycerol(TAGs)as calibration solutions on determination of 19 kinds of fatty acids content in infant formula were compared in this work.Additionally,the differences in determination between the acetyl chloride methanol method and the hydrolysis extraction method using FAMEs as the calibration solution under internal standard method were also compared.The quantitative results of TAGs external standard quantitative method were significantly higher than those of FAMEs external standard quantitative method and FAMEs calibrator derived by methylation,and the deviation of quantitative results were 7%-20%and 2%-10%,respectively.The quantitative results of FAMEs calibrator added FAME internal standard were significantly higher than those of FAMEs calibrator added FAME internal standard derived from TAG methylation and FAMEs calibrator added TAG internal standard with methyl esterification,and the deviation of quantitative results were about 15%and 2%-5%,respectively.The results indicated that both the two methods of internal standard calibration using FAMEs as the calibration solution and external standard calibration using TAGs as the calibration solution could effectively eliminate the bias in the determination,with simple operation and accurate comparation of the results.However,the results were significantly lower under the external standard calibration using FAMEs as calibration solution.

ObjectiveTo analyze the data structure and standards of rehabilitation outpatient medical records, to provide data support for improving the quality of rehabilitation outpatient care and developing medical insurance payment policies. MethodsBased on the normative documents issued by the National Health Commission, Basic Standards for Medical Record Writing and Standards for Electronic Medical Record Sharing Documents, in accordance with the Quality Management Regulations for Outpatient (Emergency) Diagnosis and Treatment Information Pages (Trial), reference to the framework of the World Health Organization Family of International Classifications (WHO-FICs), the data framework and content of rehabilitation outpatient medical records were determined, and the data standards were discussed. ResultsThis study constructed a data framework for rehabilitation outpatient medical records, including four main components: patient basic information, visit process information, diagnosis and treatment information, and cost information. Three major reference classifications of WHO-FICs, International Classification of Diseases, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and International Classification of Health Interventions,were used to establish diagnostic standards and standardized terminology, as well as coding disease diagnosis, functional description, functional assessment, and rehabilitation interventions, to improve the quality of data reporting, and level of quality control in rehabilitation. ConclusionThe structuring and standardization of rehabilitation outpatient medical records are the foundation for sharing of rehabilitation data. The using of the three major classifications of WHO-FICs is valuable for the terminology and coding of disease diagnosis, functional description and assessment, and intervention in rehabilitation outpatient medical records, which is significant for sharing and interconnectivity of rehabilitation outpatient data, as well as for optimizing the quality and safety of rehabilitation medical services.

ObjectiveTo explore the standardization of inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet, encompassing its structure, content and data standards, to enhance the standardization level of inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet, improve data reporting quality, and provide accurate data support for medical insurance payment, hospital performance evaluation, and rehabilitation discipline evaluation. MethodsBased on the relevant specifications of the National Health Commission's Basic Norms for Medical Record Writing, Specifications for Sharing Documents of Electronic Medical Records, and Quality Management and Control Indicators for Inpatient Medical Record Summary Sheet (2016 Edition), this study analyzed the structure and content of the inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet. The study systematically applied the three major reference classifications of the World Health Organization Family of International Classifications, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10/ICD-11, ICD-9-CM-3), International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI Beta-3), for disease diagnosis, functional description and assessment, and rehabilitation intervention, forming a standardized terminology system and coding methods. ResultsThe inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet covered four major sections: inpatient information, hospitalization information, diagnosis and treatment information, and cost information. ICD-10/ICD-11 were the standards and coding tools for admission and discharge diagnoses in the inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet. The three functional assessment tools recommended by ICD-11, the 36-item version of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, Brief Model Disability Survey and Generic Functioning domains, as well as ICF, were used for rehabilitation functioning assessment and the coding of outcomes. ICHI Beta-3 and ICD-9-CM-3 were used for coding surgical procedures and operations in the medical record summary sheet, and also for coding rehabilitation intervention items. ConclusionThe inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet is a summary of the relevant content of the rehabilitation medical record and a tool for reporting inpatient rehabilitation data. It needs to be refined and optimized according to the characteristics of rehabilitation, with necessary data supplemented. The application of ICD-11/ICD-10, ICF and ICHI Beta-3/ICD-9-CM-3 classification standards would comprehensively promote the accuracy of inpatient diagnosis of diseases and functions. Based on ICD-11 and ICF, relevant functional assessment result data would be added, and ICHI Beta-3/ICD-9-CM-3 should be used to code rehabilitation interventions. Improving the quality of rehabilitation medical records and inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet is an important part of rehabilitation quality control, and also lays an evidence-based data foundation for the analysis and application of inpatient rehabilitation medical record summary sheet.

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze the epidemiological trends of birth defects in perinatal infants in Fengxian District, Shanghai from 2018 to 2022, so as to provide a scientific evidence for the formulation of related prevention and control strategies. MethodsBased on the data from the National Birth Defects Surveillance System, statistical analysis was conducted on the perinatal birth defects from monitored hospitals within the region from 2018 to 2022. ResultsFrom 2018 to 2022, a total of 20 870 perinatal infants delivered in the monitored hospitals in Fengxian District, with 472 cases with birth defects, showing a significant increase in the prevalence of birth defects (PRR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.39‒1.59). The risk of birth defects increased with maternal age, especially for advanced maternal age (PRR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.12‒2.25). Infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes had a higher prevalence of birth defects compared to those without gestational diabetes (PRR=1.99, 95%CI: 1.46‒2.70). Infants with birth defects were more likely to be born prematurely (PRR=2.07, 95%CI:1.56‒2.76). The top three types of birth defects were congenital heart disease (CHD), other anomalies of the external ear, and polydactyly. ConclusionThe prevalence of birth defects in Fengxian District monitored hospitals showed an upward trend from 2018 to 2022. Advanced maternal age and gestational diabetes were identified as risk factors for birth defects. CHD is the leading type of birth defect in Fengxian District over the five-year period. To reduce the prevalence of birth defects, it is crucial to implement comprehensive prevention and treatment measures for CHD.

Recently, male reproductive health has attracted extensive attention, with the adverse effects of circadian disruption on male fertility gradually gaining recognition. However, the mechanism by which circadian disruption leads to damage to male reproductive system remains unclear. In this review, we first summarized the dual regulatory roles of circadian clock genes on the male reproductive system: (1) circadian regulation of testosterone synthesis via the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes; (2) non-circadian regulation of spermatogenesis. Next, we further listed the possible mechanisms by which circadian disruption impairs male fertility, including interference with the oscillatory function of the reproductive system, i.e., synchronization of the HPT axis, crosstalk between the HPT axis and the HPA axis, as well as direct damage to germ cells by disturbing the non-oscillatory function of the reproductive system. Future research using spatiotemporal omics, epigenomic assays, and neural circuit mapping in studying the male reproductive system may provide new clues to systematically unravel the mechanisms by which circadian disruption affects male reproductive system through circadian clock genes.
Male ; Humans ; Animals ; Circadian Clocks/physiology* ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology* ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiology* ; Testis/physiology* ; Testosterone/biosynthesis* ; CLOCK Proteins ; Infertility, Male/physiopathology*

This study aims to investigate the potential effect of the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix on hypercholesterolemia in mice that was induced by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet and explore its possible mechanism from bile acid reabsorption. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the following groups: control, model, low-and high-dose(4 and 8 g·kg~(-1), respectively) fresh Rehmanniae Radix, and positive drug(simvastatin, 0.05 g·kg~(-1)). Other groups except the control group were fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 6 consecutive weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia. From the 6th week, mice were administrated with corresponding drugs daily via gavage for additional 6 weeks, while continuing to be fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-c), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-c), and total bile acid(TBA), as well as liver TC and TG levels and fecal TBA level, were determined by commercial assay kits. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, oil red O staining, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to observe the pathological changes in the liver. Three livers samples were randomly selected from each of the control, model, and high-dose fresh Rehmanniae Radix groups for high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were mined and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to predict the key pathways and target genes of the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. RT-qPCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(CYP7A1) and cholesterol 27α-hydroxylase(CYP27A1) in the liver. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of CYP7A1 and CYP27A1 in the liver as well as farnesoid X receptor(FXR), apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter(ASBT), and ileum bile acid-binding protein(I-BABP) in the ileum. The results showed that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix significantly lowered the levels of TC and TG in the serum and liver, as well as the level of LDL-c in the serum. Conversely, it elevated the level of HDL-c in the serum and TBA in feces. No significant difference was observed in the level of TBA in the serum among groups. HE staining, oil red O staining, and transmission electron microscopy showed that the water extract reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver. Further mechanism studies revealed that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix significantly down-regulated the protein levels of FXR and bile acid reabsorption-related proteins ASBT and I-BABP. Additionally, it enhanced CYP7A1 and CYP27A1, the key enzymes involved in bile acid synthesis. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the water extract of fresh Rehmanniae Radix may exert an anti-hypercholesterolemic effect by regulating FXR/ASBT/I-BABP signaling, inhibiting bile acid reabsorption, and increasing bile acid excretion, thus facilitating the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.
Animals ; Male ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Hypercholesterolemia/genetics* ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/genetics* ; Rehmannia/chemistry* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Humans ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Plant Extracts

This study aims to explore the effects and action mechanisms of the active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), namely tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) and hydroxy-safflor yellow A(HSYA), on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of microglia(MG). Network pharmacology was used to screen the effective monomer ingredients of BYHWD and determine the safe concentration range for each component. Inflammation and oxidative stress models were established to further screen the best ingredient combination and optimal concentration ratio with the most effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. OGD/R BV2 cell models were constructed, and BV2 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into a normal group, a model group, an HSYA group, a TMP group, and an HSYA + TMP group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6). Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO), and malondialdehyde(MDA), were also measured. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of both inflammation-related pathway [Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)] and oxidative stress-related pathway [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)]. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginase-1(Arg-1). The most effective ingredients for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in BYHWD were TMP and HSYA. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, along with significantly higher protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and significantly lower SOD levels. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Compared to the model group, both the HSYA group and the TMP group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, lower expression of NF-κB and TLR4 proteins, higher levels of SOD, and significantly increased protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was significantly reduced, while the expression of the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 was significantly increased. The results of the HSYA group and the TMP group had statistically significant differences from those of the model group. Compared to the HSYA group and the TMP group, the HSYA + TMP group showed further significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA levels, along with significant reductions in NF-κB and TLR4 protein expression, an increase in SOD levels, and elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was reduced, while the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 expression increased significantly in the HSYA + TMP group compared to the TMP or HSYA group. The differences in the results were statistically significant between the HSYA + TMP group and the TMP or HSYA group. The findings indicated that the combined use of HSYA and TMP, the active ingredients of BYHWD, can effectively inhibit OGD/R-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of MG, showing superior effects compared to the individual use of either component.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Pyrazines/pharmacology* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Humans