Objective:To explore the clinical and pathological features and survival outcomes of patients with early-onset intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EOICC).Methods:This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Data of 1 160 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients undergoing radical resection in 14 tertiary Grade A hospitals in China from January 2010 to November 2021 were retrospectively collected. The cohort included 632 males and 528 females, aged( M (IQR)) 61 (14) years (range: 22 to 93 years). ICC aged ≤50 years at the time of diagnosis was defined as EOICC and >50 years as late-onset intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LOICC). Of these, there were 247 cases in the EOICC group and 913 cases in the LOICC. The clinical and pathological characteristics of both groups were analyzed and compared using the independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models for patient outcomes were constructed and forest graphed. Results:Compared with the patients in the LOICC group, patients in the EOICC group had lower carcinoembryonic antigen levels (2.5(4.0) μg/L vs. 3.1(5.2)μg/L, U=124 899, P=0.009) and CA19-9 level (63.4(524.7)U/ml vs. 77.9(611.3)U/ml, U=120 320, P=0.013), higher levels of ALT (29(35)U/L vs. 24(26)U/L, U=101 214, P=0.013), a lower score of the Eastern US Cooperative Oncology Group (0 score patients: 54.7% vs. 44.1%, χ2=12.472, P=0.014), higher TNM stage ( χ2=11.807, P=0.038), and proportion of lymph node dissection (62.3% vs. 54.1%, χ2=5.355, P=0.021). Patients in the two groups in sex, first diagnosis symptoms, intrahepatic bile duct stone history, nail protein, albumin, total bilirubin, transaminase, liver function Child-Pugh grade, T stage, stage, N stage, preoperative laparoscopic exploration proportion, tumor diameter, vascular invasion proportion, differentiation, margin, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital days were no statistical significance (all P>0.05). Patients in the EOICC group had better outcomes than the LOICC group (median survival time: 29.7 months vs. 25.0 months, 3-year overall survival: 45.1% vs. 37.8%, P=0.027). Conclusion:EOICC patients are better than LOICC patients in carcinoembryonic antigen, CA19-9, ALT, physical strength status and TNM stage, and the long-term prognosis is also better than LOICC patients.

The present study employed UPLC-MS/MS to analyze and identify compounds in the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules. An HPLC method for the determination of vitexin content was established. The analysis of this drug was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm) column, with the mobile phase comprising 0.2% formic acid-methanol flowing at 0.3 mL /min in a gradient elution manner. Mass spectrometry was detected by ESI sources in both positive and negative ion modes for qualitative identification of chemical constituents. 12 flavonoid and 3 stilbenes compounds in the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules were successfully identified. Additionally, an HPLC method for the determination of vitexin content was established using a XBridge C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase of 0.05% glacial acetic acid in methanol for gradient elution, at a column temperature of 30 °C, a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and an injection volume of 20 μL. The method demonstrated good linearity in the concentration range of 10 µg/mL to 40 µg/mL (R=1.000) with an average recovery rate of 96.7%. The establishment of these methods provides a scientific basis for the quality control and development of the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules.

In recent years, China has been facing the dual challenges of declining fertility rates and births, with male reproductive health issues, especially the decline in semen quality, identified as a pivotal contributor to this phenomenon. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence indicates that air pollutants, an increasingly severe environmental problem, can damage semen quality not only directly through their biological toxicity but also indirectly by disrupting the composition of microbial communities in the gut and semen, thereby dysregulating immune function, endocrine homeostasis, and oxidative stress responses. The gut microbiota and semen microbiota, as important components of the human microecosystem, play crucial roles in maintaining reproductive health. This article comprehensively reviewed the research progress on the potential effects of air pollutants (particulate matter and gaseous pollutants), gut microbiota, and semen microbiota on semen quality. Specifically, it elucidated the mechanisms of interaction between these factors and explored how they affect male fertility.

Normal heart function depends on complex regulation by the brain, and abnormalities in the brain‒heart axis affect various diseases, such as myocardial infarction and anxiety disorders. However, systematic tracking of the brain regions associated with the input and output of the heart is lacking. In this study, we injected retrograde transsynaptic pseudorabies virus (PRV) and anterograde transsynaptic herpes simplex virus (HSV) into the left ventricular wall of mice to identify the whole-brain regions associated with the input to and output from the heart. We successfully detected PRV and HSV expression in at least 170 brain subregions in both male and female mice. Sex differences were discovered mainly in the hypothalamus and medulla, with male mice exhibiting greater correlation and hierarchical clustering than female mice, indicating reduced similarity and increased modularity of virus expression patterns in male mice. Further graph theory and multiple linear regression analysis of different injection timelines revealed that hub regions of PRV had highly similar clusters, with different brain levels, suggesting a top-down, hierarchically transmitted neural control pattern of the heart. Hub regions of HSV had scattered clusters, with brain regions gathered in the cortex and brainstem, suggesting a bottom-up, leapfrog, multipoint neural sensing pattern of the heart. Both patterns contain many hub brain regions that have been previously overlooked in brain‒heart axis studies. These results provide brain targets for future research and will lead to deeper insight into the brain mechanisms involved in specific heart conditions.
Animals ; Male ; Female ; Heart/physiology* ; Mice ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; Brain/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain Mapping ; Efferent Pathways/physiology* ; Afferent Pathways/physiology* ; Simplexvirus ; Sex Characteristics

Objective In this study,the gas exchange performance and impact patterns of microalgae culture based on hollow fiber membrane technology were investigated for the culture of space microalgae.Methods The effects of parameters and conditions such as gas flow rate,membrane area and liquid flow rate on the CO2 fixation efficiency and fixation rate of hollow fiber membrane modules were studied,and the gas exchange performance of different parameters were compared by fitting formula.Results The gas flow rate and membrane area have a significant effect on the gas exchange performance of the module.With the increase of gas flow rate,the fixation rate of CO2 increases at first and then stabilizes,and the fixation efficiency of CO2 shows a continuous downward trend;with the increase of membrane area,the fixation rate and fixation efficiency of CO2 increase significantly,while the liquid flow rate has no significant effect on the gas exchange performance of the module.The highest CO2 fixation rate was 168.24 mg/(L·h)when the membrane area was 0.3m2 and the gas flow rate was 2.0 L/min.Conclusion The use of hollow fiber membrane technology can solve the problem of two-phase flow management in the gas exchange between algae culture and atmosphere,which has a better effect on gas exchange,and can provide reference for the design of gas exchange module of space microalgae photobioreactor.

Objective:To explore the clinical and pathological features and survival outcomes of patients with early-onset intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EOICC).Methods:This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Data of 1 160 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients undergoing radical resection in 14 tertiary Grade A hospitals in China from January 2010 to November 2021 were retrospectively collected. The cohort included 632 males and 528 females, aged( M (IQR)) 61 (14) years (range: 22 to 93 years). ICC aged ≤50 years at the time of diagnosis was defined as EOICC and >50 years as late-onset intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (LOICC). Of these, there were 247 cases in the EOICC group and 913 cases in the LOICC. The clinical and pathological characteristics of both groups were analyzed and compared using the independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models for patient outcomes were constructed and forest graphed. Results:Compared with the patients in the LOICC group, patients in the EOICC group had lower carcinoembryonic antigen levels (2.5(4.0) μg/L vs. 3.1(5.2)μg/L, U=124 899, P=0.009) and CA19-9 level (63.4(524.7)U/ml vs. 77.9(611.3)U/ml, U=120 320, P=0.013), higher levels of ALT (29(35)U/L vs. 24(26)U/L, U=101 214, P=0.013), a lower score of the Eastern US Cooperative Oncology Group (0 score patients: 54.7% vs. 44.1%, χ2=12.472, P=0.014), higher TNM stage ( χ2=11.807, P=0.038), and proportion of lymph node dissection (62.3% vs. 54.1%, χ2=5.355, P=0.021). Patients in the two groups in sex, first diagnosis symptoms, intrahepatic bile duct stone history, nail protein, albumin, total bilirubin, transaminase, liver function Child-Pugh grade, T stage, stage, N stage, preoperative laparoscopic exploration proportion, tumor diameter, vascular invasion proportion, differentiation, margin, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital days were no statistical significance (all P>0.05). Patients in the EOICC group had better outcomes than the LOICC group (median survival time: 29.7 months vs. 25.0 months, 3-year overall survival: 45.1% vs. 37.8%, P=0.027). Conclusion:EOICC patients are better than LOICC patients in carcinoembryonic antigen, CA19-9, ALT, physical strength status and TNM stage, and the long-term prognosis is also better than LOICC patients.

Obesity is a significant public health concern, with numerous studies emphasizing the critical role of gut microbiota in its development. However, the specific microbes contributing to obesity and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. This article mainly introduces our recent publication in Cell Host Microbe titled " Obesity-enriched gut microbe degrades myo-inositol and promotes lipid absorption" [Wu C, Yang F, Zhong H, et al. Obesity-enriched gut microbe degrades myo-inositol and promotes lipid absorption. Cell Host Microbe, 2024, 32(8): 1301-1314.e9. DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.06.012.]. The study shows that Megamonas, significantly enriched in obese, degrades myo-inositol and promotes intestinal lipid absorption and obesity. Additionally, the study suggests that Megamonas has an additive effect with genetics on obesity.

Objective In order to use plants to absorb high concentration carbon dioxide in closed space,the gas exchange capacity and regulation measures of six horticultural plants were explored.Methods The gas exchange characteristics of Bamboo Palm,Chrysanthemum,Peace Lily,Anthurium,Aloe vera,and Nephrolepis exaltata were studied under three light gradients[170 μmol/(m2·s),270 μmol/(m2·s),370 μmol/(m2·s)]and four carbon dioxide concentration gradients(500 ppm,1 000 ppm,1 500 ppm,2 000 ppm)using a closed low-pressure device.Results The results indicate significant differences in the average photosynthetic rates among the six plants,with the ranking order as Chrysanthemum>Peace Lily>Bamboo Palm>Aloe vera>Anthurium>Nephrolepis exaltata.In contrast,the transpiration rate and respiration rate of Chrysanthemum,Peace Lily and Bamoo Palm were higher,aloe vera absorbed carbon dioxide under dark conditions.Under a light intensity of 370 μmol/(m2·s),the photosynthetic rate of Bamboo Palm was most enhanced,2.57 times that under the condition of 170 μmol/(m2·s),whereas high light intensity suppressed the photosynthetic rate of Nephrolepis exaltata,which was about 3%lower than that under low light intensity.Under a carbon dioxide concentration of 2 000 ppm,the photosynthetic rates of Chrysanthemum,Peace Lily,and Bamboo Palm was more than 9.13 μmol CO2/(m2·s),approximately three times the average rate under low carbon dioxide concentration.Conclusion Among the six horticultural plants,Chrysanthemum,Bamboo Palm,and Peace Lily exhibit superior gas exchange capabilities,and increasing the light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration in the cultivation environment significantly enhances the photosynthetic rate of these three plants.

Objective : To investigate the impact of dexmedetomidine on the oncological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma and explore the role of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) at both in vitro and in vivo levels． Methods : In vivo experiment，Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group ( Ctrl group) ，a hepatocellular carcinoma group ( HCC group) ，and a hepatocellular carcinoma + dexmedetomidine group ( HCC + Dex group) . Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced in mice by combining N-Nitrosodiethylamine ( DEN) / carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4 ) ，followed by daily intraperitoneal injection of 10% dexmedetomidine for two weeks．After feeding the mice for one month，the mice were assessed for the quantity and size of liver tumors．The proliferation ability of liver cancer was evaluated using Ki67 immunohistochemistry．Additionally，the expression level of Nrf2 protein in tumor tissue was measured through immunofluorescence．In vitro experiment，Hepa1-6 cells were incubated with different concentrations of dexmedetomidine (0. 1，1，5 nmol /L) for 48 hours to examine their effects．The proliferation， migration and invasion abilities of Hepa1-6 cells were evaluated using the MTT and Transwell methods．The expres- sion level of Nrf2 protein in the Hepa1-6 cells was measured using Western blot and immunofluorescence．Addition- ally，the proliferation ，migration and invasion abilities of cells were assessed after Nrf2 knockdown via si-RNA transfection，in combination with incubation with 1 nmol /L dexmedetomidine for 48 hours. Results : ompared to the HCC group，the anatomical examination results revealed an increase in the number of liver tumors and the lon- gest diameter in the HCC + Dex group (P ＜0. 05) ． Ki67 immunohistochemistry results indicated the number of Ki67 positive cells in liver cancer tissue increased in the HCC + Dex group (P＜0. 01) ．The immunofluorescence assay demonstrated an upregulation of Nrf2 expression level in the HCC + Dex group (P ＜0. 05 ) ． MTT results showed that 1 nmol /L of dexmedetomidine increased the cell viability of Hepa1-6 cells (P＜0. 05) ．Transwell re- sults indicated that 0. 1 ，1 ，and 5 nmol /L of dexmedetomidine enhanced the invasive ability of Hepa1-6 cells， while 0. 1 and 1 nmol /L of dexmedetomidine enhanced the migration ability (P＜0. 05) ．Western blot and immu- nofluorescence results showed an upregulation of Nrf2 expression level in cells after treatment with 1 nmol /L dexme- detomidine (P＜0. 01) ．The Nrf2 expression level of cells was reduced using si-RNA，followed by treatment with 1 nmol /L dexmedetomidine．The results from MTT and Transwell assays revealed a decrease in the viability，invasion and migration ability of Hepa1-6 cells (P＜0. 01) ． Conclusion Dexmedetomidine may enhance the proliferation， invasion and migration capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating the expression of Nrf2 .

BACKGROUND:With computer-aided design,melt electrowriting technology can precisely construct 3D tissue engineering scaffolds with specific morphology,which has attracted increasing attention in tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To elaborate on the progress of melt electrowriting technology in tissue engineering in recent years. METHODS:PubMed and CNKI were used to retrieve articles about applications of melt electrowriting technology in tissue engineering.The search time was from March 2008 to February 2023.The search terms were"melt electrowriting,melt electrospinning,electrospinning,tissue engineering,scaffold,regeneration"in English and"melt electrowriting,electrospinning,tissue engineering"in Chinese.A preliminary screening of articles was performed by reading the titles and abstracts.Finally,69 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Melt electrowriting technology can achieve precise layer-by-layer deposition of fibers compared to traditional electrospinning technology,which better simulates the complex structure of natural tissues.Compared to other 3D printing technologies,smaller-diameter fibers can be prepared by melt electrowriting technology,resulting in highly ordered porous structures.(2)By combining with other scaffold preparation techniques or materials,such as fused deposition modeling,solution electrospinning technology,and hydrogel,melt electrowriting technology shows great potential in preparing complex tissue engineering scaffolds,which provides certain possibilities for achieving complex tissue regeneration.(3)The regeneration of complex tissues often involves blood vessels,nerves,and soft and hard tissues at the same time.The regeneration of blood vessels and nerves is of great significance to realize the physiological reconstruction of tissues.However,soft and hard tissues have certain difficulties to realize the coordinated regeneration of both due to their different biological and mechanical properties.Melt electrowriting technology has certain advantages in the field of bionic scaffolds due to its good biocompatibility,the ability to prepare multi-scale scaffolds and high porosity.