This study aimed to investigate the effect of saltwater stir-fried Plantaginis Semen(SPS) on renal fibrosis in rats and decipher the underlying mechanism. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control, model, losartan potassium, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(15, 30, and 60 g·kg~(-1), respectively) SPS groups. Rats in other groups except the control group were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) to induce renal fibrosis, and the modeling and gavage lasted for 14 days. After 14 consecutive days of treatment, the levels of serum creatinine(Scr) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in rats of each group were determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining were used to evaluate pathological changes in the renal tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay were conducted to determine the protein levels of fibronectin(FN), collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) in the renal tissue. The mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated transcription factors including twist family bHLH transcription factor 1(TWIST1), snail family transcriptional repressor 1(SNAI1), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1(ZEB1), as well as inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), were determined by RT-qPCR. Human renal proximal tubular epithelial(HK2) cells exposed to transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) for the modeling of renal fibrosis were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of SPS on EMT. Network pharmacology and Western blot were employed to explore the molecular mechanism of SPS in alleviating renal fibrosis. The results showed that SPS significantly reduced Scr and BUN levels and alleviated renal injury and collagen deposition in UUO rats. Moreover, SPS notably down-regulated the protein levels of FN, collagen Ⅰ, vimentin, and α-SMA as well as the mRNA levels of SNAI1, ZEB1, TWIST1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK-2 cells. In addition, compared with Plantaginis Semen without stir-frying with saltwater, SPS showed increased content of specific compounds, which were mainly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway. SPS significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and p38 MAPK in the kidneys of UUO rats and TGF-β-treated HK2 cells. In conclusion, SPS can alleviate renal fibrosis by attenuating EMT through inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Kidney Diseases/pathology* ; Kidney Tubules/pathology* ; Humans

Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Spermatogenesis is a fundamental process that requires a tightly controlled epigenetic event in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The mechanisms underlying the transition from SSCs to sperm are largely unknown. Most studies utilize gene knockout mice to explain the mechanisms. However, the production of genetically engineered mice is costly and time-consuming. In this study, we presented a convenient research strategy using an RNA interference (RNAi) and testicular transplantation approach. Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation was dynamically regulated during spermatogenesis. As Jumonji domain-containing protein 1A (JMJD1A) and Jumonji domain-containing protein 2C (JMJD2C) demethylases catalyze histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), we firstly analyzed the expression profile of the two demethylases and then investigated their function. Using the convenient research strategy, we showed that normal spermatogenesis is disrupted due to the downregulated expression of both demethylases. These results suggest that this strategy might be a simple and alternative approach for analyzing spermatogenesis relative to the gene knockout mice strategy.
Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; RNA Interference ; Testis/metabolism* ; Methylation ; Mice, Knockout ; Histone Demethylases

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

Liposomes serve as critical carriers for drugs and vaccines, with their biological effects influenced by their size. The microfluidic method, renowned for its precise control, reproducibility, and scalability, has been widely employed for liposome preparation. Although some studies have explored factors affecting liposomal size in microfluidic processes, most focus on small-sized liposomes, predominantly through experimental data analysis. However, the production of larger liposomes, which are equally significant, remains underexplored. In this work, we thoroughly investigate multiple variables influencing liposome size during microfluidic preparation and develop a machine learning (ML) model capable of accurately predicting liposomal size. Experimental validation was conducted using a staggered herringbone micromixer (SHM) chip. Our findings reveal that most investigated variables significantly influence liposomal size, often interrelating in complex ways. We evaluated the predictive performance of several widely-used ML algorithms, including ensemble methods, through cross-validation (CV) for both liposome size and polydispersity index (PDI). A standalone dataset was experimentally validated to assess the accuracy of the ML predictions, with results indicating that ensemble algorithms provided the most reliable predictions. Specifically, gradient boosting was selected for size prediction, while random forest was employed for PDI prediction. We successfully produced uniform large (600 nm) and small (100 nm) liposomes using the optimised experimental conditions derived from the ML models. In conclusion, this study presents a robust methodology that enables precise control over liposome size distribution, offering valuable insights for medicinal research applications.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Objective Coronary heart disease(CHD)is one of the major lethal diseases in the world at present.The detection of biomarkers is an important non-invasive method to evaluate the progression of CHD,which is of great significance for the diagnosis and secondary prevention of CHD.This study aims to screen diagnostic biomarkers in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction,analyze cuprotosis-related genes in the development of this disease,and further predict the traditional Chinese medicine of regulating cuprotosis-related genes.Methods The GEO database was searched to obtain chip data of myocardial infarction,differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were analyzed.Then,DEGs enrichment analysis was performed,and key genes were screened based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)and random forest(RF)methods.Diagnostic model was constructed and verified.After immune cell infiltration analysis was performed on differential genes,the results were further combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis to obtain differentially expressed immune-related genes,which were intersected with cuproptosis genes to obtain cuproptosis immune-related Hub genes.The correlation between cuproptosis-related genes and diagnostic genes were analyzed.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was performed on cuproptosis-related genes to further predict the traditional Chinese medicines of regulating the genes related to cuproptosis.Results A total of 115 DEGs,which were mainly enriched in the biological processes and pathways related to lymphocyte-mediated immunity,mitochondrial respiratory chain complex Ⅳ,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,and chemokine signaling pathway,were obtained by differential analysis.Five diagnostic genes,SNORA20,SNORA19,H4C3,SNORD81,and COX7B,were screened out by machine learning methods.Immune infiltration analysis found dendritic cells,macrophages M2,monocytes,neutrophils,natural killer cells,CD4+T cells,CD8+T cells,and γδ T cells.It was indicated the above eight immune cells play a certain role in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction in coronary heart disease.Weighted correlation network analysis(WGCNA)and immune infiltration analysis were used to obtain 358 key module genes,which were intersected with cuproptosis genes to obtain three cuproptosis and immune signature genes.The correlation analysis results of five diagnostic genes and Hub genes showed that there was a correlation between the expressions of SLC31A1 and SNORA20,LIAS and SNORA19,SNORD81,MTF1 and H4C3,SNORA20,SNORA19,SNORD81.GSEA analysis results indicated that LIAS and MTF1 had a significant effect on the NF-κB signaling pathway,NOD-like receptor signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.The potential regulatory Chinese medicines are mainly blood-activating and stasis-eliminating,qi-promoting and analgesic drugs.Conclusion SNORA20,SNORA19,H4C3,SNORD81,COX7B have a certain diagnostic value for myocardial infarction in coronary heart disease.The prediction of genes related to cuproptosis and immune infiltration in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction provides a certain reference for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in myocardial infarction.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of chronic dacryocystitis-related corneal ulcers and to provide a basis for the rational clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:An observational case series study was performed.A total of 31 patients (31 eyes) diagnosed with chronic dacryocystitis-related corneal ulcers in Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University were enrolled from January 2016 to January 2020, with an average age of (53.0±10.8) years.The typical ocular signs, results of the etiological examination and microbial sensitivity test, treatment process and outcomes were analyzed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (No.20191020-1).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination.Results:The average history of chronic dacryocystitis was (3.6±1.9) years.Corneal ulcers were mostly located in the peripheral cornea and had a rounded morphology with clear borders.The positive rate of corneal scraping was 74.2%(23/31), with bacteria in 19 eyes, fungal hyphae in 3 eyes, and both gram-positive cocci and fungal hyphae in 1 eye.The positive rate of microbial culture was 74.2%(23/31), with positive bacterial culture in 20 eyes (gram-positive cocci in 16 eyes and gram-negative bacilli in 4 eyes) and fungal growth in 3 eyes.The sensitivity rates of gram-positive cocci to vancomycin, rifampicin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin were 100%(16/16), 87.5%(14/16), 81.3%(13/16), and 75.0%(12/16), respectively.All patients were treated with surgery for chronic dacryocystitis, including 22 cases of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, 7 cases of dacryocystectomy, and 2 cases of lacrimal duct probing combined with intubation.Among the 9 cases with an ulcer depth of <1/3 of the corneal thickness (CT), 6 cases were cured after (10.8±3.2) days of drug treatment and 3 cases underwent corneal lesion resection.The 6 patients with an ulcer depth of 1/3-2/3 of the CT underwent conjunctival flap covering surgery.Among the 16 patients with an ulcer depth of >2/3 of the CT, lamellar keratoplasty was performed in 6 cases, penetrating keratoplasty in 8 cases and evisceration in 2 cases with infectious endophthalmitis.Conclusions:Chronic dacryocystitis-related corneal ulcers are mainly located at the periphery of the cornea, and gram-positive cocci infections are the most common pathogenic bacteria.In patients with mild symptoms, corneal ulcers heal gradually after treatment with sensitive antibiotics.For patients with severe infections, appropriate surgery should be selected according to the depth of the corneal ulcer.

The current research status of different structures,driving modes and training modes of hand rehabilitation robots at home and abroad was introduced.The disadvantages of the existing hand rehabilitation robots were analyzed.It's pointed out hand rehabilitation robots in the future would involve in the combination of rigid and flexible wearing,new intelligent driving mode and multi-mode rehabilitation training.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(11):88-96]