ObjectiveNon-invasive magnetic stimulation technology has been widely used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but there is a lack of convenient and timely methods for evaluating and providing feedback on the effectiveness of the stimulation, which can be used to guide the adjustment of the stimulation protocol. This study aims to explore the possibility of heart rate variability (HRV) in diagnosing AD and guiding AD magnetic stimulation intervention techniques. MethodsIn this study, we used a 40 Hz, 10 mT pulsed magnetic field to expose AD mouse models to whole-body exposure for 18 d, and detected the behavioral and electroencephalographic signals before and after exposure, as well as the instant electrocardiographic signals after exposure every day. ResultsUsing one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, we found that some HRV indicators could identify AD mouse models as accurately as behavioral and electroencephalogram(EEG) changes (P<0.05) and significantly distinguish the severity of the disease (P<0.05), including rMSSD, pNN6, LF/HF, SD1/SD2, and entropy arrangement. These HRV indicators showed good correlation and statistical significance with behavioral and EEG changes (r>0.3, P<0.05); HRV indicators were significantly modulated by the magnetic field exposure before and after the exposure, both of which were observed in the continuous changes of electrocardiogram (ECG) (P<0.05), and the trend of the stimulation effect was more accurately observed in the continuous changes of ECG. ConclusionHRV can accurately reflect the pathophysiological changes and disease degree, quickly evaluate the effect of magnetic stimulation, and has the potential to guide the pattern of magnetic exposure, providing a new idea for the study of personalized electromagnetic neuroregulation technology for brain diseases.

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.

Aim To investigate the synergistic sensiti-zation effect of saikosaponin D(SSD)combined with temozolomide(TMZ)on glioblastoma cells(GBM)and its molecular mechanism.Methods The sensitiv-ity of RG-2,U251 and LN-428 GBM cell lines to SSD and TMZ was analyzed by CCK-8 method combined with HE staining,and the optimal compatible concen-tration was screened.The effect of HE staining com-bined with Hoechst fluorescence staining on the prolif-eration of GBM cell line was detected by clonal forma-tion experiment.The autophagosome formation of GBM cells was observed by monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining.The expression and distribution of endoplas-mic reticulum stress-related factors and apoptosis and autophagy proteins were detected by Western blot and ICC.Results The sensitivity order of GBM cells to TMZ was RG-2＞U251＞LN-428.The results of com-bined administration showed the synergistic inhibitory effect of SSD combined with TMZ on proliferation of GBM cell lines,which was confirmed by cell cloning formation experiment.Compared with the TMZ group,Hoechst fluorescence staining showed a significant in-crease in the number of nuclear bright staining in the combined administration group.MDC fluorescence staining showed that there were more dense green parti-cles in the cytoplasm of SSD/TMZ plus group than that of TMZ group.Western blot results showed that com-pared with TMZ group,the expression of ER stress markers GRP78,CHOP,p-PERK and ATF6 signifi-cantly increased in SSD/TMZ group(P＜0.05).The expressions of apoptosis proteins caspase-12,caspase-9,caspase-3,cleaved caspase-3,Bax and autophagy proteins LC3 and Beclin-1 significantly increased(P＜0.05),which were verified by ICC test.Conclusions SSD can cooperate with TMZ to inhibit the prolifera-tion of GBM cells and induce apoptosis and autophagy,and enhance the sensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ by ac-tivating endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

Objective To explore the expression of long non-coding ribonucleic acid(lncRNA)metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1)and nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1(NEAT1)in the hippocampus and HT22 cells of hypoxia pre-acclimated(HPC)mice and their relationship with neuroprotection.Methods(1)Thirty-six male Institute of Cancer Research(ICR)mice were randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method of complete randomization:the control group,the hypoxia group and the hypoxia preconditioning group,with 12mice in each group.Mice in the control group were not exposed to hypoxia,mice in the hypoxia group were exposed to hypoxia once,and mice in the hypoxia preconditioning group were exposed to hypoxia four times.Immediately after the end of hypoxia treatment,all mice were decapitated and killed and hippocampal tissues were isolated and preserved in groups.(2)HT22 cells were cultured in medium containing 10％foetal bovine serum and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin.When cell confluence was greater than 90％,they were transferred to 24-well plates for culture and then processed in 2 batches.6 pmol disordered small interfering RNA(siRNA),MALAT1 siRNA(siMALAT1),NEAT1 siRNA(siNEAT1),siMALAT1+siNEAT1 were transfected into the negative control group,siMALAT1 group,siNEAT1 group,and siMALAT1+siNEAT1 group of the first batch of HT22 cells one by one by transfection reagent,and the blank group did not have any treatment;then they were cultured under normal conditions(5％CO2 and 95％air)for 48 h.In the second batch of HT22 cells,6 pmol of disordered siRNA,disordered siRNA,siMALAT1,siMALAT1,siNEAT1 and siNEAT1 were transfected one by one correspondingly to the negative control group and the negative control+oxygen-glucose deprived/reoxygen(OGD/R)group,siMALAT1 group,siMALAT1+OGD/R,siNEAT1 group,siNEAT1+OGD/R group.48 h after transfection,HT22 cells of negative control group,siMALAT1 group and siNEAT1 group were cultured under normal conditions(5％CO2 and 95％air),and the cells of negative control+OGD/R group,siMALAT1+OGD/R group and siNEAT1+OGD/R group were treated with OGD/R.That is,under low oxygen conditions(1％O2+5％CO2+94％N2)exposure for 8 h,and then culture under normal conditions for 16 h.(3)The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and Western blot was used to determine the expression of MALAT1,NEAT1,N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B(NR2B)messenger RNA(mRNA)and NR2B protein in the hippocampus of mice,the relative expression levels of NR2B mRNA and NR2B protein after transfection of HT22 cells in each group,and the relative expression levels of haemoglobin breakdown products and activated cysteine protease protein 3 after transfection and OGD/R of HT22 cells in each group.The survival rate of HT22 cells in each group was calculated.Results(1)The differences in relative expression of MALAT1(F=43.92),NEAT1(F=506.4),NR2B mRNA(F=50.64)and NR2B protein(F=41.24)in the hippocampus of mice in the three groups were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The relative expression of MALAT1([1.68±0.06]vs.[1.00±0.08]),NR2B mRNA([1.26±0.06]vs.[1.00±0.01]),and NR2B protein([1.47±0.05]vs.[1.00±0.01])was increased in the hypoxia group as compared to the control group(all P＜0.05),whereas the relative expression of NEAT1([1.02±0.10]vs.[1.00±0.03])were not statistically significant(P＞0.05),and the relative expression of MALAT1([1.12±0.13]vs.[1.00±0.08])and NEAT1([2.88±0.10]vs.[1.00±0.03])were increased in hypoxic preconditioned group.Compared with hypoxia group,the relative expression of NR2B mRNA([0.54±0.07]vs.[1.26±0.06])and NR2B protein([1.17±0.07]vs.[1.47±0.05])were decreased(both P＜0.05).(2)The differences in the relative expression of NR2B mRNA(F=36.92)and NR2B protein(F=56.98)after transfection of HT22 cells in the five groups were statistically significant(both P＜0.05).Compared with the negative control group,siMALAT1 group(NR2B mRNA:[2.04±0.08]vs.[0.94±0.04],NR2B protein:[1.72±0.13]vs.[0.93±0.02]),siNEAT1 group(NR2B mRNA:[2.15±0.13]vs.[0.94±0.04],NR2B protein:[1.87±0.46]vs.[0.93±0.02]),siMALAT1+siNEAT1 group(NR2BmRNA:[2.09±0.16]vs.[0.94±0.04],NR2B protein:[2.07±0.30]vs.[0.93±0.02])showed the relative NR2B mRNA and NR2B protein expression were increased(all P＜0.05).(3)Differences in relative expression of haematopoietin breakdown product(145/150 kDa)protein(F=12.43),haematopoietin breakdown product(120 kDa)protein(F=7.15),and activated cysteamine protease protein 3 protein(F=6.61)were statistically significant in the 6 groups of HT22 cells transfected and treated with OGD/R(all P＜0.05).Compared with the siMALAT1 group,the siMALAT1+OGD/R group had 145/150kDa([1.42±0.48]vs.[0.85±0.34]),120 kDa([1.33±0.37]vs.[0.52±0.19])haematopoietin catabolism products and activated cysteamine protease protein 3([2.43±0.35]vs.[1.15±0.24])relative expression increased(all P＜0.05);compared with the negative control+OGD/R group,the siMALAT1+OGD/R group showed an increase in 145/150kDa([1.42±0.48]vs.[1.23±0.17]),120 kDa([1.33±0.37]vs.[0.80±0.21])relative expression of haematopoietin breakdown products and activated cysteamine protease protein 3([2.43±0.35]vs.[1.46±0.39])increased(all P＜0.05);compared with the siNEAT1 group,the siNEAT1+OGD/R group had a higher expression of 145/150 kDa([1.28±0.44]vs.[0.87±0.32]),120 kDa([0.81±0.36]vs.[0.63±0.16])relative expression of haematopoietic proteolytic products and activated cysteamine protease protein 3([1.51±0.45]vs.[1.01±0.27])increased(all P＜0.05).(4)The difference in HT22 cell survival rate among the 6 groups was statistically significant(F=5.54,P＜0.05).Compared with the negative control group,HT22 cell survival was decreased in the siMALAT1,siNEAT1,siMALAT1+OGD/R and siNEAT1+OGD/R groups([0.65±0.40],[0.76±0.35],[0.24±0.17],[0.23±0.16]vs.[0.84±0.04],all P＜0.05);cell viability was reduced in the siMALAT1+OGD/R group compared with the siMALAT1 group([0.24±0.17]vs.[0.65±0.40],P＜0.05);and cell viability was reduced in the siNEAT1+OGD/R group compared with the siNEAT1 group([0.23±0.16]vs.[0.76±0.35],P＜0.05).Conclusion HPC increased the expression of MALAT1 and NEAT1 in the hippocampus of mice,and MALAT1 and NEAT1 may participate in the neuroprotective effect of mice after ischemia and hypoxia by affecting the expression of NR2B.

The purpose of this study was to identify the tick species native to Xindi Township,Yumin County,Xinjiang,China.Preliminary morphological identification of parasitic ticks collected from animals in the area was conducted with an ultra-depth of field three-dimensional VHX 600 digital stereo microscope.Total DNA of the ticks was extracted,amplified by PCR based on the COI and ITS2 gene loci,and the posi-tive PCR products were sequenced.The sequence were a-ligned with reference sequences from the NCBI database were aligned with the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool.A genet-ic phylogenetic tree was generated with the neighbor-joining method of MEGA 7.0 software to determine the evolutionary biological characteristics of ticks.Morphological identification showed that the ticks collected from Xindi Township of Yu-min County were consistent with the characteristics of Hya-lomma asiaticum.An evolutionary tree based on the COI and ITS2 gene sequences showed that the ticks collected in this study were clustered with known H.asiaticum sequences.The PCR products of COI and ITS2 were sequenced and compared,which confirmed that the collected tick species were H.asiaticum,in agreement with the morphological and molecular biological results.These findings help to clarify the distribution of ticks in Xindi Township of Xinjiang,and provide basic data for the analysis of tick genetic and evolutionary characteristics,as reference for surveillance and control of ticks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Curcumol on the malignant biological characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)cells and its molecular mechanism,and to provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the anti-leukemia treatment of traditional Chinese medicine.Methods:After the AML cell lines HL-60 and KG-1 cells were treated different concentrations of with Curcumol.The proliferation activity of cells was detected by CCK-8 method,and the expression changes of apoptotic proteins and PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway proteins were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR ) was used to detect the expression of Caspase family mRNA.Results:Curcumol could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HL-60 and KG-1 cells,promote apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of Bax and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05).When Curcumol interferes with HL-60 and KG-1 cells,it can also induce programmed cell death of AML by inhibiting PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway.In addition,after the intervention of Curcumol,the expression of Caspase 3,Caspase 6,Caspase 8 and Caspase 9 were up-regulated in HL-60 cells (P<0.05 ),the expression of Caspase 3,Caspase 8 and Caspase 9 were significantly up-regulated in KG-1 cells (P<0.01),while the expression of Caspase 6 was weakly affected (P<0.05 ),but low concentration of Curcumol (<60 μg/ml)had no effect on the expression of Caspase 6 in KG-1 cells (P>0.05).Conclusion:Curcumol may mediate the programmed death of AML cells by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,affecting the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins,and promoting the activation of core members of Caspase family,so as to play an anti-leukemia role.

Objective:To better evaluate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) based on liver transient elastography.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 6 961 patients without hepatitis, who underwent liver transient elastography examination at the Department of Hepatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from November, 2021 to April, 2022 were included. The patients were categorized into normal and mild, moderate, severe MAFLD groups according to FibroTouch controlled attenuation parameters (CAP). The CAP values among different body mass index (BMI) groups were compared using analysis of variance. The distribution characteristics and the incidence of MAFLD in different age, gender, body mass index(BMI), blood glucose and lipids groups using the chi-square test.Results:The total detection rate of MAFLD and severe MAFLD in the population with a BMI≥28.0 kg/m 2 was 99.6% and 71.8%, respectively. The detection rate of MAFLD in people with normal BMI was 28.4%. The detection rate of MAFLD in women of childbearing age or in the perimenopausal period were both significantly lower than that in men of the same age (40.3% vs 54.9%, χ 2=20.78, P<0.001; 43.1% vs 58.4%, χ 2=27.43, P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in MAFLD detection rate between postmenopausal women and men of the same age. The detection rates of MAFLD in the group with abnormal blood glucose and lipids were both significantly higher than those in the group with normal blood glucose and lipids [69.7%(196/281) vs 35.2%(2 354/6 680), χ 2=138.36, P<0.001; 54.3%(1 696/3 124) vs 37.1%(1 420/3 837), χ 2=207.99, P<0.001]. Conclusion:Non-hepatitis patients had a higher prevalence of MAFLD. The BMI, gender, age, blood glucose, and lipids levels are all strongly associated with MAFLD.

Objective:To compare the recanalization rate of 2-suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy(LIVE)with that of4-suture end-to-side vasoepididymostomy(ESVE).Methods:This retrospective case-control study included 127 cases of obstructive azoospermia(OA)treated by LIVE(n=87)or ESVE(n=40)in our Center of Reproductive Medicine from October 2013 to July 2024.We analyzed the clinical data and compared the age,testis volume,level of serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),operation time and postoperative recanalization rate between the two groups.Results:Spermatozoa were observed in 90(70.9％)of the 127 cases after surgery.There were no statistical differences in age,testis volume and FSH between the two groups of patients(all P＞0.05),and nor were there any serious surgical complications.The operation time was significantly longer in the ESVE than in the LIVE group(22.0[20.0-25.8]vs 17.0[15.0-23.0]min,P＜0.05),while the postoperative recanalization rate remarkably higher in the former than in the latter group(85.0％vs 64.4％,P＜0.05).Vasoepididymostomy was performed at the caput epididymis in 11 cases,with a higher recanalization rate in the ESVE than in the LIVE group(50.0％[1/2]vs 33.3％[3/9]).Conclusion:ESVE achieved a higher postoperative recanalization rate than LIVE in the treatment of OA,but its advanta-ges need further investigation.

Objective To explore improvements in bowel preparation for patients of different ages by analyzing the factors influencing differences in the quality of bowel preparation for patients undergoing colonoscopy.Methods One hundred and forty-eight patients who underwent colonoscopy in our hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were selected and divided into adequate(n=106)and inadequate(n=42)groups based on the Ottawa bowel preparation scale scoring criteria,and into young(n=41),middle-aged(n=91),and elderly(n=16)groups based on the age of the patients,with higher than the median age being considered as the high age patients and lower than the median age as the low age patients.Clinical data were collected,logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the quality of bowel preparation,and multivariate regression was used to analyze the risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation in patients of different age strata.Results The overall pass rate of bowel preparation in 148 patients was 71.62％.The middle-aged group was significantly lower than the young group(x2=7.392,P=0.007).The ①-segment colon OBPS scores(sigmoid colon and rectum),②-segment colon OBPS scores(descending colon and transverse colon),and ③-segment colon OBPS scores(cecum and ascending colon)were lower in the senior patients than in the younger patients(all P＜0.05).Age,constipation,bowel cleanser dose＜75％,solid residue in the last bowel movement,and waiting＞6 hours for microscopy were independent risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation.After adjusting for age,having solid residue in the last bowel movement,and waiting＞8 hours for microscopy were risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation in the young group of patients.Constipation,bowel cleanser dose＜75％,solid residue in the last bowel movement and waiting time for microscopy were risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation in patients in the middle-aged group.The risk effect value of waiting＞8 hours for microscopy was higher than waiting 6 to 8 hours for microscopy(OR=3.657 and OR=1.215,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Age is a risk factor for the quality of bowel preparation in patients undergoing colonoscopy,and different bowel preparation strategies should be used for different age groups.

Objective To compare the oral cleansing effects of the microbubble toothbrush and the conventional pulsed oral irrigator to provide references for users.Methods Ninety identical 3D-printed resin tooth models were grouped and subjected to repeated experiments,which were divided randomly into five groups including a microbubble toothbrush high-speed gear(GN-H)group,a microbubble toothbrush medium-speed gear(GN-M)group,a microbubble low-speed gear(GN-L)group,a conventional pulsed oral irrigator high-speed gear(W-H)group and a conventional pulsed oral irrigator low-speed gear(W-L)group,with 18 teeth in each group.The cleansing effects of the microbubble toothbrush and the conventional pulsed oral irrigator were evaluated in terms of irrigating strength and abilities for eliminating plaque and debris.Results Both the two types of water flossers were provided with high irrigating strength and effectively reduced plaque and debris on tooth surfaces,and the GN-H,GN-M and GN-L groups behaved better significantly than the remained groups.The order of the five groups was GN-H group＞GN-M group＞W-H group＞GN-L group＞W-L group for irrigating strength,GN-H group＞GN-M group＞GN-L group＞W-H group＞W-L group for plaque removal,GN-H group＞GN-M group＞W-H group＞GN-L group＞W-L group for debris removal,with all the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Both the two types of water flossers remove plaque and debris effectively,while the microbubble toothbrush gains advantages over the conventional pulsed oral irrigator.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(9):67-72]