BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

As a new type of production factor that can empower the development of new quality productivity, the data element is an important engine to promote the high quality development of the industry. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) dispensing is the most basic work of TCM clinical pharmacy, and its quality directly affects the clinical efficacy of TCM. The integration of data elements and TCM dispensing can stimulate the innovation and vitality of the TCM dispensing industry and promote the high-quality and sustainable development of the industry. A large-scale, detailed, and systematic study on TCM dispensing was conducted. The innovative practice path of data fusion construction in the whole process of TCM dispensing was investigated by integrating the digital resources "nine full activities" of TCM dispensing, creating the digital dictionary of "TCM clinical information data elements", and exploring innovative applications of TCM dispensing driven by data and technology, so as to promote the standardized, digital, and intelligent development of TCM dispensing in medical health services. The research content of this project was successfully selected as the second batch of "Data element×" typical cases of National Data Administration in 2024, which is the only selected case in the field of TCM.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is one of the most commonly occurring pathogens associated with genital tract infections in infertile males, but the impact of seminal UU infection in semen on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes is poorly understood. We collected data from 245 infertile couples who underwent IUI at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) between January 2021 and January 2023. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their UU infection status: the UU-positive group and the UU-negative group. We compared semen parameters, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal birth outcomes to investigate the impact of UU infection on IUI outcomes. There were no significantly statistical differences in various semen parameters, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, sperm morphology, leukocyte count, the presence of anti-sperm antibody, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups of male infertile patients (all P > 0.05). However, the high DNA stainability (HDS) status of sperm differed between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups, suggesting that seminal UU infection may affect sperm nuclear maturation ( P = 0.04). Additionally, there were no significant differences in pregnancy or neonatal birth outcomes between the two groups (all P > 0.05). These results suggest that IUI remains a viable and cost-effective option for infertile couples with UU infection who are facing infertility issues.
Humans ; Male ; Ureaplasma Infections/complications* ; Female ; Infertility, Male/therapy* ; Ureaplasma urealyticum/isolation & purification* ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Semen Analysis ; Insemination, Artificial ; Semen/microbiology* ; China

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

Objective : To pathological changes and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 serine 307(p-IRS1ser 307), phosphorylated protein kinase B serine 473(p-AKTser 473), glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β), and gluconeogenic synthase(GS) proteins were observed in the liver of rats under the condition of chronic intermittent hypoxia-replicated oxygen in control. And to explore the role of iNOS/IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced insulin resistance. Methods : Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a control group(NC group) and an experimental group(CIH group), with 20 rats in each group. The NC group was placed in a normoxic environment for 12 weeks, while the CIH group was first subjected to intermittent hypoxia for 8 weeks, and then resumed normoxic rearing until the 12th week. Fasting blood glucose(FBG) and fasting insulin(FINS) were measured at baseline, week 8 and week 12, and liver tissues were taken for pathology and measurement of iNOS, p-IRS1ser 307, p-AKTser 473, GSK3β and GS levels, to compare the differences between groups. Results: t baseline, there was no significant difference in liver pathology between the two groups, and the observed indexes were not statistically significant(P>0.05); at 8 weeks, compared with the NC group, liver pathology in the CIH group showed significant disorganization of hepatic blood sinusoids and hepatocyte cords, obvious hepatocyte edema, smaller nuclei, increased lymphocyte infiltration, and a small number of fat vacuoles, significantly higher levels of FBG, FINS, insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR), iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels, and decreased p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05). IRS1ser 307 protein, GSK-3β protein levels were increased, p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein levels were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant(allP<0.05); at 12 weeks, no lymphocyte infiltration was seen in the CIH group compared with that of the NC group and fat vacuoles significantly increased, and there was no improvement in the other pathological damage that had already occurred, and the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein significantly increased. AKTser 473 protein level significantly increased, p-IRS1ser 307 protein and GS protein levels were significantly reduced, all of which were statistically significant(allP<0.05), and the rest of the observational indexes were not statistically significant. Pearson′s correlation analysis showed that HOMA-IR of CIH group was significantly positively correlated with the levels of iNOS mRNA, p-IRS1ser 307 protein, and GSK-3β protein at 8 weeks(r=0.874, 0.817,0.872;allP<0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with the levels of p-AKTser 473 protein and GS protein(r=-0.886,-0.879;allP<0.05). Conclusion Chronic intermittent hypoxia can lead to hepatic pathological damage that cannot be reversed even by reoxygenation interventions and may mediate the development of insulin resistance by upregulating the IRS1/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway through the upregulation of iNOS mRNA expression.

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH)and reoxygenation on insulin resistance(IR)and expressions of miR-27a-3p/PPARγ/IRS1/PI3K/AKT in rat skeletal muscle.Methods GEO database was used for screening the differentially expressed miRNAs in CIH,and their target genes were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis followed by construction of the miRNA-mRNA-pathway regulatory network using Cytoscape.In the animal experiment,48 male SD rats were randomly divided into normoxia group and CIH group(8 weeks of CIH followed by 4 weeks of normoxic recovery).Blood and skeletal muscle samples were collected at baseline,8 weeks,and 12 weeks to evaluate the changes in fasting blood glucose(FBG)and fasting insulin(FINS)levels and muscular pathology.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in the expressions of miR-27a-3p,PPARγ,GLUT4,IRS1,p-IRS1,PI3K,p-AKT and AKT in the muscular tissues.Results No muscular miRNA datasets for CIH were available in GEO database,from which only a kidney-related dataset(GSE202480)was obtained,based on which a total of 165 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified.GO/KEGG analysis suggested that these miRNAs were involved in muscular regulation and insulin signaling.The miRNA-mRNA-pathway network highlighted miR-27a-3p as a crucial regulator in the PPAR and PI3K/AKT pathway.In the animal experiment,the rats subjected to CIH for 8 weeks showed significantly increased FBG,FINS,HOMA-IR,and PPARγ levels,loose muscle fiber arrangement,decreased cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers,and lowered expressions of miR-27a-3p,p-IRS1/IRS1,PI3K,and p-AKT/AKT in the skeletal muscles.Conclusion CIH increases IR,causes skeletal muscle pathology,downregulates miR-27a-3p expression,upregulates PPARγ expression,and inhibits IRS1/PI3K/AKT insulin signaling in the skeletal muscles of rats,and these changes can be reversed by reoxygenation.MiR-27a-3p may participate in CIH-induced IR by modulating the PPAR γ/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH)and reoxygenation on insulin resistance(IR)and expressions of miR-27a-3p/PPARγ/IRS1/PI3K/AKT in rat skeletal muscle.Methods GEO database was used for screening the differentially expressed miRNAs in CIH,and their target genes were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis followed by construction of the miRNA-mRNA-pathway regulatory network using Cytoscape.In the animal experiment,48 male SD rats were randomly divided into normoxia group and CIH group(8 weeks of CIH followed by 4 weeks of normoxic recovery).Blood and skeletal muscle samples were collected at baseline,8 weeks,and 12 weeks to evaluate the changes in fasting blood glucose(FBG)and fasting insulin(FINS)levels and muscular pathology.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in the expressions of miR-27a-3p,PPARγ,GLUT4,IRS1,p-IRS1,PI3K,p-AKT and AKT in the muscular tissues.Results No muscular miRNA datasets for CIH were available in GEO database,from which only a kidney-related dataset(GSE202480)was obtained,based on which a total of 165 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified.GO/KEGG analysis suggested that these miRNAs were involved in muscular regulation and insulin signaling.The miRNA-mRNA-pathway network highlighted miR-27a-3p as a crucial regulator in the PPAR and PI3K/AKT pathway.In the animal experiment,the rats subjected to CIH for 8 weeks showed significantly increased FBG,FINS,HOMA-IR,and PPARγ levels,loose muscle fiber arrangement,decreased cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers,and lowered expressions of miR-27a-3p,p-IRS1/IRS1,PI3K,and p-AKT/AKT in the skeletal muscles.Conclusion CIH increases IR,causes skeletal muscle pathology,downregulates miR-27a-3p expression,upregulates PPARγ expression,and inhibits IRS1/PI3K/AKT insulin signaling in the skeletal muscles of rats,and these changes can be reversed by reoxygenation.MiR-27a-3p may participate in CIH-induced IR by modulating the PPAR γ/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

【Objective】 To understand the prevalence of overweight/obesity among school-age children in Pudong New Area of Shanghai, and to explore the influence of gestational weight gain and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on weight status of school-age children. 【Methods】 From November to December 2020,a stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select first-grade students from 13 primary schools in Pudong New Area of Shanghai.After matching with the birth monitoring database, 755 students with complete birth information were selected as the study subjects.The relevant information of mothers before and during pregnancy was retrospectively collected, and the effects of pregnancy weight gain combined with pre-pregnancy BMI on overweight/obesity in school-age children were analyzed. 【Results】 1) The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of first-grade children were 15.89% and 18.41%, respectively.2) Maternal excessive weight gain during pregnancy (OR=1.678) and overweight/obesity before pregnancy (OR=2.315,2.412) were risk factors for overweight/obesity of the offspring at school age(P<0.05).3) For mothers who were underweight before pregnancy, excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with overweight/obesity in school-age children in their offspring (OR=7.436, 95%CI: 1.489 - 37.143,P<0.05).4) Excessive weight gain during pregnancy combined with overweight/obesity before pregnancy significantly increased the risk of overweight/obesity in offspring (OR=3.606, 95%CI: 2.030 - 6.405, P<0.05). Mothers who gained a moderate amount of weight during pregnancy and were emaciated before pregnancy had a significantly lower risk of overweight/obesity in their school-age children (OR=0.217, 95%CI: 0.049 - 0.967, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases the risk of overweight/obesity in school-age children in their offspring, strengthening pregnancy health education and perinatal care to help pregnant women maintain appropriate weight gain during pregnancy may be an important and novel strategy to prevent childhood obesity.

Sustained and controlled release preparation is ideal for reducing the side effects of drugs, improving patient compliance and enhancing efficacy, among which oral sustained-release tablets are the most widely used. The in vitro release of the preparation is closely related to the in vivo absorption of the drug. However, current in vitro release experiments are labor-intensive and destructive, and the lack of big data also makes it difficult to establish good in vivo and in vitro correlations. Computer modeling, as a technical means that can transform objective principles into mathematical models, has great prospects in data prediction. This review explores the existing computer modeling methods that can be used to predict in vitro release profiles of oral sustained-release tablets, and further discusses auxiliary technologies that can improve the accuracy of the models, providing new ideas for drug development.