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*

An ideal dermal filler should integrate filling, repair, and anti-aging effects, with immediate tissue augmentation, slow degradation, and progressive stimulation of collagen regeneration. However, commonly used hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, while effective for rapid filling, suffer from limited duration of support, weak cell adhesion, and an inability to promote collagen regeneration. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein from silkworm cocoons, is known for its excellent cell adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. However, its limited gelation capability restricts its potential application as a standalone injectable hydrogel. Based on a complementary strategy, this study combines the rapid gelling properties of HA with the collagen regenerative properties of SF to create a co-crosslinked HA-SF hydrogel. The composite hydrogel merges HA's rapid filling effect with SF's strong tissue adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. The formulation, physicochemical properties, degradation, biocompatibility, and filling effects of the HA-SF hydrogel were systematically investigated. HA-SF hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties and ensures long-term support while maintaining injectability. Interestingly, after intradermal injection in the UVB-induced photoaging model, HA-SF hydrogel not only enhances hydrogel-cell interaction but also continues to stimulate collagen regeneration, especially type III collagen. This dual action achieves the biological effects of repair and anti-aging while maintaining the filling effect. Proteomic analysis confirms that repair and anti-aging effects are enhanced by the regulation of skin fibroblasts and modulation of amino acid and lipid metabolism. This composite hydrogel holds strong promise for clinical applications, offering a safer, long-lasting, and more natural injectable filler that combines filling, repair, and anti-aging into one system.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerves play an important role in bone metabolism.In clinical practice,the specific impact of nerve injury on bone transport technology needs further study. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of tibial nerve injury on the treatment of tibial slip by single-plane osteotomy. METHODS:Thirty-two patients with tibial bone defects admitted to Tangshan Second Hospital from May 2011 to June 2022 were selected.According to the presence or absence of tibial nerve injury,patients were divided into the tibial nerve injury group(n=16)and the non-tibial nerve injury group(n=16).Both groups were treated with single-plane osteotomy and bone slip.After treatment,the patients were followed up to collect the mineralization zone healing index,external fixation index,docking point healing and needle infection.After the removal of external fixation,the bone healing and functional evaluation were evaluated by a classification of the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov(ASAMI). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All 32 patients were followed up for(25.28±4.79)months.There were no significant differences in bone healing time,external fixation time,healing index and external fixation index between the two groups(P＞0.05).Needle infection occurred in two cases of the tibial nerve injury group and one case of the non-tibial nerve injury group,all of which were PALEY I,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The non-union rate of the occlusal end of the tibial nerve injury group was 31%,and that of the non-tibial nerve injury group was 13%;there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The excellent and good rate of ASAMI bone healing score in the two groups was 100%;the excellent and good rate of limb score was 81%in the tibial nerve injury group and 94%in the non-tibial nerve injury group;there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).(2)Our research shows that tibial nerve injury has no significant effect on the mineralization speed,external fixation time,union of the occlusal end,infection of the needle tract,and the quality of bone formation in the mineralized area of the single-plane osteotomy.

Objective To study the microanatomic structure of the subtemporal transtentorial approach to the lateral side of the brainstem,and to provide anatomical information that will assist clinicians to perform surgeries on the lateral,circumferential,and petroclival regions of the brainstem.Methods Anatomical investigations were conducted on 8 cadaveric head specimens(16 sides)using the infratemporal transtentorial approach.The heads were tilted to one side,with the zygomatic arch at its highest point.Then,a horseshoe incision was made above the auricle.The incision extended from the midpoint of the zygomatic arch to one third of the mesolateral length of the transverse sinus,with the flap turned towards the temporal part.After removing the bone,the arachnoid and the soft meninges were carefully stripped under the microscope.The exposure range of the surgical approach was observed and the positional relationships of relevant nerves and blood vessels in the approach were clarified.Important structures were photographed and the relevant parameters were measured.Results The upper edge of the zygomatic arch root could be used to accurately locate the base of the middle cranial fossa.The average distances of the star point to the apex of mastoid,the star point to the superior ridge of external auditory canal,the anterior angle of parietomastoid suture to the superior ridge of external auditory canal,and the anterior angle of parietomastoid suture to the star point of the 10 adult skull specimens were 47.23 mm,45.27 mm,26.16 mm,and 23.08 mm,respectively.The subtemporal approach could fully expose the area from as high as the posterior clinoid process to as low as the petrous ridge and the arcuate protuberance after cutting through the cerebellar tentorium.The approach makes it possible to handle lesions on the ventral or lateral sides of the middle clivus,the cistern ambiens,the midbrain,midbrain,and pons.In addition,the approach can significantly expand the exposure area of the upper part of the tentorium cerebelli through cheekbone excision and expand the exposure range of the lower part of the tentorium cerebelli through rock bone grinding technology.The total length of the trochlear nerve,distance of the trochlear nerve to the tentorial edge of cerebellum,length of its shape in the tentorial mezzanine,and its lower part of entering into the tentorium cerebelli to the petrosal ridge were(16.95±4.74)mm,(1.27±0.73)mm,(5.72±1.37)mm,and(4.51±0.39)mm,respectively.The cerebellar tentorium could be safely opened through the posterior clinoid process or arcuate protrusion for localization.The oculomotor nerve could serve as an anatomical landmark to locate the posterior cerebral artery and superior cerebellar artery.Conclusion Through microanatomic investigation,the exposure range and intraoperative difficulties of the infratemporal transtentorial approach can be clarified,which facilitates clinicians to accurately and safely plan surgical methods and reduce surgical complications.

The shoulder joint is the most flexible joint in the body with the largest range of motion, and the movement pattern is more complex. Accurate capture of three-dimensional motion data of the shoulder joint is crucial for biomechanical evaluation. Optical motion capture systems offer a non-invasive and radiation-free method to capture shoulder joint motion data during complex movements, enabling further biomechanical analysis of the shoulder joint. This review provides a comprehensive overview of optical motion capture technology in the context of shoulder joint movement, including measurement principles, data processing methods to reduce artifacts from skin and soft tissues, factors influencing measurement results, and applications in shoulder joint disorders.
Humans ; Shoulder ; Motion Capture ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Upper Extremity ; Shoulder Joint ; Movement ; Range of Motion, Articular

Objective: To understand the current status of diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) among hematologists, oncologists, and lymphoma physicians from hospitals of different levels in China. Methods: This multicenter questionnaire survey was conducted from March 2021 to July 2021 and included 1,000 eligible physicians. A combination of face-to-face interviews and online questionnaire surveys was used. A standardized questionnaire regarding the composition of patients treated for CLL/SLL, disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation, concomitant diseases, organ function evaluation, treatment selection, and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor was used. Results: ①The interviewed physicians stated that the proportion of male patients treated for CLL/SLL is higher than that of females, and the age is mainly concentrated in 61-70 years old. ②Most of the interviewed physicians conducted tests, such as bone marrow biopsies and immunohistochemistry, for patient diagnosis, in addition to the blood test. ③Only 13.7% of the interviewed physicians fully grasped the initial treatment indications recommended by the existing guidelines. ④In terms of cognition of high-risk prognostic factors, physicians' knowledge of unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable and 11q- is far inferior to that of TP53 mutation and complex karyotype, which are two high-risk prognostic factors, and only 17.1% of the interviewed physicians fully mastered CLL International Prognostic Index scoring system. ⑤Among the first-line treatment strategy, BTK inhibitors are used for different types of patients, and physicians have formed a certain understanding that BTK inhibitors should be preferentially used in patients with high-risk factors and elderly patients, but the actual use of BTK inhibitors in different types of patients is not high (31.6%-46.0%). ⑥BTK inhibitors at a reduced dose in actual clinical treatment were used by 69.0% of the physicians, and 66.8% of the physicians had interrupted the BTK inhibitor for >12 days in actual clinical treatment. The use of BTK inhibitors is reduced or interrupted mainly because of adverse reactions, such as atrial fibrillation, severe bone marrow suppression, hemorrhage, and pulmonary infection, as well as patients' payment capacity and effective disease progression control. ⑦Some differences were found in the perceptions and behaviors of hematologists and oncologists regarding the prognostic assessment of CLL/SLL, the choice of treatment options, the clinical use of BTK inhibitors, etc. Conclusion: At present, a gap remains between the diagnosis and treatment of CLL/SLL among Chinese physicians compared with the recommendations in the guidelines regarding the diagnostic criteria, treatment indications, prognosis assessment, accompanying disease assessment, treatment strategy selection, and rational BTK inhibitor use, especially the proportion of dose reduction or BTK inhibitor discontinuation due to high adverse events.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy* ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/therapeutic use*

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of letermovir in primary prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients receiving haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: This retrospective, cohort study was conducted using data of patients who underwent haploidentical transplantation at Peking University Institute of Hematology and received letermovir for primary prophylaxis between May 1, 2022 and August 30, 2022. The inclusion criteria of the letermovir group were as follows: letermovir initiation within 30 days after transplantation and continuation for≥90 days after transplantation. Patients who underwent haploidentical transplantation within the same time period but did not receive letermovir prophylaxis were selected in a 1∶4 ratio as controls. The main outcomes were the incidence of CMV infection and CMV disease after transplantation as well as the possible effects of letermovir on acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and bone marrow suppression. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test, and continuous variables were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for evaluating incidence differences. Results: Seventeen patients were included in the letermovir prophylaxis group. The median patient age in the letermovir group was significantly greater than that in the control group (43 yr vs. 15 yr; Z=-4.28, P<0.001). The two groups showed no significant difference in sex distribution and primary diseases, etc. (all P>0.05). The proportion of CMV-seronegative donors was significantly higher in the letermovir prophylaxis group in comparison with the control group (8/17 vs. 0/68, χ²=35.32, P<0.001). Three out of the 17 patients in the letermovir group experienced CMV reactivation, which was significantly lower than the incidence of CMV reactivation in the control group (3/17 vs. 40/68, χ²=9.23, P=0.002), and no CMV disease development observed in the letermovir group. Letermovir showed no significant effects on platelet engraftment (P=0.105), aGVHD (P=0.348), and 100-day NRM (P=0.474). Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that letermovir may effectively reduce the incidence of CMV infection after haploidentical transplantation without influencing aGVHD, NRM, and bone marrow suppression. Prospective randomized controlled studies are required to further verify these findings.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus ; Retrospective Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Prospective Studies ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/prevention & control* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control* ; Recurrence ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use*

Humans ; Isoniazid/pharmacology* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics* ; Rifampin/pharmacology* ; Antitubercular Agents/pharmacology* ; Mutation ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/microbiology* ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics*

Aim To explore whether isopropyl3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl) -2-hydroxypropanoate (IDHP) could inhibit fat accumulation in liver cells by improving mitochondrial function, and alleviate the symptom of excessive fat accumulation in patients with NAFLD. Methods Cell steatosis model was established by inducing hepatocyte fat accumulation using palmitic acid and oleic acid (PA: OA molar ratio =1