Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) is a disease characterized by femoral head collapse and local pain caused by excessive use of glucocorticoids. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is mainly expressed in adipose tissue. Wnt/β-catenin, AMPK and other related signaling pathways play an important role in regulating adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid uptake and storage. Bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMSCs) have the ability to differentiate into adipocytes or osteoblasts, and the use of hormones upregulates PPARγ expression, resulting in BMSCs biased towards adipogenic differentiation. The increase of adipocytes affects the blood supply and metabolism of the femoral head, and the decrease of osteoblasts leads to the loss of trabecular bone, which eventually leads to partial or total ischemic necrosis and collapse of the femoral head. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting the transcription or translation of target genes, thereby affecting cell function and disease progression. Studies have shown that miRNAs affect the progression of SONFH by regulating PPARγ lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways. Therefore, it may be an accurate and feasible SONFH treatment strategy to regulate adipogenic-osteoblast differentiation in BMSCs by targeted intervention of miRNA differential expression to improve lipid metabolism. In this paper, the miRNA-mediated PPARγ-related signaling pathways were classified and summarized to clarify their effects on lipid metabolism in SONFH, providing a theoretical reference for miRNA targeted therapy of SONFH, and then providing scientific evidence for SONFH precision medicine.
MicroRNAs/physiology* ; PPAR gamma/metabolism* ; Femur Head Necrosis/metabolism* ; Humans ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Lipid Metabolism/physiology* ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Glucocorticoids/adverse effects*

Male infertility (MI) and male sexual dysfunction (MSD) can often coexist together due to various interplay factors such as psychosexual, sociocultural and relationship dynamics. The presence of each form of MSD can adversely impact male reproduction and treatment strategies will need to be individualized based on patients’ factors, local expertise, and geographical socioeconomic status. The Asia Pacific Society of Sexual Medicine (APSSM) and the Asian Society of Men’s Health and Aging (ASMHA) aim to provide a consensus statement and practical set of clinical recommendations based on current evidence to guide clinicians in the management of MI and MSD within the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. A comprehensive, narrative review of the literature was performed to identify the various forms of MSD and their association with MI. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for the following English language articles under the following terms: “low libido”, “erectile dysfunction”, “ejaculatory dysfunction”, “premature ejaculation”, “retrograde ejaculation”, “delayed ejaculation”, “anejaculation”, and “orgasmic dysfunction” between January 2001 to June 2022 with emphasis on published guidelines endorsed by various organizations. This APSSM consensus committee panel evaluated and provided evidence-based recommendations on MI and clinically relevant MSD areas using a modified Delphi method by the panel and specific emphasis on locoregional socioeconomic-cultural issues relevant to the AP region. While variations exist in treatment strategies for managing MI and MSD due to geographical expertise, locoregional resources, and sociocultural factors, the panel agreed that comprehensive fertility evaluation with a multidisciplinary management approach to each MSD domain is recommended. It is important to address individual MI issues with an emphasis on improving spermatogenesis and facilitating reproductive avenues while at the same time, managing various MSD conditions with evidence-based treatments. All therapeutic options should be discussed and implemented based on the patient’s individual needs, beliefs and preferences while incorporating locoregional expertise and available resources.

Humans ; Child ; Neurofibromatosis 1/drug therapy* ; Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use*

Objective: To investigate the influence of HBsAg expression in peritumoral tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients on their postoperative recurrence. Methods: The HCC patients treated in Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital from October 2009 to August 2010 were selected. The clinicopathological data and adjacent tissues of 718 patients were collected, and dextran polymer immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HBsAg in adjacent tissues. According to the expression of HBsAg in adjacent tissues, the tissues were divided into HBsAg positive group and HBsAg negative group. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 718 patients in the whole group, 153 were HBsAg negative and 565 were HBsAg positive. There was a statistically significant difference in serum HBV DNA level between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative patients (P<0.001). The number of patients with serum DNA≥2 000 IU/ml and<2 000 IU/ml in HBsAg negative group were 52 and 93, while the patients in HBsAg positive group were 325 and 205. The cumulative recurrence rates of all patients at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery were 30.2%, 54.3%, and 62.7%, respectively. The expression of HBsAg was related to the recurrence (P=0.038). Multivariate analysis showed that γ-GT, PT, multiple tumors, tumor length, and portal vein invasion were independent risk factors for recurrence of HCC (P<0.05). In HBeAg-negative patients with low viral load (HBV DNA <2 000 IU/ml) and without cirrhosis, the recurrence rates of HBsAg-positive patients were 14.3% and 31.0% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, compared with HBsAg negative patients (all 0), the difference was statistically significant (P=0.021). Conclusion: The positive expression of HBsAg in peritumoral tissue increases the postoperative recurrence risk of HCC patients.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; China ; DNA, Viral/analysis* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus/metabolism* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective: Most of the studies on the herb Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR) have focused on the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, but the nitrate-nitrite-NO (NO

Fusarium is the major pathogen of root rot of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. This study aims to explain the possible distribution of Fusarium species and the contamination of its toxin-chemotypes in tuberous root of P. heterophylla. A total of 89 strains of fungi were isolated from the tuberous root of P. heterophylla. Among them, 29 strains were identified as Fusarium by ITS2 sequence, accounting for 32.5%. They were identified as five species of F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum, F. fujikuroi, F. oxysporum, and F. graminearum based on β-Tubulin and EF-1α genes. LC-MS/MS detected 18, 1, and 5 strains able to produce ZEN, DON, and T2, which accounted for 62.1%, 3.4%, and 17.2%, respectively. Strain JK3-3 can produce ZEN, DON, and T2, while strains BH1-4-1, BH6-5, and BH16-2 can produce ZEN and T2. PCR detected six key synthase genes of Tri1, Tri7, Tri8, Tri13, PKS14, and PKS13 in strain JK3-3, which synthesized three toxins of ZEN, DON, and T2. Four key synthase genes of Tri8, Tri13, PKS14, and PKS13 were detected in strains BH1-4-1, BH6-5, and BH16-2, which were responsible for the synthesis of ZEN and T2. The results showed that the key genes of toxin biosynthesis were highly correlated with the toxins produced by Fusarium, and the biosynthesis of toxin was strictly controlled by the genetic information of the strain. This study provides a data basis for the targeted prevention and control of exo-genous mycotoxins in P. heterophylla and a possibility for the development of PCR for rapid detection of toxin contamination.
Caryophyllaceae ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Fusarium/genetics* ; Mycotoxins ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of blocking polypyrimidine complex binding to DNA site by using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) on γ-globin gene expression.

METHODSPYR-PNA, β-PNA and RS-PNA (random sequence-PNA) were designed and synthesized, then were transfected into K562 cells with the cationic liposome lipofectamine 2000 used as vector. The expression of γ-globin gene at both the transcriptional and translational level was detected by RT-PCR and the Western blot respectively at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfection with PNAs.

RESULTSCompared with RS-PNA and control groups, the expression of γ-globin gene at mRNA and protein levels in PYR-PNA group was significantly up-regulated(P<0.05), especially at 48 h after tranfection, the levels of mRNA and protein in PYR-PNA group were increased by 2.0 and 2.5 times than those in control group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPYR-PNA can significantly up-regulate the expression of γ-globin gene in K562 cells, this study may provide a new research idea for gene therapy of β-thalassemia.

DNA ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Peptide Nucleic Acids ; Transfection ; gamma-Globins

Objective To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The plasma norepinephrine level of severe group was significantly higher than the mild group in children with EV71 infection in HFMD (P < 0.05); however, the levels of plasma adrenaline in two groups had no statistical differences (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in the distribution of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C genotype and allele between EV71 infection group and healthy control group (P > 0.05). Further analysis of EV71 infection group by dividing it into mild and severe groups showed that there was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype and allele between these two groups as well (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in different genotypes of EV71 infection group (P > 0.05), and in the levels of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the mild and severe groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions As the disease gets worse, the plasma norepinephrine level has a rising trend in children with EV71 infection in HFMD, which is an important indicator to evaluate the progress of the disease. However, the gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C have no significant correlation, not only with the susceptibility and severity of EV71 infection in hand, foot and mouth disease, but also with the levels of catecholamine.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of potential spinal growth on the posterior-only spinal instrumentation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODSFrom June 2003 to October 2007, 40 patients received posterior-only spinal instrumentation. Group of open triradiate cartilage (Group A) included 16 female AIS patients with mean age of 11.8, and group of closed triradiate cartilages (Group B) covered 24 female AIS patients with mean age of 13.7. The mean preoperative Cobb angles of Group A and B were 53.3° and 49.6° respectively, and the mean kyphosis in the sagittal plane was 27.7° and 27.8° respectively.

RESULTSThe post-operative Cobb angles were 22.2° (Group A) vs. 20.7° (Group B) (P = 0.34) with correction rate of 58.3% (Group A) vs. 57.7% (Group B) (P = 0.83). The mean Cobb angles at final follow-up were 24.8° (Group A) vs. 21.1° (Group B) (P = 0.05) with the correction loss of 5.3% (Group A) vs. 1.0% (Group B) (P = 0.01). In the sagittal plane, the average post-operative kyphosis was 22.5° (Group A) vs. 23.9° (Group B) (P = 0.49) with correction of 5.2° (Group A) vs. 3.9°(Group B) (P = 0.63). The mean kyphosis at final follow-up was 20.8°(Group A) vs. 24.7°(Group B) (P = 0.04) with the correction loss of -1.7° (Group A) vs. 0.8°(Group B) (P = 0.01). Group A showed obvious correction loss in the coronal plane and decrease of kyphosis in the sagittal plane. Adding on phenomenon was found in 2 cases with Lenke type I with selected fusion in Group A, but not in Group B.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough similar post-operative correction is found in AIS patients with OTRC or CTRC, the loss of correction and "adding on phenomenon" are more likely to happen in patients with OTRC.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamic change of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA, protein, and tyrosine kinase-coupled receptor (TrkB) mRNA of the rat hippocampus under different stress conditions and to explore the influence of senescence on the productions expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using forced-swimming in 4degrees C cold ice water and 25degrees C warm water, young and aged male rats were randomly divided into acute stress (AS) and chronic mild repeated stress (CMRS) subgroups, respectively. BDNF productions and TrkB mRNA in the hippocampus were detected by using Western-blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), separately, at 15, 30, 60, 180, and 720 min after the last stress session. RESULTS: The short AS induced a significant increase in BDNF mRNA and protein in both age groups, but the changes in the young group were substantially greater than those of the aged group (p < 0.005). The CMRS resulted in a decrease in BDNF mRNA and protein, but a significant increase in TrkB mRNA in both young and age groups. The expression of BDNF mRNA and protein in the AS groups were higher than in the CMRS groups at 15, 30, and 60 min after stress. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the up/down-regulation of BDNF and TrkB were affected by aging and the stimulus paradigm, which might reflect important mechanisms by which the hippocampus copes with stressful stimuli.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Corticosterone/blood ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Hippocampus/*metabolism ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, trkB/genetics/*metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stress, Physiological/genetics/*physiology