ObjectiveTo investigate the association between endothelin receptor type A gene （EDNRA） and congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens （CBAVD）. MethodsThis case-control study consisted of 124 subjects with CBAVD and 100 fertile controls.Two single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs： rs5335 and rs1801708） in the EDNRA gene were genotyped via PCR， PCR-RFLP analysis， and direct sequencing. ResultsNo significant differences existed between EDNRA polymorphisms and CBAVD phenotype （rs1801708： P=0.220 2， 0.163 2； rs5335： P=0.805 8， 0.818 6）. However， the rs1801708-rs5335 haplotype AG was notably associated with an increased risk of CBAVD （P=0.008 6， OR=2.178， 95% CI： 1.207-3.929）. A significantly protective effect of rs1801708-rs5335 haplotype GG on CBAVD （P=0.038 5， OR= 0.671， 95% CI： 0.460-0.980） was observed. After Bonferroni correction， the result for haplotype A-G remained significant （P =0.008 6<0.012 5）， while haplotype G-G was not significant. ConclusionThe rs1801708-rs5335 AG haplotype of EDNRA is a potential risk factor for CBAVD development in Han Chinese.

Objective The aim of this study is to systematically analyze the therapeutic mechanisms of Wuzi Yuye Decoction in diabetic oligoasthenozoospermia based on network pharmacology and animal experiments.Methods Active components and therapeutic targets of Wuzi Yuye Decoction were screened by integrating multiple databases,and their inter-section with diabetic oligoasthenozoospermia-related targets was obtained.Common targets were identified using the Venny platform,and protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed via the STRING database.And key targets were screened through topological analysis with Cytoscape.Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analyses were performed using the DAVID platform.A mouse model of diabetic oligoasthenozoospermia was established by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin induction,followed by intervention with Wuzi Yuye Decoction.Body weight,testicular index,and sperm quality were assessed,while histopathological changes were evaluated by HE staining and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).In addition,ELISA,oxidative stress assays and Western blot were used to verify the changes in key pathway-related proteins.Results A total of 36 common targets were identified,including key nodes such as TNF,IL6 and IL1B.Enrichment analysis indicated that these targets were sig-nificantly involved in inflammatory responses,oxidative stress,autophagy-apoptosis regulation and reproduction-related pathways.Animal experiments confirmed that Wuzi Yuye Decoction markedly improved testicular mass and sperm motility in diabetic mice,reduced the levels of AGE,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in testicular tissues,alleviated oxidative stress damage,and restored autophagic flux and blood-testis barrier function by inhibiting the RAGE/NF-κB/mTOR signaling axis.Conclusion Wuzi Yuye Decoction improves the pathological progression of diabetic oligoasthenozoospermia by synergistically modulating multiple targets,including inflammation inhibition,antioxidant effects,autophagy regulation,and related pathways.

Based on the practice of National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC) in Hunan Province for five years, this paper systematically reviewed the excellent experience and advanced practices of diabetes prevention and control in several demonstration areas.

Objective:To explore the effects of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate with early complete transection of the urethral mucosa at the tip of the prostate on urinary control function and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:Eighty patients with BPH who underwent holmium laser enucleation of the prostate in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan′an University from January 2019 to January 2023 were collected as the research subjects. The patients were divided into the observation group and the control group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The observation group underwent early holmium laser enucleation of the prostate with early complete transection of the urethral mucosa at the tip of the prostate, while the control group underwent conventional holmium laser prostatectomy. The general conditions, urinary control function and sexual function of the two groups of patients after the operation were compared. The adverse ejaculation conditions 6 months after the operation were recorded.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in age and prostate volume between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative indwelling urinary catheter time and postoperative hospital stay in the observation group were significantly less than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS) score, Quality of Life (QOL) score, the maximum flow rate (Qmax), and post void residual (PVR) in the bladder of the two groups of patients 6 months after the operation were compared with those before the operation, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences between the groups (all P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores and Erection Hardness Grading Scale (EHGS) grades of the two groups of patients 6 months after surgery compared with those before surgery (all P>0.05), and there were also no statistically significant differences between the groups (all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the ejaculation function score and ejaculation distress score 6 months after the operation in the observation group compared with those before the operation (all P>0.05), while in the control group, the ejaculation function score 6 months after the operation was lower than that before the operation, and the ejaculation distress score was higher than that before the operation (all P<0.05). The ejaculation function score and ejaculation distress score of the observation group 6 months after the operation were significantly better than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The incidences of retrograde ejaculation and reduced semen volume 6 months after the operation in the observation group were both lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of rapid ejaculation, ejaculation pain, hematospermia, etc. between the two groups of patients 6 months after the operation (all P>0.05). Conclusions:In holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, early complete transection of the urethral mucosa at the tip of the prostate has an improving effect on urinary control function and sexual function in patients with BPH, and increases the confidence in postoperative life and satisfaction with orgasm of BPH patients.

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.

The connection between tendons and bones is called the tendon bone connection. With the continuous improvement of national sports awareness, excessive exercises and the related intensity are prone to damage the tendon bone connection. Tendon bone healing is a complex repair and healing process involving multiple factors, and good tendon bone healing is a prerequisite for its physiological function. The complexity of tendon bone structure also poses great challenges to the repair of tendon bone injuries. In recent years, researches have found that stem cells, growth factors, macrophages, and other factors are closely related to the healing process of tendon bone injuries, among which macrophages play an important role in the healing process. The authors reviewed relevant research literature in recent years and summarized the role of macrophages in tendon bone healing, in order to provide new ideas and directions for treatment strategies to promote tendon bone healing.
Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Wound Healing ; Animals ; Tendons/physiology* ; Bone and Bones/injuries* ; Tendon Injuries

Objective:To investigate the role of heat shock transcription factor 1(HSF1)in hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx)-driven migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cells,and to preliminarily explore the mechanism of HSF1 mediating HBx-driven HCC progression.Methods:4D label-free quantitative proteomics and Western blot were used to analyze the effect of HBx on HSF1 expression.HBx was overexpressed in the HCC cell lines Huh7 and MHCC97H,and its impact on the mRNA and protein levels and stability of HSF1 was assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot.The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to analyze the expres-sion of HSF1 in hepatitis B virus(HBV)-associated HCC tissues and its relationship with tumor stage/grade and patient prognosis,and Western blot was used to measure the expression of HSF1 in HBV-associated HCC tissues.HBx was overexpressed in HCC cells,fol-lowed by HSF1 knockdown or cell treatment with the HSF1 inhibitor KRIBB11,and Transwell migration and invasion assay,scratch as-say,and F-actin staining experiment were performed to analyze the role of HSF1 in HBx-driven HCC cell migration and invasion.GEO and HCMDB datasets were used to identify the downstream target of HSF1,and the role of downstream target c-Myb in HSF1-me-diated HBx-driven HCC progression.Results:HBx upregulated HSF1 protein levels without significantly affecting its mRNA expres-sion,through enhancing HSF1 protein stability.HSF1 was highly ex-pressed in HBV-associated HCC tissues,and its elevated expres-sion correlated with tumor stage/grade and poor prognosis.HBx overexpression significantly promoted the migration,invasion,wound-healing capacity,and pseudopodia formation capacity of Huh7 and MHCC97H cells,while HSF1 knockdown or KRIBB11 treatment significantly attenuated the HBx-driven migration and in-vasion of HCC.HSF1 promoted the expression of the metastasis-associated protein c-Myb,and c-Myb overexpression in HSF1-knock-down HCC cells restored the promotive effect of HBx on HCC cell migration and invasion.Conclusion:HBx enhances HSF1 protein stability to promote its expression.Upregulation of c-Myb by HSF1 plays a pivotal role in HBx-driven HCC cell migration and inva-sion.Targeting HSF1 may help to delay the progression of HBV-associated HCC.

Background: The genus Atractylodes, native to East Asia, encompasses several species that serve as sources for the widely used traditional Chinese medicines Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma. However, the international trade arouses concern regarding potential confusion and misidentification of Atractylodes species. Objective: A comprehensive understanding of the chemical diversity is crucial for ensuring the quality and exploring the potential variations in medicinal efficacy of Atractylodes. Methods: The GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis identified 589 differentially accumulated metabolites across 5 Atractylodes species. Results: A total of 150 metabolites were predicted as potential chemical markers for species differentiation and quality assessment of Atractylodes. According to the metabolic profiles, the species of Atractylodes can be roughly classified into three categories: A. lancea and A. coreana with the volatile oil components being mainly atractylodin and β-eudesmol; A. macrocephala with the biomarker being atractylon; and A. japonica and A. carlinoides lying between the two categories above. Conclusions: Metabolomic results indicated that the metabolic profiles of A. carlinoides and A. macrocephala were similar and distinct from those of the other three species. Sesquiterpenoids were the main chemical components in the rhizome of A. carlinoides, which indicated the potential medicinal value of this plant.

Background: The genus Atractylodes, native to East Asia, encompasses several species that serve as sources for the widely used traditional Chinese medicines Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma. However, the international trade arouses concern regarding potential confusion and misidentification of Atractylodes species. Objective: A comprehensive understanding of the chemical diversity is crucial for ensuring the quality and exploring the potential variations in medicinal efficacy of Atractylodes. Methods: The GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis identified 589 differentially accumulated metabolites across 5 Atractylodes species. Results: A total of 150 metabolites were predicted as potential chemical markers for species differentiation and quality assessment of Atractylodes. According to the metabolic profiles, the species of Atractylodes can be roughly classified into three categories: A. lancea and A. coreana with the volatile oil components being mainly atractylodin and β-eudesmol; A. macrocephala with the biomarker being atractylon; and A. japonica and A. carlinoides lying between the two categories above. Conclusions: Metabolomic results indicated that the metabolic profiles of A. carlinoides and A. macrocephala were similar and distinct from those of the other three species. Sesquiterpenoids were the main chemical components in the rhizome of A. carlinoides, which indicated the potential medicinal value of this plant.