Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men, but its relationship with dietary habits is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess whether dietary patterns enhance erectile function by reviewing the literature published before August 1, 2022, via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. The data compiled included author details; publication dates, countries, treatments, patient numbers, ages, follow-ups, and clinical trial outcomes, such as ED cases, odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores with means and standard deviations. An analysis of 14 studies with 27 389 participants revealed that plant-based diets (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75; P < 0.00001), low-fat diets (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.53; P = 0.0002), and alternative diets such as intermittent fasting and organic diets (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80; P = 0.002) significantly reduced ED risk. High-protein low-fat diets (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64; P < 0.00001) and high-carb low-fat diets (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.04; P < 0.00001) improved IIEF-5 scores. Combined diet and exercise interventions decreased the likelihood of ED (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85; P = 0.01) and increased the IIEF-5 score (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69-5.11; P < 0.0001). Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98; P < 0.00001) and nuts (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.80; P = 0.002) were also correlated with lower ED risk. Our meta-analysis underscores a strong dietary-ED association, suggesting that low-fat/Mediterranean diets rich in produce and nuts could benefit ED management.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Diet ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Feeding Behavior ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Diet, Vegetarian

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

This study design of specific identification primers for the ITS2 sequence of F. ussuriensis. The reaction system and conditions were optimized, and PCR-nucleic acid test strips were constructed to realize the visual detection of F. ussuriensis Bark. Through molecular cloning and sequencing technology, we constructed a positive control for F. ussuriensis DNA and formulated quality standards. The established method was evaluated for sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, and the authenticity of the commercially available samples was identified. Results demonstrated that based on the ITS2 sequences, F. ussuriensis and its mixed forgeries could be distinguished. The PCR products of the authentic F. ussuriensis on test strips showed two bands in the T and C lines, while the pseudo products and negative control showed only one band in the C line, which was consistent with the results of agarose gel electrophoresis. The specificity was 100%, and the sensitivity of the PCR-nucleic acid test strip was up to 0.1 ng·μL^-1, which was 10 times higher than that of the gel electrophoresis assay. 11 out of 16 commercially available samples of F. ussuriensis were qualified, and 5 were unqualified. Collectively, the PCR-nucleic acid test strip method established in this study is specific, rapid, accurate and visualized, which can provide a new technical idea for the detection of F. ussuriensis.

In recent years, the development of host-acting antibacterial compounds has gradually become a hotspot in the field of anti-infection. Through research on the interaction mechanism between hosts and pathogenic bacteria, it has been found that the immune system is one of the key targets of host-acting antibacterial compounds. There is a communication system called the quorum sensing system in microorganisms, which mainly adjusts the structure of multi-microbial community and coordinates the group behavior. When the quorum sensing molecules secreted by microorganisms reach a threshold concentration, the quorum sensing system is activated and the overall gene expression of the microorganism is changed. In addition to regulating the density of microorganisms, quorum sensing molecules can also act as a link between pathogenic microorganisms and hosts, entering the host immune system and playing a role in affecting the morphological structure of immune cells, secreting cytokines, and inducing apoptosis, leading to host immune injury and causing host immune dysfunction.The key mechanism of 3-oxo-C12-HSL and other acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules in the innate immune system has been extensively studied. The lipid solubility allows AHLs to pass through the plasma membrane of host immune cells easily and induce dissolution of lipid domains. Then, it acts through signaling pathways such as p38MAPK and JAK-STAT, further influencing the immune cell’s defense response to bacteria and potentially leading to cell apoptosis. Additionally, the human lactonase paraoxonase 2, which can degrade3-oxo-C12-HSL, has been found in macrophage. It acts as an immune regulator that promotes macrophage phagocytosis of pathogens and is hypothesized to have the ability to reduce bacterial resistance. The mechanism of quorum sensing molecules in the adaptive immune system is less studied, the current results suggest that 3-oxo-C12-HSL is closely related to the mitochondrial pathway in host immune cells. For example, 3-oxo-C12-HSL induces apoptosis of Jurkat cells by inhibiting the expression of three mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins; it can also trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and induce mast cell apoptosis through Ca²⁺ signaling.Among the quorum sensing molecules, the AHLs have the greatest impact on plant immune system. The different effects on plant resistance depends on the chain lengths of acyl groups in bacterial-produced AHLs. Short-chain AHLs (C4-HSL and C8-HSL) induce plant resistance to pathogenic bacteria mainly through the auxin pathway and jasmonic acid pathway. Long-chain AHL (3-oxo-C14-HSL) is commonly used in hosts against fungal pathogens by inducing stomata defense responses, and the reaction process is related to salicylic acid. Diffusible signal factor molecules also interfere with the stomatal immunity caused by pathogens. It may act through the formin nanoclustering-mediated actin assembly and MPK3 pathway to inhibit the innate immunity of Arabidopsis. In summary, AHLs induced different plant pathways and affects the plant-bacteria interactions to trigger plant immunity. As a quorum sensing molecule of fungi, farnesol has similar effects on host immunity as AHLs, such as stimulating cytokine secretion and activating an inflammatory response. It also plays a unique role on dendritic cell differentiation and maturation. In addition, studies have found that farnesol has a protective effect on autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which may be related to its effect on the composition of intestinal microorganisms of the host.Therefore, targeting the host immune system and quorum sensing molecules to develop antibacterial compounds can effectively inhibit the invasion of pathogens and subserve the host to resist the influence of pathogenic bacteria. This article will review the mechanism of host immune responses triggered by important quorum sensing molecules, aiming to explore the targets of host-acting antibacterial compounds and provide new directions for the prevention or treatment of causative infectious sources and the development of related drugs.

Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test.Results:A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI: 2.23-3.88) points ( P<0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI: 4.03-5.37) points ( P<0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P<0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions:This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.

Objective:To investigate the effects of ATG5 and ATG7 genes on the sensitivity of multiple myeloma(MM)cell line RPMI-8226 cells to ferroptosis.Methods:CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knock out the autophagy key genes ATG5 and ATG7 in RPMI-8226 cells.Western blot was used to identify gene knockout cells,and detect the expression changes of autophagy-related proteins P62 and LC3B.Flow cytometry was used to detect the change of sensitivity of gene knockout cells to RSL3.The content of intracellular ferrous ions and reactive oxygen species(ROS)level in gene knockout cells were detected.Results:Western blot result confirmed that ATG5 and ATG7 genes were knocked out successfully in RPMI-8226 cells.The result of flow cytometry showed that the cell viability of RPMI-8226 cells was dose-dependent on different concentrations of RSL3(r=-0.969).RSL3(10 μmol/L)was used to induce ferroptosis in cells of control group and gene knockout groups,then the cell viability in gene knockout groups were both higher than control group after 48 hours(both P＜0.001).After knocking out the ATG5 and ATG7 genes,the content of intracellular Fe2+decreased significantly compared with control group(both P＜0.01),and the ROS level also decreased(both P＜0.001).Conclusion:Knockout of ATG5 and ATG7 genes can inhibit the ferroptosis of MM cells,and LAP pathway may be involved in the regulation.

Trihelix transcription factors play important roles in plant light responses, growth and development, and stress responses. However, Trihelix has not yet been reported in Eucommia ulmoides. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to comprehensively identify and analyze the expression patterns of the Trihelix gene family in E. ulmoides, aiming to provide a basis for further functional studies of EuGTs genes. A total of 9 Trihelix gene family members were identified in E. ulmoides, encoding proteins with 339 to 883 amino acids, with isoelectric points ranging from 5.13 to 9.39 and relative molecular weights between 36 992.06 and 97 871.61. Subcellular localization results showed that only EuGT-2 was localized in chloroplasts, while the others were located in the nucleus. The Trihelix gene family was categorized into six subfamilies: GT-1, GT-2, SH4, SIP1, GTγ, and GTδ. EuGTs were distributed among three subfamilies: SH4, GT-1, and GT-2, containing 1, 6, and 2 Trihelix proteins, respectively, with 2 to 17 exons. The promoters of EuGTs contained various cis-acting elements related to hormones, stress, photoperiod, and growth and development. Collinearity analysis revealed 5 collinear gene pairs between E. ulmoides and Arabidopsis thaliana, and 14 collinear gene pairs between E. ulmoides and Populus. Expression pattern analysis showed that EuGTs exhibited tissue-specific expression: EuGT-1, EuGT-2 had the highest expression levels in leaves, EuGT-4, EuGT-6, EuGT-9 had the highest transcriptional levels in marginal peel, and EuGT-5、EuGT-8 were predominantly expressed in the xylem. As leaves developed, EuGTs showed a trend of asynchronous changes. No significant differences in EuGTs expression were observed between male and female flowers, with high expression levels mainly during the induction stage of flowering. The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that most EuGTs genes were most highly expressed in the leaves of E. ulmoides, while EuGT-5 was highly expressed in the stems. Under 200 mmol·L~(-1) NaCl treatment, most EuGTs genes exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease in expression, significantly responding to salt stress. This study provides important genetic resources for further exploration of EuGTs gene functions and germplasm innovation in E. ulmoides.
Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Eucommiaceae/chemistry* ; Phylogeny ; Multigene Family/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Genome, Plant/genetics*

Aim To study the regulation and mechanism of phloroglucinol in bladder smooth muscle spasm. Methods In vitro the experiment used bladder muscle strip to verify the relieving effect of phloro-glucinol on bladder spasm by different drugs. At the same time,RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of genes involved in the calcium signaling pathway caused by the antispasmodic effect of phloroglucinol. Results Phloroglucinol could relieve bladder spasm, and the antispasmodic effect was enhanced with the increase of concentration, and the expression of calponin 1 and MYLK3 in tissue cells increased. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression of Gprc5b G,Ppp2r5a, Chptl, Prkar2b ,Abcd2 and Rasdl genes in mouse bladder tissue significantly decreased, which was consistent with the sequencing results of RNA-seq.Conclusions Phloroglucinol can relieve bladder smooth muscle spasm, and its mechanism is related to calcium signaling pathway. Meanwhile, phloroglucinol also inhibits the expression of Rasdl gene, suggesting that it may be related to cell cycle , protein phosphorylation, choline metabolism, ATP synthesis and tumor-related pathways.

Dengzhan Shengmai capsule, as a compound Chinese patent medicine, consists of four herbs: Herba Erigerontis, Ginseng, Ophiopogon, and Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, and contains significant components of flavonoids, lignans, saponins, and organic acids. It is widely used clinically to treat cerebrovascular diseases such as chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and dementia with remarkable efficacy. This study proposes a research strategy for multi-component traditional Chinese medicine metabolites based on prediction databases and unfolds the analysis using Dengzhan Shengmai capsule as an example. Using the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method, the analytical method was established and detected biological samples such as urine, feces, and bile of rats before and after administration based on the prediction of theoretical metabolites of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule. The possible secondary fragment ion information of metabolites was identified by comparing the detected results with prediction databases. The metabolites were identified based on the archetypal component mass spectrometric cleavage law and multistage mass spectrometric data. 51 metabolites, mainly flavonoid, organic acid, and lignan constituents, were finally identified from rat biosamples based on 306 theoretical metabolites of Dengzhan Shengmai capsule. This study provides a new strategy for the identification of metabolites in vivo and the analysis of metabolic pathways of TCM. The study complied with the procedures established by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and passed the animal experiment ethics examine (No. 00003645).