Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017-2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 10 6 (0.09 × 10 6 -0.27 × 10 6 ) ml and 12.21 × 10 6 (4.52 × 10 6 -19.91 × 10 6 ) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Semen Analysis ; China ; Body Fat Distribution ; Longitudinal Studies ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Body Mass Index ; Tissue Donors ; Obesity/complications* ; Spermatozoa ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of endocrinotherapy combined with Shenqi Pills on hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). METHODS: Eighty patients who were diagnosed with HSPC and renal-yang deficiency at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Mayang Miao Autonomous County from 1st April 2021 to 30th April 2024 were randomly divided into 2 groups. The patients in the control group were treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). And the patients in treatment group were treated with Shenqi Pills orally on the basis of the control group. The baseline data of the two groups were analyzed. After 36 months of treatment, the differences between the two groups were compared in terms of overall survival (OS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA response rate, Functional Assessment Scale for Prostate Cancer Therapy (FACT-P), Chinese medicine evidence scores, testosterone level and safety. RESULTS: A total of 80 study subjects were included in this study, including 42 cases in the treatment group and 38 cases in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the baseline data between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). At the end of the observation period, a statistically significant difference in OS was found in the treatment group compared to the control group in the subgroup of patients with a disease duration ranged of 0-6 months (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in PSA levels in the treatment group at 3 months (P>0.05). And the differences in the proportion of PSA50 (98.1% vs 91.4%), PSA90 (92.9% vs 84.6%) and the proportion of decrease in PSA (56.7% vs 33.8%) in the treatment group were found compared to those in the control group after 6 months of tre atment. After 12 months of treatment, the scores of FACT-4 and renal-yang deficiency in the treatment group were (95.28±7.93) and (15.73±5.70) respectively, compared to the scores in the control group (［85.46±10.12］ and ［18.20±4.27］ (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum testosterone (［0.60±0.24］ nmol/L vs ［1.09±2.10］ nmol/L) between the two groups (P>0.05). After 24 months of treatment, there were significant differences in in the FACT-4 total score (［97.95±7.54］ vs ［80.33±8.58］), renal-yang deficiency syndrome score (［14.64±5.15］ vs ［24.94±8.75］) between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum testosterone ( ［0.73±1.01］ nmol/L vs ［0.59±0.25］ nmol/L) between the two groups (P> 0.05). Better therapeutic results were showed in the treatment group in terms of total FACT-P score, physical situation score, social and family situation score, emotional state score, functional state score, additional score and renal-yang deficiency symptom score (P<0.05). After treatment, there was no serious adverse reaction in the course of treatment, and no obvious abnormality was found in the liver and kidney function of the patients from two groups. CONCLUSION Endocrinotherapy combined with Shenqi Pills is safe and effective in HSPC and can reduce the risk of death in HSPC patients, and the earlier the intervention, the longer the overall survival of the patients. In addition, this treatment regimen can increase the PSA response rate, improve patients' quality of life, and reduce the renal-yang deficiency syndrome score without the risk of elevating serum testosterone levels.
Humans ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Testosterone

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), as certain forms of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or keratinocyte carcinoma, are the most common forms of malignant neoplasms worldwide (Sharp et al., 2024). BCC and cSCC have been identified as two major components of NMSC, comprising one-third of all malignancies (Burton et al., 2016). Generally speaking, patients with NMSC tend to have relatively favorable survival outcomes, while different histopathological subtypes of NMSC exhibit distinct biological behaviors (Stătescu et al., 2023). Keratinocyte carcinoma, although not considered as deadly as melanoma, tends to metastasize if left untreated (Civantos et al., 2023; Nanz et al., 2024). cSCC can evolve locally, then aggressively metastasize, invade, and even lead to fatal consequences in a subset of patients (Winge et al., 2023). A solid, pigmented, smooth plaque or a hyperkeratotic papule with or without central ulceration and hemorrhage appears to be characteristic of cSCC (Thompson et al., 2016; Zhou et al., 2023). Of note, a rare type of intraepidermal cSCC in situ often appears as a velvety, demarcated, slightly raised erythematous plaque on the genitalia of men (Yamaguchi et al., 2016). Accounting for approximately 16.0% of scalp tumors and with a rising incidence, cSCC is now the second most common NMSC in humans (Verdaguer-Faja et al., 2024). According to the latest statistics, up to 2%‒5% of cSCCs in situ may gradually progress into invasive cSCCs in the final step (Rentroia-Pacheco et al., 2023). Several risk factors for the carcinogenesis and development of cSCC have been identified, including age, accumulative exposure to ultraviolet light radiation A and B, human papillomavirus infection, arsenic ingestion, chronic scarring, xeroderma pigmentosa, a relevant history of ionizing radiation, androgenetic alopecia in males, and immunosuppression therapy (Martinez and Otley, 2001; Welsch et al., 2012; Mortaja and Demehri, 2023).
Humans ; Aminolevulinic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Skin Neoplasms/pathology* ; Photochemotherapy/methods* ; Female ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Photosensitizing Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell/drug therapy*

Fluorescence anisotropy(FA)analysis has many advantages such as no requirement of separation,high throughput and real-time detection,and thus has been widely used in many fields,including biochemical analysis,food safety detection,environmental monitoring,etc.However,due to the small volume or mass of the target,its combination with the fluorescence probe cannot produce significant signal change.To solve this issue,researchers often use nanomaterials to enhance the mass or volume of fluorophore to improve the sensitivity.Nevertheless,this FA amplification strategy also has some disadvantages.Firstly,nanomaterials are easy to quench fluorescence.As a result,the FA value is easily influenced by light scattering,which reduces the detection accuracy.Secondly,fluorescent probes in most methods require complex modification steps.Therefore,it is necessary to develop new FA probes that do not require the amplification of volume and mass or modification.As a new kind of nanomaterials,luminescent metal-organic framework(MOF)has a large volume(or mass)and strong fluorescence emission.It does not require additional signal amplification materials.As a consequence,it can be used as a potential FA probe.This study successfully synthesized a lanthanide metal organic framework(Ce-TCPP MOF)using cerium ion(Ce3+)as the central ion and 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)porphyrin(H2TCPP)as the ligand through microwave assisted method,and used it as a novel unmodified FA probe to detect phosphate ions(Pi).In the absence of Pi,Ce-TCPP MOF had a significant FA value(r).After addition of Pi,Pi reacted with Ce3+in MOF and destroyed the structure of MOF into the small pieces,resulting in a decrease in r.The experimental results indicated that with the increase of Pi concentration,the change of the r of Ce-TCPP MOF(Δr)gradually increased.The Δr and Pi concentration showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.5-3.5 μmol/L(0.016-0.108 mg/L).The limit of detection(LOD,3σ/k)was 0.41 μmol/L.The concentration of Pi in the Jialing River water detected by this method was about 0.078 mg/L,and the Pi value detected by ammonium molybdate spectrophotometry was about 0.080 mg/L.The two detection results were consistent with each other,and the detection results also meet the ClassⅡwater quality standard,proving that this method could be used for the detection of Pi in complex water bodies.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

The Piezo protein is a non-selective mechanosensitive cation channel that exhibits sensitivity to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and shear stress. It converts mechanical signals into bioelectric activity within cells, thus triggering specific biological responses. In the digestive system, Piezo protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological activities, including digestion, absorption, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. However, dysregulation in Piezo protein expression may lead to the occurrence of several pathological conditions, including visceral hypersensitivity, impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immune inflammation.Therefore, conducting a comprehensive review of the physiological functions and pathological roles of Piezo protein in the digestive system is of paramount importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the structural and dynamic characteristics of Piezo protein, its expression patterns, and physiological functions in the digestive system. We particularly focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of Piezo protein in digestive system tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, fibrotic diseases, and functional disorders. Through the integration of the latest research findings, we have observed that Piezo protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various digestive system diseases. There exist intricate interactions between Piezo protein and multiple phenotypes of digestive system tumors such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In inflammatory diseases, Piezo protein promotes intestinal immune responses and pancreatic trypsinogen activation, contributing to the development of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Additionally, Piezo1, through pathways involving co-action with the TRPV4 ion channel, facilitates neutrophil recruitment and suppresses HIF-1α ubiquitination, thereby mediating organ fibrosis in organs like the liver and pancreas. Moreover, Piezo protein regulation by gut microbiota or factors like age and gender can result in increased or decreased visceral sensitivity, and alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier structure and permeability, which are closely associated with functional disorders like irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and functional consitipaction (FC). A thorough exploration of Piezo protein as a potential therapeutic target in digestive system diseases can provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for future clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Objective:To analyze the genetic and molecular characteristics of H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses from external environment and humans in Anhui Province from 2013 to 2022.Methods:Environmental samples and human samples were collected from Anhui influenza surveillance network laboratory. Sixty-three strains of virus were isolated in chicken embryos. RT-PCR was used to amplify the virus and whole genome sequencing was performed. To construct gene evolutionary tree and analyze its genetic characteristics and potential glycosylation sites.Results:The hemagglutinin (HA) gene belongs to the 9.2.4.5 clade, and the protein cleavage sites are mostly " PSRSSR\GL". The neuraminidase (NA) gene, basic protein-1(PB1) gene, acidic protein (PA) gene, non-structural protein (NS) gene and nucleoprotein (NP) gene belong to the F/98 clade, the matrix protein (MP) gene belongs to the G1/97 clade, and the basic protein-2 (PB2) gene belongs to the ST/7488 clade. Mutations of T155N, R164Q, H183N, T189D/V, A190V/T and Q226L occurred in HA protein, deletion of NA protein occurred at 62-64 sites, and mutations of T271A, I292V/M and E627V/L occurred in PB2 protein. At the same time, mutations of K356R and S409N occurred in the PA protein.Conclusions:The H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses collected from external environment and human sources in Anhui province from 2013 to 2022 belong to the same evolutionary branch, and amino acid site mutations suggest that the virus shows a tendency to gradually adapt to the mammalian host environment. Therefore, further studies on the adaptive evolution of the virus and related monitoring work are needed.

Objective:To screen interleukin(IL)-1β secretion-related membrane transporters by macrophage experiment in vitro and conventional knockout mice.Methods:THP-1 cell line was differentiated to obtain human THP-1-derived macrophages,and the primary macrophages were obtained from human peripheral blood.FVB wild-type mice with the same sex and age were used as the controls of MRP1 knockout mice.The macrophages in abdominal cavity and bone marrow of mice were cultivated.The cells were treated with ABCC1/MRP1,ABCG2/BCRP,ABCB1/P-gp,OATP1B1,and MATE transporter inhibitors,then stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and adenosine triphosphate.The secretion level of IL-iβ was detected by ELISA,Western blot,and immunofluorescence.Results:After inhibiting ABCC1/MRP1 transporter,the secretion of IL-1β decreased significantly,while inhibition of the other 4 transporters had no effect.In animal experiment,the level of IL-1 β secreted by macrophages in bone marrow of MRP1 knockout mice was significantly lower than control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:ABCC1/MRP1 transporter is a newly discovered IL-1β secretion pathway,which is expected to become a new target for solving clinical problems such as cytokine release syndrome.

AIM:This study explores how the combination of rapamycin(Rapa)and flagellin(FliC)affects the inhibition of 4T1 breast cancer cells.The approach involves using mRNA high-throughput sequencing to examine the underlying mechanisms of this combination therapy in vitro.METHODS:4T1 breast cancer cells were divided into four groups:control group,Rapa group,FliC group,and Rapa+FliC group.The changes in cell viability and apoptosis were detected by the CCK-8 method and flow cytometry.Concurrently,the KEGG pathway of differentially expressed genes(DEGs)was analyzed by high-throughput mRNA sequencing.Furthermore,the DEGs between the Rapa+FliC group and Rapa groups were analyzed using STRING.The PPI network of DEGs was then constructed,and the Hub genes were sub-sequently screened.The protein expression of the Hub gene was verified based on the HPA database.RESULTS:CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry analysis revealed that the combination of Rapa and FliC significantly increased both the inhibi-tion and apoptosis rates in 4T1 breast cancer cells compared to the rates observed with Rapa or FliC alone(P<0.05).Transcriptome sequencing indicated 579 DEGs between the Rapa group and the control group,predominantly in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.In contrast,DEGs between the FliC group and control were mainly concentrated in signaling path-ways like NOD-like receptor signaling.Additionally,150 DEGs were identified between the Rapa+FliC group and the Ra-pa group,focusing primarily on pathways such as mTOR.From the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network,ten hub genes,including Atm and Itga2,were identified.CONCLUSION:The combination of Rapa+FliC could inhibit the via-bility of 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro and promote apoptosis,potentially through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling path-way.The genes Atm and Itga2 could be pivotal in mediating the joint effect of this combination therapy.

As artificial intelligence technology rapidly advances, its deployment within the medical sector presents substantial ethical challenges. Consequently, it becomes crucial to create a standardized, transparent, and secure framework for processing medical data. This includes setting the ethical boundaries for medical artificial intelligence and safeguarding both patient rights and data integrity. This consensus governs every facet of medical data handling through artificial intelligence, encompassing data gathering, processing, storage, transmission, utilization, and sharing. Its purpose is to ensure the management of medical data adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements, while safeguarding patient privacy and data security. Concurrently, the principles of compliance with the law, patient privacy respect, patient interest protection, and safety and reliability are underscored. Key issues such as informed consent, data usage, intellectual property protection, conflict of interest, and benefit sharing are examined in depth. The enactment of this expert consensus is intended to foster the profound integration and sustainable advancement of artificial intelligence within the medical domain, while simultaneously ensuring that artificial intelligence adheres strictly to the relevant ethical norms and legal frameworks during the processing of medical data.
Artificial Intelligence/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Computer Security/standards* ; Confidentiality/ethics* ; Informed Consent/ethics*