OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the expression of placenta expressed transcript 1(Plet1)in ovarian tissue of the letrozole-induced model rats of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and its effect on the proliferation of rat ovarian granulosa cells,and to clarify the possible mechanism by which Plet1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS.Methods:The ovarian tissue samples from the rats collected in previous studies were used and divided into control and PCOS groups.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods were used to detect the expression levels of Plet1 mRNA and protein in ovarian tissue of the rat in two groups.Additionally,twenty-four rats underwent vaginal smear cytology were divided into four groups by estrous cycle phase:proestrus,estrus,metestrus and diestrus.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of Plet1 mRNA in ovarian tissue of the rats in various groups,and immunohistochemistry(IHC)method was used to detect the location of Plet1 expression in the rat ovarian tissue in various groups.The rat ovarian granulosa cells were transfected and divided into control group,si-Plet1-rat-266 group,si-Plet1-rat-383 group,and si-Plet1-rat-554 group.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to assess the cell proliferation activities of rat ovarian granulosa cells in various groups,and RT-qPCR method was used to detect the expression levels of cyclin-d epend ent kinase 6(CDK6)and P53 mRNA in rat ovarian granulosa cells in various groups.Results:The RT-qPCR results revealed that Plet1 mRNA was expressed in the ovaries of normal rats,while no statistically significant difference was observed across estrous cycle phases(P＞0.05).The immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of Plet1 protein was mainly localized in ovarian granulosa cells and luteal cells in the rat ovarian tissue.Compared with control group,the expression levels of Plet1 mRNA and protein in ovarian tissue of the rats in PCOS group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of Plet1 mRNA in ovarian granulosa cells in si-Plet1-rat-383 group was decreased(P＜0.01),exhibiting the most pronounced reduction.Compared with control group,the proliferation activity of rat ovarian granulosa cells in si-Plet1-rat-383 group was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with control group,the expression levels of CDK6 and P53 mRNA in rat ovarian granulosa cells in si-Plet1-rat-383 group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion:Plet1 protein is predominantly expressed and localized in granulosa cells and luteal cells in normal rat ovarian tissue.Its expression is downregulated in the ovarian tissue of PCOS model rats,and interference with Plet1 gene expression may inhibit the proliferation of rat ovarian granulosa cells.

Objective To investigate the screening results and factors affecting abnormal detection rates among high-risk groups of esophageal cancer and to explore effective intervention measures. Methods We investigated and collected the information on gender, education level, age, marital status, symptoms of reflux esophagitis (heartburn, acid reflux, belching, hiccup, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, and difficulty swallowing), consumption of pickled vegetables, salt use, and esophageal cancer incidence of villagers in a natural village in Wenfeng District, Anyang City, Henan Province. Changes in reflux esophagitis symptoms in the high-incidence area of esophageal cancer before and after 16 years were observed, and the relationship of such changes with esophageal cancer was analyzed. Results In 2008, 711 cases were epidemiologically investigated, including 213 cases with one of the symptoms of reflux esophagitis such as heartburn, acid reflux, belching, hiccups, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, and difficulty swallowing (sorted in accordance with the abovementioned symptoms; if there are multiple symptoms, then the former is taken); 55 cases with at least two related symptoms, among which the most symptom was heartburn in 108 cases (15.1%); followed by acid reflux, belching, etc. In 2024, the same group of people was investigated, and eight people were missing because of relocation. A total of 703 people were successfully investigated, of which 189 cases (26.8%) had one of the symptoms of reflux esophagitis, such as heartburn (sorted in accordance with relevant symptoms, if there are multiple symptoms, then the former will be selected); 167 cases (23.7%) had at least two related symptoms, among which the most symptom was heartburn in 139 cases (19.7%); followed by acid reflux. Over 16 years, among the 703 people investigated, 45 cases had esophageal cancer and they had one or more of the abovementioned symptoms. No significant differences in the reflux esophagitis-like symptoms were found between 2008 and 2024 (P=0.26); no significant differences in the composition of reflux esophagitis-like symptoms were found between 2008 and 2024 (P=0.299). Conclusion The detection rate of reflux esophagitis-related symptoms in the population in a high-risk area of esophageal cancer has not decreased in the past 16 years, and the high-risk factors still exist. Esophageal cancer is closely related to reflux esophagitis, and clinical practice can provide early diagnosis and treatment for high-risk population.

Ferroptosis is an emerging form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and the failure of the antioxidant system，which results in iron-dependent oxidative damage to the cell membrane. Ferroptosis is implicated in various biological processes，including cell proliferation，aging，and differentiation. The regulation of oxidative stress by ferroptosis is closely associated with the inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4（Gpx4），dysfunction of the cysteine/glutamate antiporter System Xc-，the production of reactive oxygen species derived from oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids，and alterations in lipid metabolism. Oxidative stress is a critical mechanism underlying the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia（BPH）and plays a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. Ferroptosis may regulate the occurrence and development of BPH by mediating lipid oxidative stress response.

With the rapid development of competitive sports, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is on the rise. Such injuries may shorten athletes′ career and lead to other long-term adverse consequences. Although athletes generally recover well after ACL reconstruction, many still struggle to return to their pre-injury performance levels. Advances in the understanding of ACL anatomy and injury mechanisms, along with the evolution of surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods, have provided more individualized and tailored options for athletes following ACL injuries. However, there is currently no consensus in China regarding surgical and rehabilitation strategies for competitive athletes aiming to return to sports after ACL injuries. To this end, the Sports Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association and the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Trauma jointly formulated the Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury ( version 2025), and presented 14 recommendations covering surgical indications, preoperative rehabilitation, surgical timing, surgical strategies and postoperative rehabilitation strategies, aiming to improve the surgical treatment and rehabilitation system for ACL injuries in competitive athletes and facilitate their return to high-level sports performance after injury.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of microplasma radiofrequency combined with oral traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Babao Dan capsule to improve damp-heat TCM constitution in the treatment of hypertrophic scar.Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial method was used to recruit patients diagnosed with damp-heat TCM constitution and suffering from hypertrophic scar who admitted to the Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from March to July 2024. All patients were randomly divided into microplasma radiofrequency combined with TCM treatment group (combination group), microplasma radiofrequency (RF) treatment group (RF group), and oral TCM treatment group (TCM group). Both the combination group and the RF group were treated with a microplasma radiofrequency instrument. Transverse, longitudinal and oblique scar grinding were performed three times with 90 W power, and regular scabs appeared in the treatment area as the treatment end point. After RF treatment in the combination group and the TCM group, Babao Dan capsule was taken with regular warm water, 0.6 g each time, 3 times/day, for 3 months. The Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score (higher score indicating more severe scar), visual analogue scale (VAS) of scar pain and itch (higher score indicating more severe symptom), and TCM constitution score (higher score indicating more severe moist heat constitution) were compared before treatment and 3 months after the first treatment. SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Measurement data conforming to normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD, ANOVA was used for comparison among groups, and LSD- t method was used for pair comparison between groups. Paired sample t test was used before and after treatment in the same group. Counting data were expressed as cases (%), and the χ2 test was used for inter-group comparison. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 60 patients were included, 20 in each group. There were no significant differences in gender distribution, disease course, scar area and distribution among the three groups ( P>0.05), indicating comparability. Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in VSS, VAS and TCM physique scores among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). After treatment, VAS scores in the 3 groups, VSS scores in combination group and RF group, TCM physique scores in combination group and TCM group were improved compared with those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The VSS score of the combination group was significantly lower than that of the RF group and the TCM group ( P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance between the RF group and the TCM group ( P>0.05). The pruritus VAS score of the combination group was significantly lower than that of TCM group and RF group ( P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance between RF group and TCM group ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in pain VAS scores among the three groups after treatment ( P>0.05). The TCM physique scores of the combination group and TCM group were significantly lower than those of the RF group ( P<0.01), but there was no statistical significance between the combination group and TCM group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Microplasma radiofrequency combined with oral Babao Dan capsule can effectively improve the VSS score, pain and pruritus of hypertrophic scars in patients with damp-heat constitution, and the effect is better than that of radiofrequency or TCM alone.

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence(GAI)technologies,their widespread application in academic research and writing is continuously expanding the boundaries of sci-entific inquiry.However,this trend has also raised a series of ethical and regulatory challenges,inclu-ding issues related to authorship,content authenticity,citation accuracy,and accountability.In light of the growing involvement of AI in generating academic content,establishing an open,controllable,and trustworthy ethical governance framework has become a key task for safeguarding research integrity and maintaining trust within the academic community.This expert consensus outlines ethical requirements across key stages of AI-assisted academic writing-including topic selection,data management,citation practices,and authorship attribution.It aims to clarify the boundaries and ethical obligations surrounding AI use in academic writing,ensuring that technological tools enhance efficiency without compromising in-tegrity.The goal is to provide guidance and institutional support for building a responsible and sustainable research ecosystem.

Objective To explore the influence of exercise prescription on cognitive function recovery in college students with mild-to-moderate depression.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from college students diagnosed with mild-to-moderate depression who received care at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College between January 2022 and June 2024.Depression patients receiving standard drug treatment were enrolled in the control group,while those receiving additional exercise prescription intervention were enrolled in the observation group.Propensity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest-neighbor method to balance confounding factors,and 55 participants were included in each group in the end.Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 3 weeks and 6 weeks of treatment,covering the disease severity measured by the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24),depressive symptoms measured by the Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),brain cognitive function measured by P300 and fNIRS,neurosecretory system function measured through corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH)and adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),and the levels of neurotrophic factors,including brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).Disease severity was the primary research indicator,while the others were secondary research indicators.The primary outcome indicator was the last measurement taken after 6 weeks of treatment.Results Interaction effects were observed between groups for all measured outcomes before and after treatment(all P<0.05).After 3 weeks and 6 weeks of treatment,the observation group showed lower HAMD-24 score,SDS score,P300 latency,fNIRS integral,CRH,and ACTH than the control group did(P<0.05),but higher P300 amplitude,BDNF,IGF-1,and VEGF than the control group did(P<0.05).Conclusion Receiving exercise prescription intervention can effectively reduce the severity of depressive symptoms,enhance the recovery of brain cognitive function,and improve the neurosecretory system function recovery and the expressions of neurotrophic factors in college students with mild-to-moderate depression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. The HFD mice were divided into 3 groups according to a simple random method, including HFD, PAB low-dose [10 mg/(kg·d), PAB-L], and PAB high-dose [20 mg/(kg·d), PAB-H] groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Biochemical assays were used to measure the serum and cellular levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). White adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver tissue were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining or Oil Red O staining to observe the alterations in adipose tissue and liver injury. PharmMapper and DisGeNet were used to predict the NAFLD-related PAB targets. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway involvement was suggested by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and search tool Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) analyses. Luciferase reporter assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) were conducted to confirm direct binding of PAB with PPARα. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to further validate target engagement. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to assess the downstream genes and proteins expression, and validated by PPARα inhibitor MK886. RESULTS: PAB significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, and increased HDL-C level in HFD mice (P<0.01). Target prediction analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAB and PPARα pathway. PAB direct target binding with PPARα was confirmed through luciferase reporter assay, CETSA, and DARTS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The target engagement between PAB and PPARα protein was further confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and the top 3 amino acid residues, LEU321, MET355, and PHE273 showed the most significant changes in mutational energy. Subsequently, PAB upregulated the genes expressions involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis downstream of PPARα (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Significantly, the PPARα inhibitor MK886 effectively reversed the lipid-lowering and PPARα activation properties of PAB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION PAB mitigates lipid accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and improves mitochondrial biogenesis by binding with PPARα, thus presenting a potential candidate for pharmaceutical development in the treatment of NAFLD.
Animals ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Diterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Diet, High-Fat ; Humans ; Mice ; Liver/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of joint detection of serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and MMP26 in differentiating prostate cancer (PCa) from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A total of 61 PCa patients (PCa group) and 63 BPH patients (BPH group) who were treated in The Affiliated Huaian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from May 2022 to May 2024 were retrospectively included. The relevant clinical data of all subjects were collected with the serum NLR, PSA and MMP26 levels being detected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors in differentiating PCa from BPH. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum NLR, PSA and MMP26 in differentiating PCa from BPH. RESULTS: The levels of TC and LDL-C in the PCa group were higher than those in the BPH group. And the level of HDL-C in the PCa group was lower than that in the BPH group (P<0.05). The serum levels of NLR, PSA and MMP26 in the PCa group were higher than those in the BPH group (P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR, PSA and MMP26 were risk factors for the diagnosis of PCa in patients (P<0.05). The ROC results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR, PSA MMP26 and joint diagnosis in the identification of PCa was 0.804, 0.800, 0.809 and 0.905, respectively. The comparison results of AUC showed that the joint diagnosis was superior to the single diagnosis (Z=2.262, 2.177, 2.002, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The joint detection of serum NLR, PSA and MMP26 has significant application value in the differentiation of PCa and BPH, which is expected to become an effective tool for early screening and diagnosis of PCa.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/blood* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Prostatic Neoplasms/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neutrophils ; Lymphocytes ; ROC Curve ; Aged ; Middle Aged