Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a critical endocrine mediator implicated in male reproductive physiology. To investigate the correlation between IGF2 protein levels and various aspects of male infertility, specifically focusing on sperm quality, inflammation, and DNA damage, a cohort of 320 male participants was recruited from the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) between 1 st January 2024 and 1 st March 2024. The relationship between IGF2 protein concentrations and sperm parameters was assessed, and Spearman correlation and linear regression analysis were employed to evaluate the independent associations between IGF2 protein levels and risk factors for infertility. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IGF2 protein levels in seminal plasma, alongside markers of inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]). The relationship between seminal plasma IGF2 protein levels and DNA damage marker phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) was also explored. Our findings reveal that IGF2 protein expression decreased notably in patients with asthenospermia and teratospermia. Correlation analysis revealed nuanced associations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, and low IGF2 protein concentrations correlated with increased inflammation and DNA damage in sperm. The observed correlations between IGF2 protein levels and specific sperm parameters, along with its connection to inflammation and DNA damage, underscore the importance of IGF2 in the broader context of male reproductive health. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential therapeutic interventions targeting IGF2-related pathways to enhance male fertility.
Humans ; Male ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; DNA Damage ; Adult ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*

Acute respiratory tract infection is the most common infectious disease in children, which seriously threatens children′s health.Rapid and accurate etiological diagnosis is of great significance for the clinical treatment and control of these diseases.Pathogen nucleic acid test was applied and became the main method of respiratory tract infection diagnosis for its high sensitivity and specificity.To regulate the application of pathogen nucleic acid amplification test in respiratory tract infection in children, improve the diagnosis level, expert consensus on nucleic acid amplification test of respiratory pathogens in children was prepared to guide the application and promote pathogens diagnosis ability.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a very important pathogen, especially for children.On a global scale, GAS is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.But the burden of disease caused by GAS is still unknown in China and also has not obtained enough attention.For this purpose, the expert consensus is comprehensively described in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of GAS diseases in children, covering related aspects of pneumology, infectiology, immunology, microbiology, cardiology, nephrology, critical care medicine and preventive medicine.Accordingly, the consensus document was intended to improve management strategies of GAS disease in Chinese children.

ObjectiveMicroRNAs (miRNA) play an important role in the development and regression of osteoporosis. This study aims to screen for miRNAs and genes closely related to osteoporosis, and to complete the construction of a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network of osteoporosis.MethodsThe gene chip expression profile of osteoporosis was obtained through the GEO database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs were analyzed and screened via GEO2R. We used volcanic maps to display differential genes and miRNAs, and completed the GO and KEGG pathway analysis through the David online database. The String online database is used to complete PPI protein network analysis. The TargetScan, miRTarBase and miRDB were used to predict the targeted genes. Finally, the PPI and miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were visualized by Cytoscape software.ResultsWe obtained 15 differential miRNAs and 174 differentially expressed genes through screening. The GO enrichment analysis mainly focused on drug response, angiogenesis, ion transport, regulation of small GTPase mediated signal ransduction, adaptive immune response, etc. NF-κB signaling pathway and HIF-1 signal were obtained through KEGG enrichment analysis. We obtained 10 hub genes through the cytohubba plug-in. We also obtained 3065 targeted genes by processing of seven miRNAs, and then intersected them with 174 DEGs to obtain 44 intersection genes. Finally, we successfully constructed a regulation map of miRNA-mRNA network. The miR-194-5p is significantly up-regulated in osteoporosis.ConclusionThe miR-194-5p might play an important role in osteoporosis by regulating its target gene CDH2, which provides candidate targets for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

Colla Corii Asini(Ejiao)is an important Chinese medicine used in China for thousands of years, and is well known for its famous tonic properties. The herbalogical study was detailed carried out based on the naming, habitat, harvesting, processing, medicinal properties and clinical efficacy. The results showed that the name of Ejiao could be traced back to Shennong's Materia Medica, and various names of Lvpi Jiao, Penfu Jiao and Fuzhi Jiao were recorded in other ancient books. In the many intervening centuries, the main materials of Ejiao had been replaced from cow leather before Tang Dynasty to donkey skin in the middle to late Tang Dynasty. This phenomenon could be probably caused by complicated social factors of various periods and different efficacy of Ejiao made by all kinds of raw materials. Ejiao was merely processed with the simple methods before Tang Dynasty, which subsequently improved avariety of methods to enhance the supplementation action. Most importantly, Ejiao has a wide clinic application along with the development of processing theories and methods, which can be found in various Classics, especially in imperial medical case record in Qing Dynasty.
Animals ; Cattle ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Gelatin ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the toxic effects, changes in life span, and expression of various metabolism-related genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, using RNA interference (RNAi) and mutant strains, after 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) treatment. C. elegans was treated with various concentrations of 3-BrPA on nematode growth medium (NGM) plates, and their survival was monitored every 24 h. The expression of genes related to metabolism was measured by the real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Nematode survival in the presence of 3-BrPA was also studied after silencing three hexokinase (HK) genes. The average life span of C. elegans cultured on NGM with 3-BrPA was shortened to 5.7 d compared with 7.7 d in the control group. hxk-1, hxk-2, and hxk-3 were overexpressed after the treatment with 3-BrPA. After successfully interfering hxk-1, hxk-2, and hxk-3, the 50% lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of all mutant nematodes decreased with 3-BrPA treatment for 24 h compared with that of the control. All the cyp35 genes tested were overexpressed, except cyp-35B3. The induction of cyp-35A1 expression was most obvious. The LC₅₀ values of the mutant strains cyp-35A1, cyp-35A2, cyp-35A4, cyp-35B3, and cyp-35C1 were lower than that of the control. Thus, the toxicity of 3-BrPA is closely related to its effect on hexokinase metabolism in nematodes, and the cyp-35 family plays a key role in the metabolism of 3-BrPA.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism* ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics* ; Hexokinase/physiology* ; Pyruvates/toxicity* ; RNA, Messenger/analysis*

BACKGROUND: Benvitimod cream, a novel synthetic small molecule, was effective in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. We conducted a phase III clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of benvitimod cream in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. METHODS: We randomly assigned 686 patients (2:1:1) to receive 1% benvitimod cream, 0.005% calcipotriol ointment or placebo twice a day for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end points were the percentage of patients with a 75% or greater reduction from baseline in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) score and with a score of 0 or 1 in static physician's global assessment (sPGA) at week 12. RESULTS: The results showed that 50.4% of patients in the benvitimod group achieved PASI 75, which was significantly higher than that in the calcipotriol (38.5%, P < 0.05) and placebo (13.9%, P < 0.05) groups. The proportion of patients achieving an sPGA score 0 or 1 was 66.3% in the benvitimod group and 63.9% in the calcipotriol group, which were both significantly higher than that in the placebo group (34%, P < 0.05). In the long-term follow-up study, 50.8% of patients experienced recurrence. After retreatment with 1% benvitimod, 73.3% of patients achieved an sPGA score of 0 or 1 again at week 52. Adverse events included application site irritation, follicular papules, and contact dermatitis. No systemic adverse reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: During this 12-week study, benvitimod cream was demonstrated with high effectiveness and safety in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR-TRC-13003259; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=6300.
Double-Blind Method ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ointments ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Resorcinols ; Severity of Illness Index ; Stilbenes ; Treatment Outcome

Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use* ; China ; Consensus ; HIV ; HIV Infections/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Callicarpa nudiflora,which is a big brand of Li nationality medicine with Hainan characteristics,has the effects of dissolving stasis,hemostasis,anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. At present,there is a lack of information about the reference genome of C. nudiflora. The study of the genome size,heterozygosity rate and characteristics of SSR of C. nudiflora,can provide an effective basis for the formulation of the whole genome de novo sequencing strategy and development of SSR molecular markers of C. nudiflora. To realize this purpose,high throughput sequencing platform Illumina Hiseq was used to sequence the genome structure of C. nudiflora and K-mer analysis was applied to estimate genome size,repeat sequences and heterozygosity rate. Simple-sequence repeat( SSR) loci that are suitable as markers were identified by MISA software. The results showed the estimated genome size of C. nudiflora was 822. 43 Mb,with a 0. 85% heterozygosity rate and 71. 67% repeats,and the GC content of genome was about 49. 20%. Therefore,C. nudiflora belongs to a complex genome with high heterozygosity and repetition. SSR molecular genetic markers were analyzed in the genome sequence,and a total of 206 049 SSRs were identified,among which mono-nucleotide,di-nucleotide and tri-nucleotide repetitive motifs summed up to 198 993,accounting for 96. 57% of the total SSRs. Among the 2-6 nucleotide repeats,AT/AT,AAT/ATT,AGCC/CTGG,AAAAT/ATTTT and AGATAT/ATATCT have the largest number,respectively. This report represents the first genome-wide characterization of C. nudiflora,and provides a reference for the construction of the library for the fine sequencing of the genome,and a molecular basis for the development of SSR molecular markers as well as for the protection and utilization of gene resources.
Callicarpa/genetics* ; Genetic Markers ; Genome, Plant ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic

This work was launched to explore the effect of habitat and growth year on the secondary metabolites contents of cultivated Polygala tenuifolia. The samples of cultivated P. tenuifolia were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(Q-TOF MS), and the obtained data were analyzed using multiple statistical analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that compared with growth year, habitat is a main influencing factor which affected the secondary metabolites contents of P. tenuifolia. The contents of sucrose esters and oligosacchride multi-esters are greatly dependent on the habitat (the sample-AG with high levels of components of tenuifoliside B and tenuifoliside C, and the sample-FY with high levels of 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, tenuifoliose S, tenuifoliose L, and tenuifoliose V). There is no obvious effect of habitat and growth year on xanthone. The contents of triterpene saponins are greatly dependent on the growth year, and the content of parts of triterpene saponins increased as time goes on.The result indicated that the effect of habitat and growth year on different types of secondary metabolites is not completely equivalent. This study will contribute to the breeding of P. tenuifolia and amendment of current commodity criteria.