The armadillo repeat containing 5 (ARMC5) gene is part of a family of protein-coding genes that are rich in armadillo repeat sequences, are ubiquitously present in eukaryotes, and mediate interactions between proteins, playing roles in various cellular processes. Current research has demonstrated that reduced expression or absence of the ARMC5 gene in various tumor tissues can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation, thereby inducing a range of diseases. The ARMC5 gene was initially extensively studied in the context of bilateral macronodular adrenocortical disease (BMAD), with harmful pathogenic variants in ARMC5 identified in approximately 50% of BMAD patients. With advancing research, scientists have discovered that ARMC5 pathogenic variants may also have potential effects on other diseases and could be associated with increased susceptibility to certain cancers. This review aims to present the latest research progress on how the ARMC5 gene plays its role in tumors. It outlines the basic structure of ARMC5 and the regions where it functions, as well as the diseases currently proven to be associated with ARMC5. Moreover, some evidence suggests its relation to embryonic development and the regulation of immune system activity. In conclusion, the ARMC5 gene is a crucial focal point in genetic and medical research. Understanding its function and regulation is of great importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies related to diseases associated with its pathogenic variants.
Humans ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Armadillo Domain Proteins/genetics* ; Animals ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics*

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) refer to a class of highly abundant and functionally important non-coding small RNAs that are localized in the eukaryotic nucleus. These snRNAs are highly conserved in different eukaryotes during evolution and form complexes with specific chaperones to fulfill critical biological functions, including precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) modification. Consequently, the regulation of snRNA gene expression is a crucial biological process for plants. In plants, the transcription and processing of snRNAs are regulated by RNA polymerase (Pol), snRNA-activating protein complex (SNAPc), defective in snRNA processing (DSP), and specific cis-elements in the snRNA promoter regions. Proper regulation of snRNA expression is essential for normal plant growth, development, and stress responses. This review summarizes the classification, structures, transcriptional regulation, and biological functions of plant snRNA genes, while outlining future research directions for snRNAs.
RNA, Small Nuclear/physiology* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription, Genetic ; Plants/metabolism* ; RNA, Plant/genetics*

Objective With the increase in pet-owning households in China, veterinary clinics have increased at an annual rate of 19.86%. However, the management blind area that may exist in multi-department supervision has led to a significantly worse working environment of radiation workers in veterinary clinics than that of medical institutions. The purpose of this study was to understand the levels of occupational external exposure of radiation workers in veterinary clinics in China, analyze the occupational risks faced by radiation workers in veterinary clinics, contribute to the protection of the occupational health of radiation workers, and provide data and scientific basis for the formulation of national relevant regulations and standards. Methods The individual dose monitoring data of radiation workers in selected veterinary clinics in 2022 were obtained from the National Individual Dose Registration System. Results This study involved 1868 radiation workers from 1216 veterinary clinics in 28 provinces and municipalities in China. The maximum annual effective dose was 8.93 mSv, the annual collective dose was 536.77 man·mSv, the average annual effective dose was 0.29 mSv, and the median was 0.15 mSv. The largest proportion of individuals (94.5%) received a dose of less than 1.0 mSv, while 5.4% had doses ranging from 1.0 mSv to less than 5.0 mSv. For radiation workers with an annual effective dose of 1.0 mSv and above, the individual distribution ratio of radiation workers in veterinary clinics was significantly higher compared with those in medical institutions and industrial applications (P < 0.05). Conclusion The levels of occupational external exposure of radiation workers in veterinary clinics meet the requirements of national standards. However, attention should still be paid to the radiation protection of radiation workers in veterinary clinics. This includes enhancing the responsibility awareness of veterinary clinic owners, strengthening protection training for radiation workers, protecting the occupational health of practitioners, and preventing the occurrence of occupational radiation diseases.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of extracellular volume(ECV)based on CT delayed phase in combination with pathologic indicators in predicting early recurrence of gastric mesenchymal tumors after surgery.Methods A retrospective case-control trial was conducted on the imaging,clinical and pathological data of 110 patients with gastric mesenchymal tumors who were surgically resected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2011 to August 2022.They were 60 males and 50 females,at a mean age of 58±10 years.All of them received preoperative multiphase dynamic CT enhancement examination of the abdomen,and ECV value was calculated with the formula:ECV=(1-hematocrit)×(△HU tumor/△HU aorta).According to the postoperative recurrence within 24 months after surgery,they were divided into early recurrence group and non early recurrence group.Statistical indexes:① Consistency analysis.② The factors affecting early recurrence after resection of gastric mesenchymal stromal tumors were analyzed and a prediction model was conducted.Delong test was used to assess the predictive value of the model.Then a nomogram was plotted based on the combines model,and calibration curves were drawn to assess the efficacy of the column charts,and decision curve analysis(DCA)was adopted to assess the value of the model for clinical application.Results ① Consistency analysis.After 2 radiologists outlined the region of interest and obtained ECV value according to the above formula,The intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was 0.806.② For the 110 subjected patients,21 cases of them had early recurrence,and 89 one did not.Multivariate analysis showed that ECV value,risk degree,and tumor length were independent influencing factors for predicting early recurrence.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve(AUC)value of ECV,hazard degree,and tumor length diameter in predicting early recurrence was 0.838(95％CI 0.758～0.918),0.774(95％CI 0.656～0.892),and 0.700(95％CI 0.589～0.810),respectively,and the value of their combined model was 0.899(95％CI 0.811～0.987),which was higher than that of each independent model.The sensitivity and specificity of the combined model was 85.71％and 86.52％,respectively,and the optimal cutoff value was 0.19.Delong test revealed that there was statistical difference between the combined model and the clinical model established by the hazard level(Z=6.548,P＜0.001,95％CI 0.140～0.259).Calibration curve analysis suggested that the combined model had a better fit,and DCA displayed that the combined model had a better net benefit.Conclusion The model established by ECV combined with pathological indicators has good predictive performance and can be used as a more effective predictor of early recurrence of gastric mesenchymal tumors after surgery.

ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) for patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MethodsFrom October, 2016 to December, 2019, 321 patients with mild to moderate AIS in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were collected and divided into SAP group (n = 71) and non-SAP group (n = 250) according to whether they were complicated with SAP. Gender, age, time from symptom onset to admission, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission, and medical history were recorded. Laboratory indexes including the count of white blood cell and platelet, levels of D-dimer, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) were measured. ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that age, NIHSS score, history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, prior cerebral infarction, the count of white blood cell and platelet, the levels of D-dimer, hs-CRP and α-HBDH were the influencing factors of SAP (P < 0.2). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that age > 70 years old (OR = 7.121, 95%CI 3.493 to 14.514, P < 0.001), NIHSS score > 4 (5 to 10, OR = 4.861, 95% CI 2.412 to 9.797, P < 0.001), the count of platelet > 300×10⁹/L (OR = 6.978, 95% CI 1.864 to 26.128, P = 0.004), and the level of D-dimer > 1.0 mg/L (OR = 3.036, 95% CI, 1.518 to 6.071, P = 0.002) were the risk factors of SAP. The model fitted the original data well (HL = 1.509，P = 0.680) and appeared a good prediction (AUC = 0.847, 95% CI 0.796 to 0.898, P < 0.001). ConclusionAge > 70 years old, NIHSS score > 4 (5 to 10), the count of platelet > 300×10⁹/L and the level of D-dimer > 1.0 mg/L were the risk factors of SAP for patients with mild to moderate AIS.

The occurrence of perioperative adverse events (PAEs) significantly affects postoperative recovery of patients. In recent years, more and more studies have found that the start time of surgery is closely related to the occurrence of PAE, especially in terms of hospital stay and cost, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and postoperative mortality. This review aims to summarize the impact of different types of surgeries on PAE starting in the morning or afternoon, and to elucidate the possible mechanisms by which morning or afternoon surgeries affect PAE occurrence from the perspectives of circadian rhythms, human factors, and infrastructure, in order to provide reference for reducing patient PAE and accelerating patient recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of quercetin against testicular oxidative damage induced by a mixture of 3 commonly used phthalates (MPEs) in rats. METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, MPEs exposure group, and MPEs with low-, median- and high-dose quercetin treatment groups. For MPEs exposure, the rats were subjected to intragastric administration of MPEs at the daily dose of 900 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days; Quercetin treatments were administered in the same manner at the daily dose of 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg. After the treatments, serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testicular malondialdeyhde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected, and testicular pathologies of the rats were observed with HE staining. The expressions of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH2 associated protein 1 (Keap1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the testis were detected using immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the rats with MPEs exposure showed significant reductions of the anogenital distance, weight of the testis and epididymis, and the coefficients of the testis and epididymis with lowered serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels (P < 0.05). Testicular histological examination revealed atrophy of the seminiferous tubules, spermatogenic arrest, and hyperplasia of the Leydig cells in MPEs-exposed rats. MPEs exposure also caused significant increments of testicular Nrf2, MDA, SOD, CAT and HO-1 expressions and lowered testicular Keap1 expression (P < 0.05). Treatment with quercetin at the median and high doses significantly ameliorated the pathological changes induced by MPEs exposure (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Quercetin treatment inhibits MPEs-induced oxidative testicular damage in rats possibly by direct scavenging of free radicals to lower testicular oxidative stress and restore the regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Testis ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Testosterone/pharmacology* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Luteinizing Hormone

【Objective】 To investigate the relationship between serum reproductive hormones and sperm parameters and outcomes of micro-testicular sperm extraction (Micro-TESE). 【Methods】 Clinical data of 1 091 patients treated in our hospital during Jan. and Dec.2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the sperm concentration,the patients were divided into non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) group (group A,n=418),normal sperm concentration group (group B,n=615),mild to moderate oligospermia group (group C,n=18),severe oligospermia group (group D,n=18),and obstructive azoospermia group (group E,n=22). In group A,244 cases treated with Micro-TESE were grouped into the sperm-acquired group (Micro-TESE positive group,n=82) and non-sperm-acquired group (Micro-TESE negative group,n=162),and according to the pathological types of testicular tissue,the patients were divided into normal testicular tissue with hypospermatogenesis group (HYPO group,n=129),maturation arrest group (MA group,n=10),and support-only cell syndrome group (SCO group,n=122). Differences in semen parameters and reproductive hormone levels were compared,and relationship between reproductive hormones and sperm parameters and Micro-TESE outcomes was determined with Pearson correlation analysis. 【Results】 In the sperm concentration subgroup,the testicular volume of group A was lower than that of group B and group E (P<0.05); the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in group A were the highest (P<0.05),but the level of testosterone (T) was the lowest (P<0.05); the levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and serum inhibin B (INHB) in group A were lower than those in group B and group E (P<0.05),the normal sperm morphology rate in group B was higher than that in group A and group E (P<0.05); the percentage of forward moving sperm in group B was the highest (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that sperm concentration,normal sperm morphology rate,and percentage of forward moving sperm were negatively correlated with age,FSH,LH (P<0.05),and positively correlated with testicular volume,T,AMH,and INHB (P<0.05). NOA patients were grouped according to testicular histology and pathology. The INHB in the SCO group was the smallest of the three groups (P<0.05); the FSH and LH levels in the SCO group were higher than those in the MA group (P<0.05),while the 17β-estradiol (E2) levels in the HYPO group were higher than those in the SCO group (P<0.05). NOA patients were grouped according to the results of Micro-TESE surgical treatment. There was a statistically significant difference in AMH and INHB levels between the Micro-TESE positive and negative groups (P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis of factors affecting the Micro-TESE outcomes of NOA patients showed AMH was negatively correlated with the Micro-TESE outcome (OR=0.904,95%CI:0.91-1.08,P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Age,FSH,LH,AMH,and INHB are correlated with sperm concentration,normal sperm morphology rate,and percentage of forward moving sperm. The INHB level was the lowest in the SCO group. The results of Micro-TESE in patients with NOA can be predicted by serum AMH level.

Objective The metabolism and excretion of isochlorogenic acid B in rats were investigated by UHPLC-MS.Methods Feces,urine and plasma were individually collected before and at different time points after administration of 20 mg·kg-1.Post-prepared samples were analyzed by UHPLC-MS.Results According to the retention times,m/z,characteristic fragment ions and related literature,a total of 22 metabolites were detected,of which 18 metabolites were present in rat feces,3 metabolites in urine and one metabolite in plasma.The main metabolic pathways contain hydrolysis,hydrogenation,methylation,sulfation and so on.The cumulative excretion of isochlorogenic acid B and its main metabolite chlorogenic acid in feces and urine was further performed.Conclusion The metabolism and excretion of isochlorogenic acid B in rats were explored to provide experimental basis for its further research and development.

BACKGROUND: Keloids are benign fibrous growths that are caused by excessive tissue build-up. Severe keloids exert more significant effects on patients' quality of life than do mild keloids. We aimed to identify factors associated with the progression from mild keloids to severe keloids, as distinct from those associated with the formation of keloids. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, 251 patients diagnosed with keloids at West China Hospital between November 2018 and April 2021 were grouped according to the severity of lesions (mild [n = 162] or severe [n = 89]). We collected their basic characteristics, living habits, incomes, comorbidities, and keloid characteristics from Electronic Medical Records in the hospital and the patients' interviews. Conditional multivariable regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors for the progression of keloids. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients (35.5%) were classified as having severe keloids. We found the distribution of severe keloids varied with sex, age, excessive scrubbing of keloids, family income, the comorbidity of rheumatism, disease duration, characteristics of the location, location in sites of high-stretch tension, the severity and frequency of pain, the severity of pruritus, and infection. Multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between severe keloids and infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.55; P = 0.005), excessive scrubbing of keloids (OR, 8.65; P = 0.001), low or middle family income (OR, 13.44; P = 0.021), comorbidity of rheumatism (OR, 18.97; P = 0.021), multiple keloids located at multiple sites (OR, 3.18; P = 0.033), and disease duration > 15 years (OR, 2.98; P = 0.046). CONCLUSION Doctors should implement more active and thorough measures to minimize the progression of mild keloids in patients who have any of the following risk factors: infection, excessive scrubbing of keloids, low or middle family income, comorbidity of rheumatism, multiple keloids located at multiple sites, and disease duration > 15 years.
Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Keloid/epidemiology* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Risk Factors