OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that insomnia is closely related to erectile dysfunction（ED）. However, the causal relationship between them is still unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR) provides a new method for studying the relationship between the two, and the theory of heart-kidney interaction in TCM provides a new idea for exploring the causal relationship between them. METHODS: Based on the statistical data collected by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the causal relationship between insomnia and ED was discussed by MR. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) is the main analysis method, and weighted median (WME), simple mode (SM), weighted mode (WM) and MR Egger method were the supplementary analysis to evaluate the causal effect. MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran Q test and leave-one-out method were used in sensitivity analysis to verify the reliability of MR results. RESULTS: Thirty-nine SNPs significantly related to insomnia were finally included for MR analysis. The results of IVW method in MR analysis showed that insomnia had a significant causal relationship with the increased risk of ED (OR = 3.111，95% CI= 1.566－6.181，P=1.193×10－3). The results obtained by MR-Egger method, WME method, WM method and SM method were consistent with IVW method in the direction of effect. The sensitivity results suggested that the results of this study were robust. CONCLUSION Our study reveals the causal relationship between insomnia and ED, which provides a new basis for future clinical practice and prevention and treatment of ED.
Causality ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/genetics* ; Erectile Dysfunction/genetics* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Male ; Heart/physiology* ; Kidney/physiology* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Data Interpretation, Statistical

Metformin has been demonstrated to attenuate hyperglycaemia by modulating the gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms through which the microbiome mediates metformin monotherapy failure (MMF) are unclear. Herein, in a prospective clinical cohort study of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated with metformin monotherapy, metagenomic sequencing of faecal samples revealed that Phocaeicola vulgatus abundance was approximately 12 times higher in nonresponders than in responders. P. vulgatus rapidly hydrolysed taurine-conjugated bile acids, leading to ceramide accumulation and reversing the improvements in glucose intolerance conferred by metformin in high-fat diet-fed mice. Interestingly, C22:0 ceramide bound to mitochondrial fission factor to induce mitochondrial fragmentation and impair hepatic oxidative phosphorylation in P. vulgatus-colonized hyperglycaemic mice, which could be exacerbated by metformin. This work suggests that metformin may be unsuitable for P. vulgatus-rich T2DM patients and that clinicians should be aware of metformin toxicity to mitochondria. Suppressing P. vulgatus growth with cefaclor or improving mitochondrial function using adenosylcobalamin may represent simple, safe, effective therapeutic strategies for addressing MMF.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and joint damage, accompanied by the accumulation of plasma cells, which contributes to its pathogenesis. Understanding the genetic alterations occurring during plasma cell differentiation in RA can deepen our comprehension of its pathogenesis and guide the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, our study elucidates the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying plasma cell differentiation by demonstrating that PRDX1 interacts with DOK3 and modulates its degradation by the autophagy-lysosome pathway. This interaction results in the inhibition of plasma cell differentiation, thereby alleviating the progression of collagen-induced arthritis. Additionally, our investigation identifies Salvianolic acid B (SAB) as a potent small molecular glue-like compound that enhances the interaction between PRDX1 and DOK3, consequently impeding the progression of collagen-induced arthritis by inhibiting plasma cell differentiation. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of developing chemical stabilizers for the PRDX1-DOK3 complex in suppressing plasma cell differentiation for RA treatment and establish a theoretical basis for targeting PRDX1-protein interactions as specific therapeutic targets in various diseases.

Objective:This study aimed to validated the diagnostic accuracy of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition(GLIM)criteria for malnutrition in pancreatic cancer patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy and to evaluated its prognostic value for postoperative outcome.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 230 consecutive pancreatic cancer patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at the Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center,between January 2018 to January 2024.Patients were stratified into malnutrition group and non-malnutrition group using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002(NRS 2002)and GLIM criteria.Multivariable logistic regression identified independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity.Results:GLIM criteria identified malnutrition in 96 patients(41.7％).Compared with the non-malnourished group,the number of preoperative nutritional support(t=20.038,P<0.001),the number of preoperative enteral nutrition support(t=8.377,P=0.004),the number of preoperative parenteral nutrition support(t=22.302,P<0.001),the number of anemia(t=8.037,P=0.005)and preoperative parenteral nutrition use days(t=-2.898,P=0.009),the difference was statistically significant.There were statistically significant differences in C-reactive protein(t=10.944,P=0.008),NLR(t=-2.523,P=0.012)and PNI(t=-2.397,P=0.017)between the two groups before surgery.Preoperative BMI(t=-4.410,P<0.001)was significantly lower in the malnourished group.The number of postoperative parenteral nutrition days(Z=-2.283,P=0.022)and amino acid supplementation during postoperative hospitalization were significantly higher in the malnourished group(Z=-2.309,P=0.021).The incidence of malnutrition was higher in patients with Clavien-Dindo grade≥Ⅲ(P=0.030)and intra-abdominal infections(P=0.049).Multivariable analysis identified preoperative weight loss(OR=2.154,95％CI:1.158～4.005;P=0.015)and BMI reduction(OR=0.175,95％CI:0.040～0.775;P=0.022)as independent predictors of postoperative complications.Conclusions:The GLIM standard effectively characterize malnutrition status in pancreatic cancer patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy patients and demonstrate superior predictive performance for postoperative morbidity.It has good predictive performance and clinical application value.

Objective:To establish ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprint chromatograms for Erigeron breviscapu from different origins and storage conditions; To identify the Erigeron breviscapus from different habitats by chemometric analysis.Methods:Acquity UPLC HSS T3 (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.8 μm) chromatography column was used; mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile; detection wavelength was 268 nm; flow rate was 0.25 ml/min; column temperature was 35 ℃; injection volume was 2 μl gradient elution. The UPLC fingerprint of Erigeron breviscapu from different origins was established. Similarity evaluation combined with chemometric analysis methods such as clustering analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares method - discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to identify the origin of Breviscapine from different places. Fingerprint technology was used to evaluate the similarity of storage conditions for Erigeron breviscapu.Results:The UPLC fingerprint method met the methodological requirements. 30 batches of Erigeron breviscapus had 24 common peaks, and the similarity between Xingyi in Guizhou and Huize in Qujing was 0.702-0.783, while the similarity between Honghe Luli, Kunming Fuming and Dali was 0.861-0.970. All samples were divided into two categories according to their origin by CA: category Ⅰ: Xingyi in Guizhou and Huize in Qujing, and category Ⅱ: Dali, Kunming Fuming and Honghe Luli. The results of PCA were consistent with CA. OPLS-DA screened out 10 differential markers of Erigeron breviscapus from different habitats. Moreover, a total of 40 common peaks were identified in six batches of Erigeron breviscapus samples stored under different conditions. Based on the similarity analysis, Erigeron breviscapus samples stored at 30% humidity and 70% humidity were classified into two separate categories.Conclusions:The fingerprint method constructed in this study is stable and reliable, and the predictive ability and reliability of the OPLS-DA model are excellent. By combining the two methods, a clear division can be made between Erigeron breviscapus from Yunnan and Guizhou. Humidity conditions are an important factor in storing Erigeron breviscapus.

Objective To establish a stable,reliable,and clinically relevant porcine model of endotoxin-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods Ten 8-month-old male Bama minipigs were deeply sedated,followed by invasive mechanical ventilation and electrocardiographic monitoring.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was intravenously pumped at 600 μg/(kg·h)for 3 hours,then maintained at 15 μg/(kg·h)thereafter.Dynamic monitoring was performed at five time points after LPS injection(LPS 0,1,3,5,and 8 h),including arterial blood gas analysis and chest computed tomography(CT)scans.Pathological examination of lung tissues obtained via bronchoscopic biopsy(HE staining and transmission electron microscopy)was conducted.These indicators were comprehensively used to evaluate the success of the animal model.Results At 5 hours after LPS administration,8 minipigs developed symptoms such as skin cyanosis,elevated body temperature,and respiratory distress.The oxygenation index decreased to<300 mmHg.Chest CT scans showed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates.Histopathology revealed alveolar edema and hyaline membrane formation.Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated disruption of pulmonary blood-air barrier,depletion of lamellar bodies in type Ⅱ pneumocytes,inflammatory cell infiltration,and exudation of plasma proteins and fibrin.Compared with LPS 0 h,at LPS 8 h,the oxygenation index and arterial blood pH were significantly decreased(P<0.001),while blood lactic acid and serum potassium were significantly increased(P<0.05);serum calcium and base excess were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the lung injury score based on HE-stained lung sections was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion The porcine ARDS model established by continuous LPS injection can dynamically simulate the pathophysiological characteristics and typical pathological manifestations of clinical septic ARDS,making it an effective tool to study the pathogenesis,prevention,and treatment strategies of septic ARDS.

Bladder cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with a high rate of recurrence and mortality, which is the ninth most common malignancy globally. Cystoscopy remains the gold standard for clinical bladder cancer diagnosis, but its invasive nature can lead to bacterial infection and inflammation. Urine cytology is a non-invasive and simple diagnostic method, but it has lower sensitivity in detecting low-grade bladder cancer and may yield false negative results. Therefore, identifying ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of bladder cancer. Aptamers, characterized as single-stranded DNA or RNA with unique three-dimensional conformations, exhibit the ability to identify various targets, ranging from small molecules to tumor cells. Aptamers, also known as chemical antibodies, are generated by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process and can function similarly to traditional antibodies. They hold numerous advantages over antibodies, such as ease of modification, low immunogenicity, and rapid tissue penetration and cell internalization due to their nucleic acid molecule structure. Since their discovery in the 1990s, aptamers have been widely used in biochemical analysis, disease detection, new drug research and other fields. This article provides an overview of aptamer selection and characterization for bladder cancer, discussing the research advancements involving aptamers in diagnosing and treating this disease. It covers aptamers obtained through different SELEX methods, including protein-SELEX, cell-SELEX, tissue-SELEX, and aptamers from other cancer SELEX; the detection in blood samples and urine samples; and application in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for bladder cancer. Currently, several aptamers capable of identifying bladder cancer have been generated, serving as molecular probes that have played a pivotal role in the early detection and treatment of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer perfusion therapy is well-suited for aptamer drug therapy because it does not require internal circulation, making it a suitable clinical indication for aptamer drug development. In addition, bladder cancer can be detected and monitored by collecting urine samples from patients, making it a preferred disease for clinical conversion of aptamers. While aptamers show promise, there is still much room for development compared with antibodies. There are still many clinically applied cancer biomarkers without corresponding aptamers, and more aptamers targeting different biomarkers should be selected and optimized to improve the sensitivity and accuracy for cancer detection and therapy. The field of aptamers urgently needs successful commercial products to promote its development, and home rapid detection/monitoring, imaging and targeted therapy of bladder cancer by infusion may be the breakthrough point for future application of aptamers.

Background Permethrin is a commonly used pyrethroid insecticide and has been found to be potentially neurotoxic. Microglia are innate immune cells in the central nervous system and are involved in the development of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Objective To observe possible toxic effects of permethrin on human microglia clone 3 (HMC3) in vitro and explore associated mechanism. Methods HMC3 were treated with 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin for 72 h. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), cyclin B2 (CCNB2), cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53), factor-related apoptosis (FAS), caspase 3 (CASP3), and H2A histone family member X (H2AX) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The differential genes and enrichment pathways of HMC3 after 0 and 25 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment was analyzed by RNA sequencing. HMC3 was treated by 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol· L⁻¹ permethrin for 72 h. The content of nitric oxide (NO) in the supernatant was detected using Griess reagent. The secretion level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (including MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) families (including MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) were detected by qPCR. The protein expressions of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP1 were detected by Western blot. Results HMC3 was arrested in G2/M phase after 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment for 72 h, of which there was a statistically significant difference between the 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment group and the control group (P<0.01), and the mRNA expression of CDKN1A was up-regulated according to the qPCR (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of apoptosis between the groups (P＞0.05). The RNA sequencing showed that the differential genes were enriched in the MAPK pathway, and the mRNA expressions of MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14 were up-regulated after the permethrin treatment at 55 μmol·L⁻¹ compared to the control group by qPCR (P<0.05). The Western blot revealed that, compared to the control group, the levels of p-p38 and p-ERK were increased after the 10 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05), the p-ERK level was increased after the 25 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05), and the p-p38 level was up-regulated after the 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05). The secretion of NO in the supernatant of HMC3 increased after permetrin treatment compared to the control group (P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expressions and the secretion of IL-6 showed an upward trend, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β were up-regulated (P<0.05), and the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP1 were up-regulated in the 25 and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Permethrin inhibits HMC3 cell proliferation in vitro, induces cell cycle arrest, activates MAPK pathway, and promotes the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and MMP1, which may be one of the mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by permethrin.

BACKGROUND:High tibial osteotomy results in massive blood loss during the perioperative period.Tranexamic acid can effectively reduce perioperative blood loss.However,the method of tranexamic acid application has not been unified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and safety of different methods of tranexamic acid on perioperative blood loss in the high tibial osteotomy. METHODS:A total of 160 patients who underwent primary unilateral high tibial osteotomy in the Binzhou Medical University Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021,including 69 males and 91 females,were randomly divided into four groups(n=40 per group).Among them,40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of saline containing 2 g tranexamic acid 10 minutes before tourniquet release(venous group);40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of 1 g tranexamic acid and 1 g tranexamic acid was injected through a drainage tube after the closure of the incision(combined group);40 patients were given 2 g tranexamic acid infusion into drainage tube after the closure of the incision(perfusion group);an additional 40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of the same amount of normal saline(blank group).The general information was compared among the four groups of patients.The hemoglobin,hematocrit,intraoperative blood loss,drainage volume,blood transfusion rate,incision complication,and the incidence of deep vein thrombosis were recorded on days 1,3 and 5 after operation in the four groups.The total blood loss and hidden blood loss were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in general information among the four groups.(2)No significant difference was found in intraoperative blood loss among the four groups.(3)The maximum decreased values of hemoglobin and hematocrit on days 1,3 and 5 after operation,drainage volume,total blood loss and hidden blood loss were all ranked as the combined group

BACKGROUND:With the aging of the global population,the incidence rate of osteoporosis is also increasing.It is very important to further understand its pathogenesis and propose new therapeutic targets.Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathogenesis of some bone diseases,such as inflammatory arthritis,osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the previous studies on the mechanism of ferroptosis in osteoporosis,so as to provide new therapeutic ideas and potential therapeutic targets for osteoporosis. METHODS:The first author used the computer to search the documents published from 2000 to 2022 in CNKI,WanFang,VIP,PubMed and Web of Science with the key words of"ferroptosis,osteoporosis,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,iron chelators,reactive oxygen species,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,heme oxygenase-1,glutathione peroxidase 4,review"in Chinese and English.A total of 70 articles were finally included according to the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Ferroptosis is significantly different from necrosis,apoptosis and autophagy.In terms of cell morphology and function,it does not have the morphological characteristics of typical necrosis,nor does it have the characteristics of traditional apoptosis,such as cell contraction,chromatin condensation,the formation of apoptotic bodies and the disintegration of cytoskeleton.Contrary to autophagy,ferroptosis does not form a classical closed bilayer membrane structure(autophagic vacuole).Morphologically,ferroptosis is mainly manifested by obvious contraction of mitochondria,increased membrane density,and reduction or disappearance of mitochondrial cristae,which are different from other cell death modes.Iron overload can destroy bone homeostasis by significantly inhibiting osteogenic differentiation and stimulating osteoclast formation,leading to osteoporosis.Iron overload interferes with the differentiation of stem cells to osteoblasts,leading to a weakened osteoblast function and further imbalance of bone metabolism in the body,which eventually leads to osteoporosis.Stimulated by iron overload,osteoclast bone resorption is enhanced and bone loss exceeds new bone formation.Iron chelators have been proved to have osteoprotective effects by inhibiting osteoclast activity and stimulating osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts.Its potential mechanism is related to inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and promoting osteoblast differentiation.Antioxidants can prevent reactive oxygen species production and inhibit bone absorption,thus improving bone metabolism and effectively preventing osteoporosis.