1.Efficacy and learning curve of three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia in county-level hospitals
Yongsheng PAN ; Bo LIU ; Jie JIANG ; Xinchao XIA ; Qianjin WANG ; Asihati REWULI ; Tianle WANG ; Hua ZHU ; Wei XUE ; Bing ZHENG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(3):258-263
Objective To analyze the efficacy, safety, and learning curve of the three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate(HoLEP)in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)in a county-level hospital.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 65 BPH patients who underwent the three-lobe HoLEP performed by a single surgeon at the Department of Urology, Yining County People's Hospital, during Dec.2023 and Jun.2024.The enucleation efficiency was calculated by dividing the weight of the enucleated prostatic tissue by the enucleation time.A case scatter diagram of enucleation efficiency was plotted according to the chronological order of the operations, and the learning curve was analyzed after fitting.Based on the inflection points of the learning curve, the learning process was divided into the initial learning, mastery, and proficiency phases.The basic clinical data, perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and follow-up indicators were compared among the different learning phases.Results All 65 procedures were successfully completed.Marked by the enucleation efficiency reaching a plateau, cases 1-20 were defined as the initial learning phase, cases 21-40 as the mastery phase, and cases 41 onwards as the proficiency phase.The prostate volume in the proficiency phase was significantly larger than that in the initial learning and mastery phases(both P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in other baseline characteristics among the three groups(all P>0.05).The operation time [(105.50±19.12)min vs.(85.25±26.92)min vs.(69.00±23.58)min] and enucleation time [(76.90±14.19)min vs.(63.70±22.24)min vs.(48.80±20.48)min] showed a decreasing trend across the three groups(all P<0.05).The enucleation efficiency in both the mastery and proficiency phases was significantly higher than that in the initial learning phase [(1.16±0.44)g/min vs.(0.85 ±0.25)g/min, P<0.05;(1.36±0.49)g/min vs.(0.85±0.25)g/min, P<0.05].The enucleation efficiency in the proficiency phase was slightly higher than that in the mastery phase, but the difference was not statistically significant(P= 0.389).There was no significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications among the three groups(all P>0.05).At the 6-month follow-up, the international prostate symptom score(IPSS), post-void residual(PVR), and maximum urinary flow(Qmax)were significantly improved compared to preoperative values in all three groups(all P<0.05);however, no significant differences were observed among the three groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion The three-lobe HoLEP for the treatment of BPH is safe and effective in a county-level hospital setting.Surgeons with some experience in endoscopic surgery can preliminarily master this technique after a learning period of approximately 20 procedures.
2.Etiology and treatment of dysuria shortly after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: a report of 98 cases
Chao LU ; Xin GU ; Wenfeng LI ; Chong LIU ; Bao HUA ; Jiangyi WANG ; Minkai XIE ; Yiwei WANG ; Qing YANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(5):435-439
Objective To investigate the etiology and treatment of dysuria shortly after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), so as to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1361 BPH patients who received HoLEP at our hospital during Mar. 2018 and Mar. 2025. All patients underwent ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), urethral probing or radiography, cystourethroscopy, and urodynamic testing. The causes, treatments and prognosis of dysuria after operation were summarized. Results ninety-eight patients (7.2%) experienced dysuria within 3 months after surgery, and all patients received initial urethral dilation. Among the 62 cases with urethral stricture, 28 were treated with urethral dilation (average of 8 sessions), 16 underwent external urethral incision, 8 underwent anterior urethroplasty, and 10 underwent transurethral plasma incision for urethral stricture. Of the 12 cases with residual prostate tissue, 5 underwent urethral plasma prostatectomy and 7 received medication. All of the 12 cases with bladder neck contracture underwent transurethral plasma incision of the bladder neck and local drug injection. Five cases with intravesical blood clots underwent urethral blood clot irrigation, 2 of which developed active bleeding and then underwent electrocoagulation. Four cases with detrusor dysfunction had catheters re-indwelled for one week followed by medication. Two cases with stone and one case with tissue fragment impacted in the urethra underwent urethral holmium lithotripsy and cystoscopic removal. All patients underwent reoperation successfully and experienced complete resolution or significant improvement of urinary difficulties. Conclusion A certain proportion of patients experience dysuria after HoLEP, with diverse etiologies. The combination of prevention and treatment can reduce the incidence of dysuria.
3.Roles of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level in evaluating occupational hearing loss
Haiying LIU ; Linjie WU ; Yang LI ; Jinzhe LI ; Jiarui XIN ; Hua ZOU ; Wei QIU ; Tong SHEN ; Meibian ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(7):793-799
Background Temporal kurtosis (without frequency weighting, i.e., Z-weighted kurtosis) can evaluate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, few studies have considered the function of frequency weighting (A- or C-weighted) kurtosis on NIHL. Objective To study the significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level (L'EX,8 h) in evaluating occupational hearing loss. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to select 973 noise-exposed workers in seven industries as the subjects. The noise exposure of all workers was assessed by distributions of A-, C-, and Z-weighted kurtosis (e.g., KA, KC, and KZ) and respective adjusted equivalent sound level (e.g., L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX,8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ). The significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis in evaluating NIHL was evaluated by correlations between three types of L'EX,8 h and NIHL, and improvement of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) underestimation predicted by the ISO prediction model (Acoustics—Estimation of noise-induced hearing loss, ISO 1999-2013). Results The median KA, KC, and KZ were 68.33, 28.22, and 19.82, respectively. The binary logistic regression showed that LEX, 8 h-KA, LEX, 8 h-KC, and L'EX, 8 h-KZ were risk factors for NIHL (OR>1, P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that when the outcome variable was noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX,8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ were 0.625, 0.628, and 0.625, respectively. When the outcome variable was high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'EX,8 h-KA, L'EX, 8 h-KC, and L'EX,8 h-KZ were 0.624, 0.623, and 0.622, respectively (P<0.05). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'EX,8 h for NIPTS1234 was: L'EX,8 h-KA (4.68 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KC (4.38 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KZ (4.28 dB HL) (P<0.001). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'EX,8 h-K for NIPTS346 was: L'EX,8 h-KA (7.20 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KC (6.83 dB HL)>L'EX,8 h-KZ (6.71 dB HL) (P<0.001). Conclusion The adjustment of A- and C-weighted kurtosis to equivalent sound level LEX,8 h can effectively improve the accuracy of the ISO 1999 prediction model in NIPTS prediction, and compared with the C-weighted, the A-weighted kurtosis can improve the result of the ISO 1999 prediction model in terms of underestimating NIPTS.
4.Targeting PPARα for The Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Tong-Tong ZHANG ; Hao-Zhuo ZHANG ; Li HE ; Jia-Wei LIU ; Jia-Zhen WU ; Wen-Hua SU ; Ju-Hua DAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2295-2313
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of mortality among adults globally, with continuously rising morbidity and mortality rates. Metabolic disorders are closely linked to various cardiovascular diseases and play a critical role in their pathogenesis and progression, involving multifaceted mechanisms such as altered substrate utilization, mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunction, and impaired ATP synthesis and transport. In recent years, the potential role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in cardiovascular diseases has garnered significant attention, particularly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), which is recognized as a highly promising therapeutic target for CVD. PPARα regulates cardiovascular physiological and pathological processes through fatty acid metabolism. As a ligand-activated receptor within the nuclear hormone receptor family, PPARα is highly expressed in multiple organs, including skeletal muscle, liver, intestine, kidney, and heart, where it governs the metabolism of diverse substrates. Functioning as a key transcription factor in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and catalyzing or regulating biochemical reactions, PPARα exerts its cardioprotective effects through multiple pathways: modulating lipid metabolism, participating in cardiac energy metabolism, enhancing insulin sensitivity, suppressing inflammatory responses, improving vascular endothelial function, and inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. These mechanisms collectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease development. Thus, PPARα plays a pivotal role in various pathological processes via mechanisms such as lipid metabolism regulation, anti-inflammatory actions, and anti-apoptotic effects. PPARα is activated by binding to natural or synthetic lipophilic ligands, including endogenous fatty acids and their derivatives (e.g., linoleic acid, oleic acid, and arachidonic acid) as well as synthetic peroxisome proliferators. Upon ligand binding, PPARα activates the nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR), forming a PPARα-RXR heterodimer. This heterodimer, in conjunction with coactivators, undergoes further activation and subsequently binds to peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs), thereby regulating the transcription of target genes critical for lipid and glucose homeostasis. Key genes include fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1), and glucose transporter (GLUT), which are primarily involved in fatty acid uptake, storage, oxidation, and glucose utilization processes. Advancing research on PPARα as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases has underscored its growing clinical significance. Currently, PPARα activators/agonists, such as fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and bezafibrate) and thiazolidinediones, have been extensively studied in clinical trials for CVD prevention. Traditional PPARα agonists, including fenofibrate and bezafibrate, are widely used in clinical practice to treat hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These fibrates enhance fatty acid metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle by activating PPARα, and their cardioprotective effects have been validated in numerous clinical studies. Recent research highlights that fibrates improve insulin resistance, regulate lipid metabolism, correct energy metabolism imbalances, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, thereby ameliorating pathological remodeling of the cardiovascular system and reducing blood pressure. Given the substantial attention to PPARα-targeted interventions in both basic research and clinical applications, activating PPARα may serve as a key therapeutic strategy for managing cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. This review comprehensively examines the regulatory roles of PPARα in cardiovascular diseases and evaluates its clinical application value, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization of PPARα-related therapies in CVD treatment.
5.Multi-omics Analysis of NUDT19 Across Cancer Types and Its Functional Role in Leukemia
Xiao-Jin LI ; Shuai FENG ; Zhong-Tao YUAN ; Tong-Hua YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2627-2649
ObjectiveRecent studies have highlighted the critical role of NUDT19 in the initiation, progression, and prognosis of specific cancer types. However, its involvement in pan-cancer analysis has not been fully characterized. This study aims to systematically explore the expression patterns, clinical significance, and immune-related functions of NUDT19 in various cancer types through multi-omics analysis, further revealing its potential role in cancer, particularly its functional and therapeutic target value in leukemia. MethodsTo achieve this goal, various bioinformatics approaches were employed to evaluate the expression patterns, clinical significance, and immune-related functions of NUDT19 in tumors and normal tissues. Additionally, we analyzed the mutation characteristics of NUDT19 and its relationship with epigenetic modifications. Using the single-cell analysis tool SingleCellBase, we explored the distribution of NUDT19 across different cell subpopulations in tumors. To validate these findings, qRT-PCR was used to measure NUDT19 expression levels in specific tumor cell lines, and we established acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines (HL-60 and THP-1) to conduct NUDT19 knockdown and overexpression experiments, assessing its effects on leukemia cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. ResultsPan-cancer analysis revealed the dysregulated expression of NUDT19 across multiple cancer types, which was closely associated with poor prognosis, clinical staging, and diagnostic markers. Furthermore, NUDT19 was significantly correlated with tumor biomarkers, immune-related genes, and immune cell infiltration in different cancers. Mutation analysis showed that multiple mutations in NUDT19 were significantly associated with epigenetic changes. Single-cell analysis revealed the heterogeneity of NUDT19 expression in cancer cells, suggesting its potentially diverse functional roles in different cell subpopulations. qRT-PCR experiments confirmed the significant upregulation of NUDT19 in various tumor cell lines. In AML cell lines, NUDT19 knockdown led to reduced cell proliferation and invasion, with increased apoptosis, while NUDT19 overexpression significantly enhanced cell proliferation and invasion while reducing apoptosis. ConclusionThis study demonstrates the diverse roles of NUDT19 in various cancer types, with a particularly prominent functional role in leukemia. NUDT19 is not only associated with tumor initiation and progression but may also influence cancer progression through the regulation of immune microenvironment and epigenetic mechanisms. Our research highlights the potential of NUDT19 as a therapeutic target, particularly for targeted therapies in malignancies such as leukemia, with significant clinical application prospects.
6.Antibacterial activity of the antifungal peptide Mt6 - 21DLeu derived from Musca domestica against Acinetobacter baumannii and the underlying mechanisms
Xuan HUA ; Tong QIU ; Xuyuan WANG ; Renxian TANG ; Delong KONG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(5):482-493
Objective To investigate the antibacterial activity of the antifungal peptide Mt6-21DLeu derived from Musca domestica against Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) and unravel its underlying mechanisms, so as to provide insights into development of novel agents against AB. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Mt6-21DLeu, M. domestica-derived antifungal peptide-1 (MAF-1A), and polymyxin B were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and AB using the broth microdilution assay, and the antibacterial activity of Mt6-21DLeu and polymyxin B was dynamically assessed against AB over 24 hours with time-kill curves. The inhibitory effects of Mt6-21DLeu and polymyxin B on biofilm formation in AB at concentrations of 1/4 × MIC, 1/2 × MIC and MIC, and the eradication effects of Mt6-21DLeu and polymyxin B on mature biofilms in AB at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC were evaluated using crystal violet staining. Structural changes in the cell membrane of AB were observed 3 hours post-exposure to Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC and 2 × MIC using scanning electron microscopy, and alterations in the cell membrane permeability of AB were analyzed 3 hours post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC and 2 × MIC by means of fluorescence microscopy and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in AB were measured 3 hours post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC using flow cytometry. The survival of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC was monitored for 7 consecutive days, and survival curves were plotted to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of Mt6-21DLeu. In addition, C. elegans infected with AB and treated with Mt6-21DLeu at a concentration of 4 × MIC served as the treatment group, and uninfected C. elegans served as the control group, while infected but untreated C. elegans served as the infection group. The in vivo antibacterial efficacy of Mt6-21DLeu at a concentration of 4 × MIC was evaluated by comparing the survival curves and bacterial load among the three groups. Results The MICs of MAF-1A were all >128 μg/mL against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and AB. In contrast, the MICs of Mt6-21DLeu were >128, 32, 8, 8, 16, and 4 μg/mL against these strains, respectively, and the MIC of Mt6-21DLeu against AB was close to that of polymyxin B (2 μg/mL). Time-kill curve analysis showed that both Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC and 2 × MIC and polymyxin B at a concentration of MIC inhibited AB growth over the 24-hour study period. The biofilm biomass in AB was (52.38 ± 6.92)%, (40.88 ± 9.17)% and (14.77 ± 6.00)% post-exposure with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of 1/4 × MIC, 1/2 × MIC and MIC, (61.58 ± 7.35)%, (47.42 ± 5.51)% and (20.85 ± 10.48)% post-treatment with polymyxin B at concentrations of 1/4 × MIC, 1/2 × MIC and MIC, and (100.00 ± 15.92)% in the control group (only bacterial suspension), respectively (F = 68.38, P < 0.001), and pairwise comparisons indicated that Mt6-21DLeu and polymyxin B at all concentrations significantly inhibited biofilm formation as compared to the control group (all P values < 0.001). The mature biofilm biomass in AB was (73.44 ± 11.41)%, (72.56 ± 13.08)% and (49.65 ± 9.23)% post-exposure to Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC, (84.38 ± 8.60)%, (72.31 ± 9.63)% and (58.85 ± 4.96)% post-treatment with polymyxin B at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC, and (100.00 ± 6.36)% in the control group (F = 35.63, P < 0.001), and pairwise comparisons revealed that Mt6-21DLeu at all concentrations significantly eradicated biofilm biomass (all P values < 0.05); however, polymyxin B showed no clear-cut eradication effect at a concentration of MIC (P > 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed pore formation and content leakage in the cell membrane of AB 3 hours post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC and 2 × MIC. Fluorescence microscopy showed that the proportions of PI-stained AB were (24.79 ± 11.51)% and (68.44 ± 15.80)% post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC and 2 × MIC, and (0.96 ± 0.94)% in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) treatment group (F = 105.90, P < 0.001), with the highest proportion of PI-stained AB seen post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at a concentration of 2 × MIC (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that the relative intracellular ROS levels in AB were (652.00 ± 141.90), (694.33 ± 14.19), and (974.33 ± 160.02) 3 hours post-treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at concentrations of MIC, 2 × MIC and 4 × MIC, and (403.67 ± 86.56) in the PBS treatment group, respectively (F = 12.27, P < 0.05), with the highest intracellular ROS level measured following treatment with Mt6-21DLeu at a concentration of 4 × MIC (P < 0.05). Survival curve analysis revealed that Mt6-21DLeu posed no impact on C. elegans survival at concentrations of MIC (χ2 = 0.02, P > 0.05), 2 × MIC (χ2 = 0.06, P > 0.05) or 4 × MIC (χ2 = 0.16, P > 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the survival period of C. elegans among the control group, the infection group, and the treatment group (χ2 = 82.66, P < 0.05), with a significantly longer survival period in the treatment group than in the infection group (χ2 = 45.00, P < 0.05). In addition, the log-transformed bacterial colony counts in C. elegans were (0.00 ± 0.00), (5.46 ± 0.03), and (3.91 ± 0.47) CFU/mL in the control group, the infection group, and the treatment group, respectively (F = 324.80, P < 0.001), and the log-transformed bacterial colony counts in C. elegans were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the infection group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Mt6-21DLeu exerts potent antibacterial effects through disrupting the cell membrane integrity of AB and promoting intracellular ROS accumulation in AB, and exhibits promising potential for treatment of AB infections both in vivo and in vitro, which may serve as a candidate drug molecule against multidrug-resistant AB infections.
7.Regulatory effect of neutrophils in microglial polarization after permanent ischemic stroke
Min-Hua HUANG ; Xin-Yan YE ; Si-Yu WU ; Shao-Tong LUO ; Zhi-Shan WU ; Yuan CHEN ; Su-Ning PING
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(2):136-142
Objective To investigate the effects of peripheral blood neutrophil infiltration on the polarization regulation of cerebral resident microglia under a permanent ischemic stroke model.Methods Fifty-eight C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups.One group was sham group,and the other group of mice was subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery.Mice were euthanized 48 hours,7 days,14 days,and 30 days after surgery for tissue collection.Western blotting was used to detect expression levels of M1 microglia markers CD 16,M2 microglia marker arginase 1(Arg1),inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),and neutrophil marker myeloperoxidase(MPO)in brain tissue.Immunofluorescence histochemical staining was used to assess neutrophil infiltration and M2 microglial distribution around the infarct area in brain sections.In vitro,purified neutrophils were co-cultured with BV2 microglial cells.After lipopolysaccharide stimulation,the phagocytosis of neutrophils by BV2 cells was observed,and the expression levels of CD16 and Arg1 proteins in BV2 cells were detected.Results Western blotting showed that the levels of CD16(P<0.05),IL-1β(P<0.001),and MPO(P<0.05)in brain tissue increased significantly 48 hours and 7 days after surgery,then decreased,with MPO expression returning to normal levels 30 days after surgery.Immunofluorescence showed a significant increase of MPO-positive cells around the infarct area of the mouse cerebral cortex 48 hours after surgery(P<0.001),followed by a decrease(P<0.05).The number of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1)and MPO double-positive cells gradually increased after surgery,and reached their peak at 14 days(P<0.05).Iba1 and Arg1 double-positive cells also increased significantly 7 days(P<0.05)and 14 days(P<0.01)after surgery.In vitro,co-culture experiments showed that after BV2 phagocytosing neutrophils,CD 16(P<0.05)significantly decreased and Arg1 significantly upregulated(P<0.05).Conclusion In a permanent ischemic stroke model,microglia transition from M1 to M2 type after phagocytosing neutrophils,and the injured brain area changes from pro-inflammatory state to anti-inflammatory state.
8.Comparative transcriptome profiling of three different murine modelsof metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Tianwen Liu ; Ziyi Guo ; Hanqi Bi ; Bing Zhou ; Yan Lu ; Fei Mao ; Hua Wang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(8):1445-1453
Objective:
To compare the transcriptomic profiles between three distinct metabolic dysfunction⁃associat⁃mal murine model that more closely resembles human MASH progression .
Methods:
Forty 8 ⁃week⁃old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a control group fed normal chow diet ( NCD) or one of three MASH model groups receiving high⁃fat high⁃cholesterol diet (HFHCD) , choline⁃deficient high⁃fat diet (CDHFD) ,from three randomly selected mice per group were collected for mRNA sequencing ( mRNA⁃seq) analysis . Mean⁃bases . Overlap of functional profiles was analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) profiles to compare the mouse transcriptome with that of human patients at different stages of the disease . Additionally , Pearson ′s correla⁃tion analysis was used to explore the correlation between gene expression of murine models and human MASH .
Results:
Seven commonly up⁃regulated genes (Col1a1 , Smoc2 , Col6a1 , Gpx3 , Col16a1 , Spp1 and Crtap) were de⁃ways involving steatosis , hepatocellular injury and fibrosis were detected in the three MASH models at the pathway level . HFHCD and MCD might share more common traits . In comparing gene expression and pathway profiles be⁃tween different murine models and patients with different stages of MASH , all three murine MASH models showed a closer resemblance to the human progressive stages of MASH . Notably , the transcriptomic features of the CDHFD model were more consistent with those of human MASH .
Conclusion
There are certain similarities and differences among the transcriptional profiles of the three MASH models . The MASH models are more similar to the advanced stage of MASH in human patients . Compared to the other two models , the CDHFD model ′ s transcriptome profile more closely resembles human MASH .
9.Research on the Correlation between Balance Function and Core Muscles in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Si-Jia LI ; Qing YUE ; Qian-Jin LIU ; Yan-Hua LIANG ; Tian-Tian ZHOU ; Xiao-Song LI ; Tian-Yang FENG ; Tong ZHANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):264-275
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the correlation between balance function and core muscle activation in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), compared to healthy individuals.
Methods:
A total of 24 AIS patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The limits of stability (LOS) test were conducted to assess balance function, while surface electromyography was used to measure the activity of core muscles, including the internal oblique, external oblique, and multifidus. Diaphragm thickness was measured using ultrasound during different postural tasks. Center of pressure (COP) displacement and trunk inclination distance were also recorded during the LOS test.
Results:
AIS patients showed significantly greater activation of superficial core muscles, such as the internal and external oblique muscles, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Diaphragm activation was lower in AIS patients during balance tasks (p < 0.01). Although no significant difference was observed in COP displacement between the groups, trunk inclination was significantly greater in the AIS group during certain tasks (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
These findings suggest distinct postural control patterns in AIS patients, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to improve balance and core muscle function in this population.
10.In situ Analytical Techniques for Membrane Protein Interactions
Zi-Yuan KANG ; Tong YU ; Chao LI ; Xue-Hua ZHANG ; Jun-Hui GUO ; Qi-Chang LI ; Jing-Xing GUO ; Hao XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1206-1218
Membrane proteins are integral components of cellular membranes, accounting for approximately 30% of the mammalian proteome and serving as targets for 60% of FDA-approved drugs. They are critical to both physiological functions and disease mechanisms. Their functional protein-protein interactions form the basis for many physiological processes, such as signal transduction, material transport, and cell communication. Membrane protein interactions are characterized by membrane environment dependence, spatial asymmetry, weak interaction strength, high dynamics, and a variety of interaction sites. Therefore, in situ analysis is essential for revealing the structural basis and kinetics of these proteins. This paper introduces currently available in situ analytical techniques for studying membrane protein interactions and evaluates the characteristics of each. These techniques are divided into two categories: label-based techniques (e.g., co-immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, resonance energy transfer, and proximity labeling) and label-free techniques (e.g., cryo-electron tomography, in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and structure prediction tools). Each technique is critically assessed in terms of its historical development, strengths, and limitations. Based on the authors’ relevant research, the paper further discusses the key issues and trends in the application of these techniques, providing valuable references for the field of membrane protein research. Label-based techniques rely on molecular tags or antibodies to detect proximity or interactions, offering high specificity and adaptability for dynamic studies. For instance, proximity ligation assay combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of PCR amplification, while proximity labeling enables spatial mapping of interactomes. Conversely, label-free techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography, provide near-native structural insights, and Raman spectroscopy directly probes molecular interactions without perturbing the membrane environment. Despite advancements, these methods face several universal challenges: (1) indirect detection, relying on proximity or tagged proxies rather than direct interaction measurement; (2) limited capacity for continuous dynamic monitoring in live cells; and (3) potential artificial influences introduced by labeling or sample preparation, which may alter native conformations. Emerging trends emphasize the multimodal integration of complementary techniques to overcome individual limitations. For example, combining in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry with proximity labeling enhances both spatial resolution and interaction coverage, enabling high-throughput subcellular interactome mapping. Similarly, coupling fluorescence resonance energy transfer with nuclear magnetic resonance and artificial intelligence (AI) simulations integrates dynamic structural data, atomic-level details, and predictive modeling for holistic insights. Advances in AI, exemplified by AlphaFold’s ability to predict interaction interfaces, further augment experimental data, accelerating structure-function analyses. Future developments in cryo-electron microscopy, super-resolution imaging, and machine learning are poised to refine spatiotemporal resolution and scalability. In conclusion, in situ analysis of membrane protein interactions remains indispensable for deciphering their roles in health and disease. While current technologies have significantly advanced our understanding, persistent gaps highlight the need for innovative, integrative approaches. By synergizing experimental and computational tools, researchers can achieve multiscale, real-time, and perturbation-free analyses, ultimately unraveling the dynamic complexity of membrane protein networks and driving therapeutic discovery.


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