Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

Objective Analyze the implementation effects of the specialized disease management policy(hereinafter re-ferred to as the policy)to provide reference for strengthening operational management and enhancing the integration of business and finance in public hospitals.Methods Patient information of inpatients from a large comprehensive tertiary hospital from Jan-uary 2022 to June 2023 was collected.Four out of ten single diseases focused on by the national tertiary public hospital perform-ance assessment were included in the study group for specialized disease management,while the remaining six were used as the control group.A difference-in-differences model was adopted to analyze the changes in relevant indicators such as per capita inpa-tient expenses,average length of stay,per capita drug expenses,per capita consumable expenses,and per capita examination and treatment expenses before and after the policy implementation.Additionally,the effects of policy implementation were further analyzed based on different medical insurance types.Results A total of 22 457 patients were included,with 5 879 patients in the study group(3 164 cases before policy implementation and 2 715 cases after policy implementation),and 19 741 patients in the control group.The difference-in-differences model analysis showed that after the policy implementation,per capita inpatient expenses for specialized disease management patients decreased by 32.7％,average length of stay decreased by 31.4％,drug ex-penses decreased by 49.5％,consumable expenses decreased by 24.2％,and examination and treatment expenses decreased by 29.2％.Moreover,compared to patients under non-Wuhan medical insurance,patients under Wuhan medical insurance experi-enced a greater reduction in related indicators.Conclusion The implementation of the policy effectively reduces the burden on patients seeking medical care,improves medical treatment efficiency,contributes to hospital refined management methods,deep-ens the integration of business and finance,and facilitates the transition towards leaner operations.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), a core transcription factor responding to changes in cellular oxygen levels, is closely associated with a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. However, its differential impacts on vascular cell types and molecular programs modulating human vascular homeostasis and regeneration remain largely elusive. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing of human embryonic stem cells and directed differentiation to generate HIF-1α-deficient human vascular cells including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a platform for discovering cell type-specific hypoxia-induced response mechanisms. Through comparative molecular profiling across cell types under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, we provide insight into the indispensable role of HIF-1α in the promotion of ischemic vascular regeneration. We found human MSCs to be the vascular cell type most susceptible to HIF-1α deficiency, and that transcriptional inactivation of ANKZF1, an effector of HIF-1α, impaired pro-angiogenic processes. Altogether, our findings deepen the understanding of HIF-1α in human angiogenesis and support further explorations of novel therapeutic strategies of vascular regeneration against ischemic damage.
Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia/physiology*

Objective:To clarify the genetic diagnosis of two children with ring chromosome 18 and explore their mechanisms and clinical phenotypes.Methods:Two patients treated at the Children′s Hospital of Henan Province respectively in June 2022 and March 2023 were selected as the study subjects. Genetic testing and diagnosis were carried out through copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq), G-banded chromosomal karyotyping, and whole exome sequencing (WES). This study was approved by the Children′s Hospital of Henan Province (Ethics No. 2023-K-075).Results:Child 1 had mainly manifested developmental delay, white matter hypoplasia, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and micropenis. He was found to have a chromosomal karyotype of 46, XY, r(18)(p11.21q22.1)[40]/46, XY[7], and CNV-seq results showed that he has a 14.86 Mb deletion at 18p11.21p11.32 and a 14.02 Mb deletion at 18q22.1q23. Child 2 had peculiar facial features, delayed white matter myelination, developmental delay, atrial septal defect, severe sensorineural deafness, and congenital laryngeal stridor. He was found to have a chromosomal karyotype of 46, XY, r(18)(p11.2q23). CNV-seq result proved that he had a 14.86 Mb deletion at 18p11.21p11.32 and a 20.74 Mb deletion at 18q21.32q23. WES has failed to detect single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in either child, but revealed a large segmental deletion at chromosome 18 in both of them.Conclusion:Both children were diagnosed with ring chromosome 18 syndrome. The different size of the deletional fragments in the 18q region and mosaicism of ring chromosome 18 in child 1 may underlay the variation in their clinical phenotypes. The type 1 diabetes mellitus and micropenis noted in both children are novel features for ring chromosome 18 syndrome.

Objective To investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of twenty blood samples carrying ABO?AW.37 allele and to analyze ABO allelic enhancement.Methods The ABO phenotype of the twenty samples was de-termined by serological methods and the genotype of 1-7 ABO exons was analyzed by Sanger sequencing.Results Sequen-cing analysis showed that all twenty samples contained a c.940A>G(p.Lys314Glu)mutation of A allele,which was defined as ABO?AW.37.When ABO?AW.37 and B alleles were inherited simultaneously in 9 cases,in forward typing anti-A anti-bodies all agglutinated and the serological phenotype was Aw B.Among the 11 cases with ABO?AW.37 and O alleles inherited simultaneously,there was no agglutination of anti-A in forward typing.For absorption and elution tests,5 cases were weakly positive and the serological phenotype was Ael,while 6 cases were negative for absorption and elution tests and the serologi-cal phenotype was O type.Conclusion Allelic enhancement occured when both ABO?AW.37 allele and B allele were in-herited simultaneously.When ABO? AW.37 was inherited simultaneously with O allele,the serological phenotype was Aelor O type and attention should be paid to blood type identification.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.

【Objective】 To investigate the reasonable serological detection method by analyzing the characteristics of anti-K and anti-Wr^a from a patient who received treatment with daratumumab. 【Methods】 Unexpected antibody screening and identification were performed by saline method, polybrene, cardioagglutinin, dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment, trypsin treatment and papain treatment in the patient's plasma and acid elution solution. Heat elution test was detected after absorbing patient serum with K antigen negative red blood cells. The characteristics of antibodies were analyzed and their titer was continuously detected. Cross matching was performed after excluding interference of daratumumab. 【Results】 Anti-K and anti-Wr^a were detected in saline and polybrene in the patient's plasma. The patient's elution solution contained daratumumab. DTT or trypsin treatment excluded interference of daratumumab but papain treatment did not. DTT treatment destroyed K antigen and missed the detection of IgG antibodies in the Kell system. Trypsin treatment did not affect K antigen and can detect IgG antibodies of Kell system(anti-k)in the serum of the patient treated with daratumumab. Anti K was IgM and the titer was 4 by saline method and it decreased to no agglutination in room temperature after 39 days. Anti-Wr^a was IgG and the titer by polybrene method was 4, and it decreased to 1 after 39 days. After 76 days, neither anti-K nor anti-Wr^a could be detected. Transfusions of K and Wr^a antigen negative red blood cells were safe and effective. 【Conclusion】 DTT treatment can exclude interference of daratumumab, but attention should be paid to missed detection of anti-K. To avoid interference of daratumumab and identify unexpected antibody, multiple methods such as DTT treatment, polybrene and trypsin treatment in combination are recommended.

The application of digital technology in teaching and clinical practice has been hindered by the lack of integrity,consis-tency and accuracy in current digital models.Despite the efforts of domestic and international scholars,the localization,refining and standardization of model data for digital dental models remain inadequate,which limits the promotion and application of digital dental models.A preliminergly produced precise,standardized and multi-form applicable 3D dental-cranio-cervical digital model based on Chinese anatomical data is reported in this paper.The further improvement,application and promotion of this model are expected to contribute to the improvement of the quality of dental education and clinical efficiency.

The testis is pivotal for male reproduction, and its progressive functional decline in aging is associated with infertility. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying primate testicular aging remains largely elusive. Here, we resolve the aging-related cellular and molecular alterations of primate testicular aging by establishing a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas. Gene-expression patterns along the spermatogenesis trajectory revealed molecular programs associated with attrition of spermatogonial stem cell reservoir, disturbed meiosis and impaired spermiogenesis along the sequential continuum. Remarkably, Sertoli cell was identified as the cell type most susceptible to aging, given its deeply perturbed age-associated transcriptional profiles. Concomitantly, downregulation of the transcription factor Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1), essential for Sertoli cell homeostasis, was associated with accelerated cellular senescence, disrupted tight junctions, and a compromised cell identity signature, which altogether may help create a hostile microenvironment for spermatogenesis. Collectively, our study depicts in-depth transcriptomic traits of non-human primate (NHP) testicular aging at single-cell resolution, providing potential diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic interventions against testicular aging and age-related male reproductive diseases.
Animals ; Male ; Testis ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Primates ; Aging/genetics* ; Stem Cells