The balance between growth and defense in response to nearby or canopy shading in heliotropic plants has been deeply understood. However, the adaptive traits developed by shade-tolerant plants through long-term evolution remain unclear. In this study, the typical shade-tolerant medicinal plant Anoectochilus roxburghii was used as the experimental material.(1) Different planting densities were set, including 8 cm(row spacing) × 8 cm(plant spacing), 6 cm × 6 cm, 4 cm × 4 cm, and 2 cm × 2 cm, to monitor the individual plant responses to nearby shading.(2) Different light environments, including blue light∶red light=3∶2(B3R2), blue light∶red light∶far-red light=3∶2∶1(B3R2FR1), blue light∶red light∶far-red light=3∶2∶2(B3R2FR2), and blue light∶red light∶far-red light=3∶2∶4(B3R2FR4), were set to monitor the morphological and physiological changes in plants in response to actual shading conditions. The results showed that:(1) Moderate increases in planting density helped optimize morphological traits such as stem diameter and leaf area. This not only slightly increased biomass but also significantly improved SOD activity in both leaves and stems, as well as lignin content in stems, thereby enhancing the plant's defense capabilities.(2) Increasing the far-red light in the light environment negatively regulated the plant height of A. roxburghii, which was contrary to the typical shade-avoidance response observed in heliotropic plants. However, it significantly enhanced SOD and POD activity in both stems and leaves, as well as lignin content in stems. Furthermore, it reduced the incidence and disease index of stalk rot, effectively defending against biotic stress. Therefore, the shade-tolerant plant A. roxburghii has specific adaptive strategies for shading conditions. Reasonable dense planting or light environment modulation can synergistically improve yield, medicinal quality, and resistance of A. roxburghii. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for optimizing the regional deployment and cultivation strategies of ecological planting for Chinese medicinal materials.
Orchidaceae/genetics* ; Light ; Plant Leaves/physiology* ; Sunlight ; Adaptation, Physiological/radiation effects* ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

In recent years, the study of single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology in the heterogeneity of astrocytes (astrocytes) after spinal cord injury (SCI) has provided new perspectives on post-traumatic nerve regeneration and repair. To provide a review on the research progress of single-cell sequencing technology in astrocytes after spinal cord injury (SCI), and to more comprehensively and deeply elaborate the application of single-cell sequencing technology in the field of astrocytes after SCI. Single-cell sequencing technology can analyse the transcriptomes of individual cells in a high-throughput manner, thus revealing fine differences in cell types and states. By using single-cell sequencing technology, the heterogeneity of astrocytes after SCI and their association with nerve regeneration and repair were revealed. In conclusion, the application of single-cell sequencing technology provides an important tool to reveal the heterogeneity of astrocytes after SCI, to further explore the mechanisms of astrocytes in SCI, and to develop intervention strategies targeting their regulatory mechanisms in order to improve the therapeutic efficacy of SCI. The discovery of changes in astrocyte transcriptome dynamics has improved researchers' understanding of spinal cord injury lesion progression and provided new insights into the treatment of spinal cord injury at different time points. To date, all of these findings need to be validated by more basic research and sufficient clinical trials. In the future, single-cell sequencing technology, through interdisciplinary collaboration with bioinformatics, computer science, tissue engineering, and clinical medicine, is expected to open a new window for the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries/metabolism* ; Astrocytes/cytology* ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods* ; Humans ; Animals ; Transcriptome ; Nerve Regeneration

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Computational approaches for predicting drug-target interactions (DTIs) are pivotal in advancing drug discovery. Current methodologies leveraging heterogeneous networks often fall short in fully integrating both local and global network information. To comprehensively consider network information, we propose DHGT-DTI, a novel deep learning-based approach for DTI prediction. Specifically, we capture the local and global structural information of the network from both neighborhood and meta-path perspectives. In the neighborhood perspective, we employ a heterogeneous graph neural network (HGNN), which extends Graph Sample and Aggregate (GraphSAGE) to handle diverse node and edge types, effectively learning local network structures. In the meta-path perspective, we introduce a Graph Transformer with residual connections to model higher-order relationships defined by meta-paths, such as "drug-disease-drug", and use an attention mechanism to fuse information across multiple meta-paths. The learned features from these dual perspectives are synergistically integrated for DTI prediction via a matrix decomposition method. Furthermore, DHGT-DTI reconstructs not only the DTI network but also auxiliary networks to bolster prediction accuracy. Comprehensive experiments on two benchmark datasets validate the superiority of DHGT-DTI over existing baseline methods. Additionally, case studies on six drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease not only validate the practical utility of DHGT-DTI but also highlight its broader potential in accelerating drug discovery for other diseases.

Lingguizhugan Decoction (LGZG) demonstrates significant efficacy in treating various cardiovascular diseases clinically, yet its precise mechanism of action remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanisms and effects of LGZG on isoproterenol (ISO) continuous stimulation-induced chronic heart failure (CHF) in mice, providing direct experimental evidence for further clinical applications. In vivo, continuous ISO infusion was administered to mice, and ventricular myocytes were utilized to explore LGZG?s potential mechanism of action on the ?1-adrenergic receptor (?1-AR)/Gs/G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs)/?-arrestin signaling deflection system in the heart. The findings reveal that LGZG significantly reduced the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of hypertrophy-related biomarkers [atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)] and improved cardiac remodeling and left ventricular diastolic function in mice with ISO-induced CHF. Furthermore, LGZG inhibited the overactivation of Gs/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling and downregulated the downstream transcriptional activity of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression of the coactivator CBP/P300. Notably, LGZG downregulated the expression of ?-arrestin1 and GRK 2/3/5 while upregulating the expression of ?1-AR and ?-arrestin2. These results suggest that LGZG inhibits Gs/cAMP/PKA signaling and ?-arrestin/GRK-mediated desensitization and internalization of ?1-AR, potentially exerting cardioprotective effects through the synergistic regulation of the ?1-AR/Gs/GRKs/?-arrestin signaling deflection system via multiple pathways.
Animals ; Heart Failure/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Male ; G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; Arrestins/genetics* ; Chronic Disease

Background Water serves as an indispensable resource for human survival and constitutes one of the primary means through which humans are exposed to environmental chemicals. Consequently, the safety of drinking water is critical to safeguarding public health. Objective To analyze the levels of the 10 metal/metalloid indicators [Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Cr(VI), Pb, and Hg] in drinking water from a region of the Fuchun River Basin, and to evaluate the health risks in drinking water through oral ingestion. Methods In accordance with the national Standard Examination Method for Drinking Water – Part 2: Collection and Preservation of Water Samples (GB/T 5750-2006 and GB/T 5750-2023), a total of 2016 drinking water samples were collected from urban and rural water supply systems in a region of the Fuchun Basin from 2017 to 2024. Two batches of water samples were collected annually during the dry and wet seasons, with each batch comprising 72 samples from the urban water supply system and 54 samples from the rural water supply system. These samples were analyzed according to the Standard Examination Method for Drinking Water – Part 6: Metal and Metalloid Indicators (GB/T 5750-2006 and GB/T 5750-2023) and the results were compared with the limits specified in the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2022). Health risks were evaluated using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health risk assessment model. Results All tested metal/metalloid elements in the drinking water samples of the area met the national standards. The results of risk assessment showed that the non-carcinogenic risks associated with oral intake of drinking water, ranked from highest to lowest, were as follows: As>Cr(VI)>Pb>Cd>Hg>Mn>Cu>Zn>Fe>Al, with values of 4.55×10⁻², 2.79×10⁻², 2.06×10⁻², 1.20×10⁻², 4.95×10⁻³, 4.58×10⁻³, 2.85×10⁻³, 1.95×10⁻³, 1.52×10⁻³, and 9.21×10⁻⁴, respectively. The non-carcinogenic risk of each indicator was less than 1, which suggested no potential risk to population health. The carcinogenic risks ranked as Cr(VI)>As>Cd>Pb, with values of 4.18×10⁻⁵, 2.05×10⁻⁵, 3.85×10⁻⁶, and 2.45×10⁻⁷, respectively. The carcinogenic risks of Cr(VI), As, and Cd were between 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁴, which suggested an acceptable carcinogenic risk, while the carcinogenic risk of Pb was relatively negligible. Children's total non-carcinogenic/total carcinogenic risks were comparable to those of adult males, both higher than those of adult females. Additionally, rural areas exhibited higher non-carcinogenic/carcinogenic risks for Cr(VI), while those risks for As and Pb were lower than those in urban water samples, and those risks for Cd were comparable between the two. Conclusion The concentrations of the 10 metal/metalloid indicators in drinking water from the studied region in the Fuchun River Basin comply with the national standards from 2017 to 2024. There is a certain carcinogenic risk associated with oral intake of drinking water, but it is still within the acceptable range. In terms of non-carcinogenic risk, no potential threat to population health is anticipated.

Objective To investigate the environmental contamination related to first patient with carbapenem-re-sistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)infection and the infection status of relevant patients in a newly established intensive care unit(ICU)of a hospital in Tibetan area,and analyze the transmission risk.Methods From the ad-mission in ICU of a patients who was first detected CRAB on November 15,2021 to the 60th day of hospitalization,all patients who stayed in ICU for＞48 hours were performed active screening on CRAB.On the 30th day and 60th day of the admission to the ICU of the first CRAB-infected patient,environment specimens were taken respectively 2 hours after high-frequency diagnostic and therapeutic activities but before disinfection,and after disinfection but before medical activities.CRAB was cultured with chromogenic culture medium.Results Among the 13 patients who were actively screened,1 case was CRAB positive,he was transferred from the ICU of a tertiary hospital to the ICU of this hospital on November 19th.On the 40th day of admission to the ICU,he had fever,increased frequency for sputum suction,and CRAB was detected.The drug sensitivity spectrum was similar to that of the first case,and he also stayed in the adjacent bed of the first case.64 environmental specimens were taken,and 9 were positive for CRAB,with a positive rate of 14.06％,8 sampling points such as the washbasin,door handle and bed rail were positive for CRAB after high-frequency diagnostic and therapeutic activities.After routine disinfection,CRAB was detected from the sink of the washbasin.Conclusion For the prevention and control of CRAB in the basic-level ICU in ethnic areas,it is feasible to conduct risk assessment on admitted patients and adopt bundled prevention and con-trol measures for high-risk patients upon admission.Attention should be paid to the contaminated areas(such as washbasin,door handle,and bed rail)as well as the effectiveness of disinfection of sink of washbasin.

Objective To compare effectiveness between the modified and traditional pressure-overload myocardial hypertrophy(POMH) model by abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC) method. Methods Totally 45 rats were divided into three groups(n = 15 per group), sham group, traditional group, and modified group. In the traditional group, the diameter ol the abdominal aorta was narrowed to 0. 70 mm through a midline incision for 4 weeks; in the modified group, the diameter of the abdominal aorta was narrowed above the left kidney to 0. 45 mm for 1 week, and then the narrowing was lifted postoperatively. The cardiac index, heart weight (HW) /body weight (BW) and left ventricular index, left ventricular weight (LVW)/BW were measured from the heart specimens, and the cross-sectional area of cardiac myocytes, myocardial collagen area, and myocardial collagen area Iraction were measured in the pathological sections by HE staining and Masson staining. Results Compared with the sham group, the differences in end-systolic interventricular septum thickness (IVSs), left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness (LVPWs), HW/BW, LVW/BW, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, myocardial collagen area, myocardial collagen area fraction, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression levels were statistically significant (P<0. 05) in the modilied and traditional groups of rats. The differences in these indices were not statistically significant between the modified and traditional groups (P>0. 05). Conclusion The modified abdominal aortic constriction method used in this experiment is time-saving, stable, homogeneous and easy to replicate, and is a more ideal approach to establish a rat model of POMH.

Objective:To compare the difference between the operation of ureteral calculi patients with COVID-19 infection during COVID-19 infection and after recovery to find out the best timing for surgery.Methods:The clinical data of 327 ureteral calculi patients with COVID-19 infection were retrospectively analyzed, including 141 cases who underwent ureteroscopic surgery. According to the time of ureteroscopic surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: operation before recovery of COVID-19 infection group ( n=81) and operation after recovery of COVID-19 infection group ( n=60). The success rate of primary surgery, stone removal incidence, complication inciednce, mortality, operation time, postoperative hemoglobin decline, hospital stay, and total hospitalization cost and other indicators of the two groups were compared between the two groups. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), independent t-test was used for inter-group comparison. Chi-test or continuous correction Chi-test was used for inter-group comparison for count data. Results:The success rate of primary surgery (38.3%, 31/81), stone removal rate (86.4%, 70/81) in the operation before recovery of COVID-19 infection group were significantly lower than those in the operation after recovery of COVID-19 infection group [80.0% (48/60), 98.3% (59/60)], and the differences were statistically significant ( P< 0.05). The incidence of complication, postoperative hemoglobin decline [(2.1±0.6) g/L vs (0.6±0.3) g/L], hospital stay [(14.7±3.6) d vs (4.1±1.1) d], total hospitalization cost [(34 733.3±4 412.4) yuan vs (21 919.7±3 251.3) yuan] of the operation before recovery of COVID-19 infection group were significantly higher than those in the operation after recovery of COVID-19 infection group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P< 0.001). The operation time of the operation before recovery of COVID-19 infection group was shorter [(16.9±5.4) min vs (37.7±8.9) min], and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups (3.7% vs 0, P> 0.05). Conclusion:The risk of surgical treatment for ureteral calculi patients with COVID-19 infection is high, The treatment of them should mainly be conservative treatment, and operation should be performed after COVID-19 infection is cured.

As a rapidly developing frontier discipline, structural biology has penetrated into every field of life science research. The course of “Structural Biology” plays an important role in expanding the knowledge system of undergraduate students and promoting students’ scientific spirit and innovation. For the high-quality training of highly skilled talents, we aimed to promote the original innovation of students, the ability of thinking, and the ability of engineering practice. The trinity education concept, including shape of the value, passing on knowledge, and ability cultivation, was applied. During the reform, we explored a step-by-step course content and searched for factors involved in ideological and political education. Based on the problem-based learning (PBL) method, a hybrid teaching model was designed to cultivate the problem-thinking and problem-solving skills of students. Meanwhile, a number of evaluation systems for students and teachers were established, which may be generally adopted for the course of “Structural Biology”. The survey data suggested that the exploration has a good effect on teaching and training and is conducive to the cultivation of research-oriented, comprehensive, innovative talents under the background of “New Engineering”.