This study aims to reveal the effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract(GTI) in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to identify the chemical components in GTI. SwissTarget-Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD were utilized to screen the targets of GTI components and NASH. The common targets shared by GTI components and NASH were filtered through the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 to identify core targets, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. AutoDock was used for molecular docking of key components with core targets. A mouse model of NASH was established with a methionine-choline-deficient high-fat diet. A 4-week drug intervention was conducted, during which mouse weight was monitored, and the liver-to-brain ratio was measured at the end. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Sirius red staining, and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The levels of various biomarkers, including aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), hydroxyproline(HYP), total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH), in the serum and liver tissue were determined. RT-qPCR was conducted to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), collagen type I α1 chain(COL1A1), and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and potential drug targets identified through network pharmacology. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 581 chemical components of GTI, and 534 targets of GTI and 1 157 targets of NASH were screened out. The topological analysis of the common targets shared by GTI and NASH identified core targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, protein kinase B(AKT), TNF, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARG). GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the ameliorating effect of GTI on NASH was related to inflammatory responses and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway. The staining results demonstrated that GTI ameliorated hepatocyte vacuolation, swelling, ballooning, and lipid accumulation in NASH mice. Compared with the model group, high doses of GTI reduced the AST, ALT, HYP, TC, and TG levels(P<0.01) while increasing the HDL-C, SOD, and GSH levels(P<0.01). RT-qPCR results showed that GTI down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COL1A1, and α-SMA(P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that GTI down-regulated the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT), phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha(p-IκBα), and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)(P<0.01). In summary, GTI ameliorates inflammation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress associated with NASH by regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics* ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Molecular Docking Simulation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement using 3D-printed auxiliary guides in scoliosis correction surgery for adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 51 patients who underwent posterior scoliosis correction surgery from January 2020 to March 2023. Among them, there were 35 cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 16 cases of congenital scoliosis. The patients were divided into two groups based on the auxiliary tool used:the 3D-printed auxiliary guide screw placement group (3D printing group) and the free-hand screw placement group (free-hand group, without auxiliary tools). The 3D printing group included 32 patients (12 males and 20 females) with an average age of (12.59±2.60) years;the free-hand group included 19 patients (7 males and 12 females) with an average age of (14.58±3.53) years. The two groups were compared in terms of screw placement accuracy and safety, spinal correction rate, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, operation time, hospital stay, and preoperative and last follow-up scores of the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 707 pedicle screws were placed in the two groups, with 441 screws in the 3D printing group and 266 screws in the free-hand group. All patients in both groups successfully completed the surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in operation time between the two groups (P<0.05). The screw placement accuracy rate of the 3D printing group was 95.46% (421/441), among which the Grade A placement rate was 89.34% (394/441);the screw placement accuracy rate of the free-hand group was 86.47% (230/266), with a Grade A placement rate of 73.31% (195/266). There were statistically significant differences in the accuracy of Grade A, B, and C screw placements between the two groups (P<0.05), while no statistically significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss, number of fluoroscopies, correction rate, or hospital stay (P>0.05). In the SRS-22 questionnaire scores, the scores of functional status and activity ability, self-image, mental status, and pain of patients in each group at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in all scores between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION In scoliosis correction surgery, compared with traditional free-hand screw placement, the use of 3D-printed auxiliary guides for screw placement significantly improves the accuracy and safety of screw placement and shortens the operation time.
Humans ; Male ; Scoliosis/surgery* ; Female ; Adolescent ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Retrospective Studies ; Pedicle Screws ; Child

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota changes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing induction chemotherapy and to explore the relationship between infectious complications and gut microbiota. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 37 newly diagnosed AML patients at four time points: before induction chemotherapy, during chemotherapy, during the neutropenic phase, and during the recovery phase. Metagenomic sequencing was used to analyze the dynamic changes in gut microbiota. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between changes in gut microbiota and the occurrence of infectious complications. RESULTS: During chemotherapy, the gut microbiota α-diversity (Shannon index) of AML patients exhibited significant fluctuations. Specifically, the diversity decreased significantly during induction chemotherapy, further declined during the neutropenic phase (P < 0.05, compared to baseline), and gradually recovered during the recovery phase, though not fully returning to baseline levels.The abundances of beneficial bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, gradually decreased during chemotherapy, whereas the abundances of opportunistic pathogens, including Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Escherichia coli, progressively increased.Analysis of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota of seven patients with bloodstream infections revealed that the bloodstream infection pathogens could be detected in the gut microbiota of the corresponding patients, with their abundance gradually increasing during the course of infection. This finding suggests that bloodstream infections may be associated with opportunistic pathogens originating from the gut microbiota.Compared to non-infected patients, the baseline samples of infected patients showed a significantly lower relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes abundance is an independent predictive factor for infectious complications (P < 0.05, OR =13.143). CONCLUSION During induction chemotherapy in AML patients, gut microbiota α-diversity fluctuates significantly, and the abundance of opportunistic pathogens increase, which may be associated with bloodstream infections. Patients with lower baseline Bacteroidetes abundance are more prone to infections, and its abundance can serve as an independent predictor of infectious complications.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/microbiology* ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Feces/microbiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical features and genetic etiology of a patient with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) retrospectively. METHODS: A severely oligospermic patient from the Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University was selected as the study subject. Clinical data and examination results were collected. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics were used to analyze the genetic etiology. And Sanger sequencing was employed to validate findings in the family. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the sperm ultrastructure, and immunofluorescence analysis was performed to examine the localization of FSIP2 protein in the sperm. RESULTS: The patient presented with severe oligospermia, and sperm morphology displayed MMAF. TEM revealed fibrous sheath and 9+2 microtubule structural disruptions in the sperm. Sequencing identified compound heterozygous variants in the FSIP2 gene (c.17798C > T, c.5927T > G), inherited from the father and mother, respectively. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the variants were classified as pathogenic. The patient's spouse underwent intracytoplasmic single sperm injection, resulting in one embryo, but no clinical pregnancy occurred after embryo transfer. CONCLUSION This study reported the mutation of FSIP2 gene c.17798C > T, c.5927T > G in a patient with MMAF. These findings expand the mutational spectrum of the FSIP2 gene and provide insights for genetic and assisted reproductive counseling for patients with MMAF.
Humans ; Male ; Sperm Tail/pathology* ; Heterozygote ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Spermatozoa ; Mutation ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Adult ; Pedigree ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a common complication of prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol with antioxidant properties that is extracted from traditional Chinese medicines such as Eucommiae Cortex, has potential anti-osteoporotic activity. This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of CGA on GIOP in mice and murine long bone osteocyte Y4 (MLO-Y4) cells and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The protective effects of CGA were initially evaluated in the GIOP mouse model induced by dexamethasone (Dex). The micro-computed tomography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, silver nitrate staining, and serum detection were used to assess the efficacy of CGA for improving bone formation in vivo. Then, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential targets and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of CGA against GIOP. After that, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate staining, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to verify the mechanisms of CGA against GIOP in vitro. RESULTS: Animal experiments showed that CGA treatment effectively attenuated Dex-induced decreases in bone mass and strength and improved disrupted osteocyte morphology in mice. The protein-protein interaction analysis highlighted erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase (ERBB2), which is also known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), caspase-3, kinase insert domain receptor, matrix metallopeptidase 9, matrix metallopeptidase 2, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, and epidermal growth factor receptor as core targets. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed several significantly enriched pathways (P < 0.05), including the ERBB, phosphoinositide 3 kinase-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) pathways. Cellular experiments verified that CGA enhanced bone formation and promoted autophagy while inhibiting apoptosis in MLO-Y4 cells exposed to Dex, which was associated with the upregulated expression of HER2 and activation of the HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSION CGA exerted anti-osteoporotic effects against GIOP, partially through targeting osteocytes and modulating the HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Please cite this article as: Xie AN, Zhang SZY, Zhang Y, Cao JL, Wang CL, Wang LB, Wu HJ, Zhang J, Dai WW. Chlorogenic acid mitigates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via modulation of HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):670-682.
Animals ; Chlorogenic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Osteoporosis/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice ; Glucocorticoids/adverse effects* ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Mas ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects* ; Osteocytes/drug effects* ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Male ; Cell Line ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Objective:To discuss the role of nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5(NFAT5)inhibitor KRN5 in high salt-induced senescence of mouse vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs),and to clarify its mechanism.Methods:Thirty 8-week-old male ApoE-/-mice were divided into normal group,senescence group and high-salt treatment senecence group,with 10 mice in each group;the mice in senescence group and high-salt treatment senecence group were used to establish natural senecence mouse models;the mouse VSMCs were isolated and cultured,and divided into normal group,senescence group,high-salt treatment senecence group and high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group.β-galactosidase(Sa-β-gal)staining was used to detect the senescence of aortic tissues and VSMCs in various groups;immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expressions of NFAT5 and phosphorylated histone H2A variant X(γ-H2AX)proteins in mouse aortic tissues and VSMCs in various groups;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A(P16)and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A(P21)in the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the protein expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16 and P21 in VSMCs in various groups.Results:The Sa-β-gal staining results showed that compared with normal group,the proportions of senescence-positive area in aortic tissues of the mice in senescence group and high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the proportion of senescence-positive cells in the VSMCs of the mice was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senecence group,the proportion of senescence-positive cells in the VSMCs mice in high-salt treatment senecence group was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with high-salt treatment senecence group,the proportion of senescence-positive cells in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The immunofluorescence results showed that compared with normal group,the expression level of γ-H2AX protein in mouse VSMCs of the mice in senescence group was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senescence group,the expression levels of SA-β-gal staining and NFAT5 protein in aortic tissue of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with normal group,the expression level of NFAT5 protein in the VSMCs of the mice in senecence group and high-salt treatment senecence group was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senecence group,the expression level of NFAT5 protein in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with normal group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 mRNA in the VSMCs of the mice in senescence group and high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senecence group,the mRNA expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 mRNA in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senecence group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 mRNA in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group and high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with high-salt treatment senecence group,the mRNA expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The Western blotting results showed that compared with normal group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 proteins in the VSMCs of the mice in senescence group and high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senescence group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 proteins in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with senecence group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 proteins in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence group and high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with high-salt treatment senecence group,the expression levels of NFAT5,γ-H2AX,P16,and P21 proteins in the VSMCs of the mice in high-salt treatment senecence+KRN5 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:NFAT5 may play a promoting role in high salt-induced senescence of the mouse VSMCs.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Yangrong Changchun Ointment on serum estradiol (E 2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and on the Kiss peptin/protein one anti-G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) signaling pathway in rats with menopause syndrome (MPS). Methods:Totally 48 SD female rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group ( n=8) and a modeling group ( n=40), and the rat model of menopausal syndrome was established by ovariectomy. After successful modeling, the rats were divided into the model group, Kunbao Pills group group, Yangrong Changchun Ointment high-, medium-, low-dosage groups according to random number table method, with eight rats in each group. Yangrong Changchun Ointment high-, medium-, low-dosage groups were orally administered with Yangrong Changchun Ointment suspension at doses of 10.0, 5.0, and 2.5 g/kg, while the Kunbao Pills group was orally administered with Kunbao Pills suspension at a dosage of 1 g/kg. The sham-operation group and model group were orally administered with distilled water of equal volume at a dosage of 1 ml/100 g body weight, once a day, for 28 consecutive days. The organ index of rats was calculated; the behavior of rats was determined by open filed test; HE staining was used to observe the histopathology of the uterus; ELISA was used to detect the levels of E 2, FSH, and AMH in the serum of rats; and qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54, Kiss-1, Phospholipase C (PLC), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and protein kinase C (PKC) in the hypothalamus. Results:Compared with the model group, the uterus, adrenal gland, spleen and thymus indices increased in the Yangrong Changchun Ointment high-dosage group ( P<0.05); serum levels of E 2 and AMH increased ( P<0.05), and the serum level of FSH decreased ( P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of GPR54, Kiss-1, PLC, GnRH and PKC in the hypothalamus decreased ( P<0.05), and the uterine histopathological damage was improved. Conclusion:Yangrong Changchun Ointment can improve the pathological injury and estrogen level disorder in rats with MPS, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activation of kisspeptin/GPR54 pathway.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and prognoses of severe autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy (GFAP-A).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed. The clinical data of 12 patients with severe GFAP-A admitted to Department of Neurology, Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital from January 2018 to June 2023 were collected, including demography, clinical manifestations, MRI features, laboratory examination results (such as antibodies), treatments and prognoses.Results:Among the 12 patients, 9 were male and 3 were female, with an average onset age of (46.58±17.53) years. Primary symptoms included headache, limb weakness, limb numbness, mental disorder, epileptic seizure, and urinary and defecation disorder; 9 patients had fever before onset. With aggravated severe GFAP-A, 12 patients had impaired consciousness, 12 had respiratory failure, 6 had unstable blood pressure and heart rate, and 2 had status epilepticus. Cranial MRI indicated abnormal lesions in all 12 patients, including 10 with brainstem involvement (7 had involved medulla oblongata); 10 showed soft meningeal enhancement. In 8 patients received MRI of the whole spinal cord, 7 had abnormal spinal cord lesions; point-like enhancement of the whole spinal meninges was observed in 6 of the 7 patients. All 12 patients had positive cerebrospinal fluid GFAP-IgG, and 3 patients also had positive serum GFAP-IgG. All patients accepted glucocorticoids and immunoglobulin immunotherapy, and 1 patient was supplemented with mycophenolate mofetil; 8 patients had good prognosis, and 4 patients died. Pulmonary infection, hyponatremia, hypoproteinemia, and deep vein thrombosis were the common complications.Conclusion:Patients with severe GFAP-A mainly manifest as meningoencephalitis and meningoencephalomyelitis, and are likely involved medulla oblongata, enjoying rapid clinical progression; even with early immunotherapy, high mortality rate is still noted.