AIM: To investigate the global research status, hotspots, and trends of exosome studies in ophthalmology, providing a theoretical foundation and constructive references for future research, and promoting in-depth development in this field.METHODS: Relevant literature on exosomes in ophthalmology published up to May 20, 2024, was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Web of Science Core Collection, and PubMed databases. Visual analyses of publication countries, institutions, authors, high-frequency keywords, burst keywords, and timelines were performed using CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and VOSviewer software.RESULTS: A total of 37 Chinese articles and 548 English articles were included. The top five countries in terms of publication volume were the United States(130 articles), China(80 articles), South Korea(24 articles), the United Kingdom(20 articles), and Japan(19 articles). The leading foreign institutions were the University of California System, Duke University, and Harvard University, while the top domestic institutions were Qingdao University, the Department of Ophthalmology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, and the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at Beijing Normal University. Analysis of Chinese and English high-frequency and burst keywords indicated that global research hotspots on exosomes in ophthalmology primarily focus on dry eye, extracellular vesicles, mesenchymal stem cells and their derived exosomes, ocular surface diseases, ocular surface inflammation, biomarkers, retinal protection, immune eye diseases, uveitis, degenerative eye diseases, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, and glaucoma, while English high-frequency words mainly were dry eye, dry eye disease, delivery, regenerative medicine, uveal melanoma, protein, and transplantation. Research has evolved from initial basic biological studies to exploring the pathogenesis of ocular diseases and advancing toward novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.CONCLUSION: Over the past 5 a, research on exosomes in ophthalmology has grown rapidly. Exosomes, as novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets, have become central to studies on the pathogenesis and clinical applications of ophthalmic diseases. Their roles in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these diseases represent promising directions for future research.

A growing body of research points out that gut microbiota plays a key role in tumor immunotherapy. By optimizing the composition of intestinal microbiota, it is possible to effectively improve immunotherapy resistance and enhance its therapeutic effect. This article comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of intestinal microbiota influencing tumor immunotherapy resistance, expounds the current strategies for targeted regulation of intestinal microbiota, such as traditional Chinese medicine and plant components, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics and dietary therapy, and explores the potential mechanisms of these strategies to improve patients' resistance to tumor immunotherapy. At the same time, the article also briefly discusses the prospects and challenges of targeting intestinal microbiota to improve tumor immunotherapy resistance, which provides a reference for related research to help the strategy research of reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance.

This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of berberine in promoting the expression of aquaporin 4(AQP4) in astrocytes by regulating the expression of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell-derived exosomes under insulin resistance(IR). The IR-HepG2 cell model was established with 1×10~(-6) mol·L~(-1) insulin. With metformin as the positive control, the safe concentrations of berberine and metformin were screened by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) leakage assays, and the effect of berberine on the IR of HepG2 cells was evaluated by glucose consumption. NanoSight was used to measure the particle size and concentration of exosomes secreted by HepG2 cells in each group. HepG2 cell-derived exosomes in each group were incubated with astrocytes for 24 h, and the protein and mRNA levels of AQP4 in HA1800 cells were determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively. qRT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell-derived exosomes and HA1800 cells after co-incubation. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of miRNAs and proteins associated with exosome production and release in HepG2 cells. The results showed that 10 μmol·L~(-1) berberine and 1 mmol·L~(-1) metformin significantly alleviated the IR of HepG2 cells and reduced the concentration of exosomes in HepG2 cells. The exosomes of HepG2 cells treated with berberine and metformin significantly up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of AQP4 in HA1800 cells. The mRNA level of miR-383-5p in HepG2 cell exosomes and HA1800 cells co-incubated with berberine and metformin decreased significantly. The intervention with berberine and metformin significantly down-regulated the expression of proteins associated with the production of miRNAs(Dicer, Drosha) as well as the production(Alix, Vps4A) and release(Rab35, VAMP3) of exosomes in IR-HepG2 cells. In conclusion, berberine can promote the expression of AQP4 in astrocytes by inhibiting the production and release of miR-383-5p in HepG2-derived exosomes under IR.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Berberine/pharmacology* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Exosomes/genetics* ; Aquaporin 4/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Astrocytes/drug effects*

Cardiac fibrosis(CF) is a cardiac pathological process characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix(ECM). When the heart is damaged by adverse stimuli, cardiac fibroblasts are activated and secrete a large amount of ECM, leading to changes in cardiac fibrosis, myocardial stiffness, and cardiac function declines and accelerating the development of heart failure. There is a close relationship between heart yin deficiency and cardiac fibrosis, which have similar pathogenic mechanisms. Heart Yin deficiency, characterized by insufficient Yin fluids, causes the heart to lose its nourishing function, which acts as the initiating factor for myocardial dystrophy. The deficiency of body fluids leads to stagnation of blood flow, resulting in blood stasis and water retention. Blood stasis and water retention accumulate in the heart, which aligns with the pathological manifestation of excessive deposition of ECM, as a tangible pathogenic factor. This is an inevitable stage of the disease process. The lingering of blood stasis combined with water retention eventually leads to the generation of heat and toxins, triggering inflammatory responses similar to heat toxins, which continuously stimulate the heart and cause the ultimate outcome of CF. Considering the syndrome of heart Yin deficiency, traditional Chinese medicine capable of nourishing Yin, activating blood, and promoting urination can reduce myocardial cell apoptosis, inhibit fibroblast activation, and lower the inflammation level, showing significant advantages in combating CF.
Humans ; Fibrosis/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Yin Deficiency/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

In this report, the protective effect and molecular mechanism of Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum on corticosterone(CORT)-induced mitochondrial damage in pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells was studied based on CORT-induced rat PC12 cell model. The cultured cells were divided into five groups: blank control group, CORT group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT), Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum), control serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% control serum), and fluoxetine group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% fluoxetine-containing serum). The study was carried out by cell activity detection, mitochondrial morphology observation, membrane potential measurement, energy metabolism analysis, and mitochondrial dynamics-related protein detection. The results showed that CORT treatment significantly reduced the survival rate of PC12 cells, altered mitochondrial morphology, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) synthetic rate. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly increased the survival rate of CORT-treated PC12 cells and the ATP synthetic rate in the mitochondria. Unlike fluoxetine, Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum significantly inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential caused by CORT and increased the oxygen consumption rate(OCR) values of both mitochondrial maximum respiration and reserve respiration capacity. Western blot analysis showed that CORT induced upregulated protein expressions of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α(PGC-1α) in PC12 cells and specific protein expression of optic atrophy protein 1(OPA1), yet it repressed the protein expressions of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1) and mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1) in PC12 cells. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly inhibited the protein expression of Drp1. However, only Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum could significantly inhibit the CORT-induced upregulation protein of PGC-1α. RESULTS:: herein suggest that Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum can alleviate CORT-induced damage in PC12 cells, which may be related to the mitochondrial fragmentation/lipid peroxidation protection by Drp1 inhibition, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism mediated by PGC-1α/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Corticosterone/adverse effects* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Protective Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Survival/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: Objective To investigate the relationship between cervical disc herniation and C₀-C₂ Cobb angle. METHODS: The clinical data of 301 patients with cervical disc herniation from 2020 to 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The median value of C₀-C₂ Cobb angle measurements from 301 patients was used as the boundary, cervical disc herniation patients were divided into two groups, C₀-C₂ Cobb angle <28.50 group and 151 patients with C₀-C₂ Cobb angle≥28.50 group. Among them, 150 patients in C₀-C₂ Cobb angle <28.50 group included 53 males and 97 females, aged 23 to 76 (57.32±12.55) years, with a disease duration of 7 to 19 (13.81±5.32) months;the othor 151 patients with C₀-C₂ Cobb angle≥28.50 group including 61 males and 90 females, aged 25 to 74 (56.86±12.51) years, with a disease duration of 8 to 18 (14.13±5.56) months. The cervical lordosis angle (C₀-C₂ Cobb angle and C₂-C₇ Cobb angle), T₁ inclination slope (T₁S) and cervical sagittal axial distance (C₂-C₇ SVA) were measured on the lateral cervical radiographs. The correlation between C₀-C₂ Cobb angle and cervical disc herniation range, protrusion position, average protrusion size and other parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: When the C₀-C₂ Cobb angle<28.50°, the average protrusion size was (2.21±0.56) mm, the C₂-C₇ Cobb angle was (19.92±12.06)° and the C₂-C₇ SVA was (1.10±1.20) mm. When the C₀-C₂ Cobb angle≥28.50°, the average protrusion size was (2.38±0.60) mm, the C₂-C₇ Cobb angle was (12.01±13.09 )°, the C₂-C₇ SVA was (1.53±1.36) mm, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Between the two groups of patients with C₀-C₂ Cobb angle < 28.50° and C₀-C₂ Cobb angle≥28.50°, there were significant differences in the size of C_3,4, C_4,5, C_5,6, C_6,7, C₇, T₁ disc herniation in single segment (P<0.05 ). C₀-C₂ Cobb angle was correlated with age(r=-0.135, P<0.05 ), C₂-C₇ Cobb angle (r=-0.382, P<0.01 ), C₂-C₇ SVA (r=0.293, P<0.01), average protrusion size (r=0.139, P<0.05), and the size of C_3,4 (r=0.215, P<0.01 ), C_4,5 (r=0.176, P<0.01 ), C_5,6 (r=0.144, P<0.05 ), C_6,7 (r=0.158, P<0.05 ), C₇T₁ (r=0.535, P<0.05) disc herniation. CONCLUSION There is a positive correlation between C₀-C₂ Cobb angle and the size of cervical disc herniation. C₀-C₂ Cobb angle can reflect the degree of cervical disc herniation. Previous studies have shown that the biomechanical changes between C₀-C₂ Cobb angle, C₂-C₇ Cobb angle, C₂-C₇ SVA and cervical extensor muscle group may be risk factors for accelerating cervical disc herniation and this may be one of the mechanisms that C₀-C₂ Cobb angle is positively correlated with the size of cervical disc herniation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Testicular histology based on testicular biopsy is an important factor for determining appropriate testicular sperm extraction surgery and predicting sperm retrieval outcomes in patients with azoospermia. Therefore, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to establish the associations between testicular grayscale ultrasound images and testicular histology. We retrospectively included two-dimensional testicular grayscale ultrasound from patients with azoospermia (353 men with 4357 images between July 2017 and December 2021 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) to develop a DL model. We obtained testicular histology during conventional testicular sperm extraction. Our DL model was trained based on ultrasound images or fusion data (ultrasound images fused with the corresponding testicular volume) to distinguish spermatozoa presence in pathology (SPP) and spermatozoa absence in pathology (SAP) and to classify maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in patients with SAP. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to analyze model performance. DL based on images achieved an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.935), a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 84.6%, and an accuracy of 83.5% in predicting SPP (including normal spermatogenesis and hypospermatogenesis) and SAP (including MA and SCOS). In the identification of SCOS and MA, DL on fusion data yielded better diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969-0.989), a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 97.1%, and an accuracy of 92.1%. Our study provides a noninvasive method to predict testicular histology for patients with azoospermia, which would avoid unnecessary testicular biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Testis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/diagnostic imaging*

Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017-2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 10 6 (0.09 × 10 6 -0.27 × 10 6 ) ml and 12.21 × 10 6 (4.52 × 10 6 -19.91 × 10 6 ) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Semen Analysis ; China ; Body Fat Distribution ; Longitudinal Studies ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Body Mass Index ; Tissue Donors ; Obesity/complications* ; Spermatozoa ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of LINC00641 on the viability and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and its mechanism. METHODS: RT-qPCR was applied to detect the relative expression levels of LINC00641, miR-204-5p, and MT1X in human normal bone marrow stromal cell lines HS-5 and AML cell lines, and to screen the optimal cell line THP-1 was screened for subsequent experiments. Bioinformatics, dual luciferase reporter assay, pull down assay, and RIP assay were applied to validate the targeting relationship between LINC00641, MT1X and miR-204-5p. EdU, CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay were applied to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. Western blot was applied to detect the expression of MT1X , CyclinD1, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins. RESULTS: Compared with HS-5 cells, the expression of LINC00641 and MT1X was obviously increased in HL60, THP-1, U937, and KG1 cells, while the expression of miR-204-5p was obviously reduced (all P <0.05). THP-1 cells showed the most obvious changes (P <0.05). Silencing LINC00641 or overexpressing miR-204-5p was able to obviously inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of THP-1 cells, as well as the expression of CyclinD1 and Bcl-2 proteins, while promote cells apoptosis and Bax protein expression (all P <0.05). Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assay, pull down assay, and RIP assay all confirmed that there were targeted relationships between LINC00641, MT1X and miR-204-5p. Inhibiting miR-204-5p or overexpressing MT1X was able to respectively reverse the inhibitory effect of silencing LINC00641 or overexpressing miR-204-5p on THP-1 cells proliferation, migration and invasion, and reduce cells apoptosis. CONCLUSION LINC00641 is highly expressed in AML, and inhibition of LINC00641 expression can inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and increase apoptosis by regulating the miR-204-5p/MT1X axis.
Humans ; Apoptosis ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology* ; MicroRNAs ; Cell Proliferation ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Cell Line, Tumor ; HL-60 Cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of signals mediated by activated CD28 in promoting survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells and metabolic fitness and its possible mechanism. METHODS: The expression of CD28 on 4 MM cell lines (XG2, XG1, RPMI 8226 and U266) was determined by flow cytometry. Two cell lines with the highest or lowest CD28 expression were selected. The proliferation, cell cycle, migration and apoptosis of MM cells in vitro were determined in medium containing high glucose concentration or CD28 agonist monoclonal antibody with different bioassays. shRNA interference assay was used to knock down the expression of CD28 on U266 cells. Then, the effect of activated CD28 on glucose uptake rate and drug resistance in MM cells were analyzed using fluorescent glucose analogues (2-NBDG). The expression of Glut1/4, HkII and Fasn was determined with real time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed that all the four tested MM cell lines expressed CD28 and U266 cells had the highest positive rate. The results of in vitro experiment showed that CD28 activation could significantly up-regulate the expression of Glut4 and HkII, promote MM cell metabolic remodeling, enhance 2-NBDG/glucose uptake, increase energy metabolism, thereby elevating cell proliferation and migration abilities, leading to an increase in the number of cells in S- and G₂-phases. Meanwhile, activated CD28 subsequently up-regulated resistance of MM cells to bortezomib or dexamethasone. CONCLUSION MM cells express high levels of CD28 abnormally, and activation of CD28 can promote up-regulation of glucose uptake in MM cells, thereby promoting cell proliferation and enhancing drug resistance.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology* ; CD28 Antigens/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Glucose Transporter Type 4/metabolism* ; Glucose Transporter Type 1