Objective: To characterize longitudinal trajectories of testicular development in boys and breast development in girls, so as to provide reference data for understanding patterns of pubertal sexual maturation. Methods: Based on the Shanghai Pudong New Area Cohort Study on Growth, Development and Health in Children and Adolescents, a baseline survey was conducted in 2020 using a mult stage cluster random sampling method. A total of 2 184 children who completed all follow ups during the primary school period from 13 elementary schools in Pudong New Area,Shanghai,with annual follow ups during 2021-2025. Testicular volume and Tanner stage of breast development were assessed by professional physicians using standardized visual inspection and palpation. The age distribution of testicular volume and breast development was fitted by using cumulative link mixed models and Turnbull s nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation method. Results: Median ages for testicular volumes of 2, 3, 4 and 5 mL in boys were 7.07, 9.24, 10.29, and 11.57 years old, respectively. Median ages for Tanner breast stages Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ in girls were 8.55 , 10.17, 11.18, and 13.78 years old, respectively. Based on overweight and obesity, stratified analysis showed that earlier pubertal onset among overweight/obesity children, and the key milestones for pubertal initiation were testicular volume reaching 4 mL in boys and breast Tanner II in girls for 10.29, 10.83; 8.18, 9.00 years. Conclusion Overweight and obesity are associated with earlier pubertal initiation,but there are certain gender and developmental stage specific patterns.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is fundamentally driven by an imbalance in hepatic fatty-acid flux: the influx of fatty acids exceeds the liver’s capacity for disposal, resulting in excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, predominantly in the form of triglycerides (TGs). The occurrence and progression of MAFLD depend on disordered regulation across multiple metabolic steps, including fatty-acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty-acid oxidation (FAO), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) export. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) is a key transcriptional regulator within the hepatic network coordinating glucose and lipid metabolism. Under metabolic stress and insulin resistance (IR), FOXO1 expression is frequently increased, whereas its inhibitory phosphorylation is reduced. These changes enhance FOXO1 nuclear localization and transcriptional activity, thereby reprogramming the expression of genes related to metabolism in the liver. Because hepatic lipid deposition is the central pathological feature of MAFLD, the functional status of FOXO1 directly influences hepatic lipid homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that FOXO1 can exert bidirectional, environment-dependent effects on hepatic lipid accumulation; however, the molecular basis for this functional switch remains incompletely understood. This review systematically summarizes the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of FOXO1 and its roles in hepatic lipid metabolism, with a particular focus on its crosstalk with insulin signaling. FOXO1 expression is shaped by RNA modifications and epigenetic regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs. Its transcriptional output is precisely governed by post-translational modifications—such as phosphorylation and acetylation—as well as by coordinated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Notably, these regulatory patterns vary markedly across nutritional states, degrees of insulin resistance, and stages of disease. In the fed state, insulin/IGF-1 signaling activates the PI3K-AKT pathway, promoting the inhibitory phosphorylation of FOXO1 and facilitating additional modifications, including acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. Together, these events drive FOXO1 export from the nucleus and dampen its transcriptional activity, suppressing gluconeogenesis and constraining lipogenic programs. Conversely, during fasting or when insulin signaling is weakened, FOXO1 inhibition is relieved. FOXO1 accumulates in the nucleus, binds to DNA, and regulates the transcription of downstream target genes. Mechanistically, FOXO1 can aggravate hepatic lipid accumulation by activating genes involved in TG synthesis while repressing FAO-related pathways, thereby favoring storage over oxidation. However, under specific conditions, FOXO1 may also alleviate the hepatic lipid burden by promoting TG hydrolysis and enhancing VLDL secretion, thereby reducing the net hepatic lipid load. In addition, lipotoxic signals mediated by ceramides and diacylglycerols (Cer/DAG) activate atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), further exacerbating the disruption of the AKT-FOXO1 axis. This vicious cycle ultimately produces a metabolic paradox in which increased hepatic glucose output coexists with persistent, insulin-independent lipogenesis, accelerating MAFLD progression. Importantly, FOXO1 regulation is not uniform: during early metabolic overload, insulin-mediated suppression may remain effective, whereas in advanced insulin resistance, the loss of AKT control permits sustained FOXO1 activity. Such stage-dependent dynamics may help explain why FOXO1 can either promote steatosis or, in certain contexts, support programs that facilitate lipid turnover. Accordingly, interventions should be liver-specific and tuned to the disease stage, aiming to curb maladaptive FOXO1 signaling while preserving its capacity to promote triglyceride hydrolysis and VLDL secretion when advantageous. Overall, this review offers an important perspective on MAFLD pathogenesis, emphasizing FOXO1 as a potential therapeutic target and providing a theoretical basis for developing liver-specific, disease-course-dependent precision interventions.

The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) serves as a pivotal virulence apparatus for numerous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, enabling them to infect both animal and plant hosts. Functioning as a molecular syringe, the T3SS directly translocates bacterial effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the interior of eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are central weapons that precisely manipulate a wide spectrum of host cellular physiological processes, ranging from cytoskeletal dynamics to immune signaling, to establish a favorable niche for bacterial survival and proliferation. Among the diverse arsenal of T3SS effectors, the YopJ family constitutes a critical group of virulence factors. Members of this family are characterized by a conserved catalytic triad structure—a hallmark of the CE clan of cysteine proteases that has been evolutionarily repurposed to confer acetyltransferase activity. A defining and intriguing feature of these enzymes is their stringent dependence on a host-derived eukaryotic cofactor, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP₆), for allosteric activation. This requirement acts as a sophisticated molecular safeguard, ensuring enzymatic activity only within the appropriate host environment, thereby preventing detrimental effects on the bacterium itself. While seminal studies on individual members such as Yersinia’s YopJ and Salmonella’s AvrA have provided deep mechanistic insights, a systematic and integrative understanding of the structure-function relationships across the entire family remains fragmented. Key questions persist regarding how a conserved catalytic core has diverged to recognize distinct host substrates in different kingdoms of life. To address this gap, this article provides a systematic review of the YopJ family, focusing on three interconnected aspects: their structural features, their catalytic mechanism, and their divergent immunosuppressive strategies in animal versus plant hosts. By conducting a comparative analysis of the sequences and resolved three-dimensional structures of three representative members (e.g., HopZ1a, PopP2, AvrA), we elucidate regions of significant variation embedded within the conserved core catalytic architecture. These variable regions, often involving surface loops and substrate-binding interfaces, are crucial determinants of target specificity and functional specialization. The functional divergence of this effector family is most apparent when comparing their modes of action in different hosts. In animal hosts, YopJ-family effectors primarily sabotage innate immune signaling pathways. They achieve this by acetylating key serine and threonine residues within the activation loops of critical kinases in the MAPK and NF‑κB pathways. This post-translational modification blocks the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of these kinases, leading to potent suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, in plant hosts, the strategy broadens to dismantle the two-tiered plant immune system. YopJ homologs target a more diverse set of substrates, including immune-associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), microtubule networks via tubulin acetylation (which disrupts cellular trafficking and signaling), and transcription factors central to defense gene regulation. This multi-target approach effectively suppresses both Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). In conclusion, this synthesis aims to deepen the mechanistic understanding of YopJ family-mediated pathogenesis by integrating structural biology with cellular function across host kingdoms. Elucidating the precise molecular basis for substrate selection—how conserved platforms achieve target diversity—is a major frontier. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a vital theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-virulence strategies. Targeting the conserved IP₆-binding pocket or the catalytic acetyltransferase activity itself represents a promising avenue for designing broad-spectrum inhibitors that could disarm this critical family of bacterial effectors, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches against a range of pathogenic bacteria.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms by which Liuwei Buqi prescription （LWBQ） regulates alveolar macrophage efferocytosis and improves inflammatory responses in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） characterized by lung-kidney Qi deficiency based on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/macrophage receptor with collagenous structure （MARCO） pathway. MethodsSuccessfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group， low-dose LWBQ group （LWBQ-L， 2.25 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-dose LWBQ group （LWBQ-M， 4.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， high-dose LWBQ group （LWBQ-H， 9 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and aminophylline group （AMIN， 50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 8 rats in each group. Another 8 healthy rats were included as the blank group. Except for the blank group， rats in the remaining groups were subjected to smoke exposure combined with forced swimming， intratracheal lipopolysaccharide （LPS） instillation， and subcutaneous hydrocortisone injection to establish a COPD model with lung-kidney Qi deficiency. After successful modeling， rats were administered different doses of LWBQ or AMIN by gavage. Body weight， fur condition， and oral secretions were observed. Pulmonary function was measured using an animal lung function analyzer. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression levels of interferon-γ （IFN-γ）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1 （IL-1）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） and serum （SER）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to examine pathological changes in lung tissue. Giemsa staining was performed to detect eosinophils， basophils， and neutrophils in BALF. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） was used to detect apoptosis in lung tissue. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were employed to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of efferocytosis-related proteins growth arrest-specific gene 6 （GAS6）， milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 （MFG-E8）， and pathway-related proteins Nrf2 and MARCO in lung tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed reduced food intake， nasal and oral secretions with sputum， and decreased body weight （P<0.01）， decreased peak expiratory flow （PEF） （P<0.01）， increased forced vital capacity （FVC） （P<0.01）， and decreased forced expiratory volume in 0.3 s/forced vital capacity ［FEV0.3/FVC （%）］ （P<0.01）. The expression levels of IFN-γ， IL-6， IL-1， and TNF-α in BALF and SER were increased （P<0.01）. Lung tissue exhibited structural destruction， hyperplasia， inflammatory exudation， increased apoptotic cells， and increased mean optical density （P<0.01）. The protein and mRNA expression levels of GAS6， MFG-E8， and MARCO， as well as Nrf2 mRNA expression， were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the LWBQ groups showed increased food intake， reduced nasal and oral secretions with sputum， and increased body weight （P<0.05， P<0.01）. PEF was increased （P<0.01）. FVC was increased in rats treated with low- and medium-dose LWBQ （P<0.01）， and FEV0.3/FVC （%） was increased in rats treated with medium- and high-dose LWBQ （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expression levels of IFN-γ， IL-6， IL-1， and TNF-α in BALF and SER were decreased （P<0.01）. Lung tissue structure was relatively intact， with improvement in hyperplasia and inflammatory exudation. The number of apoptotic cells in lung tissue was reduced， and mean optical density was decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The protein and mRNA expression levels of efferocytosis-related proteins GAS6 and MFG-E8 and pathway-related proteins Nrf2 and MARCO were increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionLWBQ can alleviate pulmonary and systemic inflammation， improve lung function， and reduce lung tissue damage in rats with COPD characterized by lung-kidney Qi deficiency. The mechanism may be related to enhancement of alveolar macrophage efferocytosis through regulation of the Nrf2/MARCO pathway.

ObjectiveAs a common lifestyle habit, alcohol consumption has a controversial association with the onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD). To demonstrate the correlation between alcohol consumption and PD and to identify associated genes, we integrated findings from clinical surveys, genomics, transcriptomics, and animal experiments. MethodsWe investigated the alcohol consumption rates (including both before and after disease onset) among 244 PD patients in China and 177 PD patients from the U.S. NHANES database. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for three alcohol-related traits and seven PD-related datasets from the MRC IEU OpenGWAS database. Transcriptomic data from the substantia nigra of PD patients were obtained from three GEO datasets (GSE7621, GSE20141, and GSE49036) to analyze RIT2 gene transcription. Finally, three groups of animal experiments (water/20% ethanol/20% liquor, with 4 C57BL/6J mice per group) were conducted to examine changes in brain RIT2 gene expression and transcriptomic profiles following alcohol consumption. ResultsThe alcohol consumption rates among PD patients in China and the U.S. (9%-18.87%) were significantly lower than the general population rates of 15%-45% in their respective regions (P<0.001), suggesting a possible negative association between alcohol consumption and PD. Subsequently, in 21 bidirectional MR analyses using 3 alcohol-related GWAS datasets and 7 PD-related GWAS datasets, the forward MR analyses (alcohol intake as exposure, PD as outcome) yielded 12 negative associations (OR_IVW<1) and 9 positive associations (OR_IVW>1). Among these, only two negative associations reached statistical significance: alcohol intake frequency (OR_IVW=0.75, 95% CI: 0.60-0.93, P=0.010) and alcohol consumption (OR_IVW=0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.83, P=0.026). The forward MR analysis (alcohol intake→PD) identified 235 SNPs, annotated to 316 genes, while the reverse MR analyses (PD→alcohol intake) identified 37 SNPs, annotated to 53 genes. Notably, only the RIT2 gene appeared in both the forward and reverse MR analyses (alcohol intake→PD: rs28597806, rs8083110; PD→alcohol intake: rs4588066). RIT2 is selectively expressed in the human brain (FPKM: 5.259±2.103), with low or no expression in peripheral tissues (FPKM: <1). Analysis of three human substantia nigra transcriptomic datasets revealed a decreasing trend in RIT2 gene expression in PD patients (GSE20141 array signal: 3.49±1.23 vs. 2.33±0.87, P=0.044). Animal experiments demonstrated that administration of 20% ethanol or 20% liquor (approximately 8% ethanol) stimulated a >2-fold upregulation of RIT2 gene expression in the mouse brain. Furthermore, transcriptomic sequencing revealed that the two alcohol-treated groups exhibited 96 (20% ethanol vs. water control) and 4 (20% liquor vs. water control) differentially expressed genes, respectively, indicating that low-dose alcohol consumption can achieve RIT2 upregulation while minimizing impact on other brain genes. In addition to its anti-infective effects, low-dose alcohol consumption primarily influences signaling pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases such as PD and Prion diseases. ConclusionAlcohol consumption is generally considered as a harmful lifestyle habit. However, some studies have also shown a lower risk of mortality among individuals who consume low doses of alcohol (100 g/week of ethanol) or drink occasionally. Currently, one of the research focuses on alcohol consumption is whether the human body can benefit from low-dose alcohol intake. This study provides new evidence supporting a negative association between alcohol consumption and PD, and for the first time, through MR analysis, identifies the RIT2 gene as a potential mediator of the effect of alcohol consumption on PD. RIT2 is selectively expressed in the human brain. Building upon existing evidence indicating downregulated RIT2 gene expression in PD pathogenesis, our experiments confirm that low-dose alcohol consumption can upregulate RIT2 expression in the brain. In brief, alcohol consumption may suppress the pathogenesis of PD by upregulating RIT2 expression in the substantia nigra. China is facing a serious problem of population aging. This study offers important insights for long-term PD prevention and treatment strategies, with the aim of benefiting more potential PD patients through lifestyle modifications, thereby improving the quality of life of the aging population and reducing the economic burden on healthcare.

This paper summarizes the theoretical basis of aromatherapy in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for treating depression， from the perspectives of aromatic properties in relieving constraint and dispersing stagnation， awakening the spleen and promoting its transportation function， harmonizing the five zang （脏） organs， and regulating emotions to nurture mental well-being. The potential clinical applications of TCM aromatherapy are also discussed. In the future， it is necessary to strengthen high-quality clinical evidence about aromatherapy， deepen mechanism studies with an emphasis on the "nose-brain" pathway， explore aromatherapy-based integrative mind-body intervention strategies， assess and control potential safety risks， as well as promote the translation of clinical findings and the development of novel dosage forms. These efforts will help standardize and advance the clinical application of TCM aromatherapy in the management of depression.

This paper summarizes the theoretical basis of aromatherapy in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for treating depression， from the perspectives of aromatic properties in relieving constraint and dispersing stagnation， awakening the spleen and promoting its transportation function， harmonizing the five zang （脏） organs， and regulating emotions to nurture mental well-being. The potential clinical applications of TCM aromatherapy are also discussed. In the future， it is necessary to strengthen high-quality clinical evidence about aromatherapy， deepen mechanism studies with an emphasis on the "nose-brain" pathway， explore aromatherapy-based integrative mind-body intervention strategies， assess and control potential safety risks， as well as promote the translation of clinical findings and the development of novel dosage forms. These efforts will help standardize and advance the clinical application of TCM aromatherapy in the management of depression.

Objective: To determine the potential genetic causal relationship between sleep related phenotypes and female pubertal onset using the two sample Mendelian randomization approach. Methods: Genetic instrumental variables for sleep and age at menarche were sourced from FinnGen, IEU Open GWAS and GWAS Catalog three publicly available Genome Wide Association Study databases. Causal effects were estimated using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by sensitivity analyses and tests for heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and direction. Results: Genetically predicted sleep duration was positively associated with age at menarche ( β =0.61, 95% CI =0.30-0.91, P <0.01). Conversely, overall sleep problems ( β =-0.13, 95% CI =-0.20 to -0.07 ), two specific types of sleep disorders (sleep apnea: β =-0.10, 95% CI =-0.16 to -0.03; insomnia: β =-0.40, 95% CI = -0.69 to -0.11) were causally associated with earlier age at menarche (all P <0.01). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings with consistent effect directions and no evidence of significant directional pleiotropy. Conclusions The study reveales a genetic causal relationship between sleep and pubertal onset. Adequate sleep duration appears to have a protective effect. These findings suggest that sleep may have a critical regulatory role in the initiation of pubertal development.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and identification of the independent risk factors for disease progression in patients with anti-gp210 antibody-positive primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed. A total of 323 cases with PBC diagnosed in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2013 to June 2023 (125 patients with anti-gp210 antibody-positive and 198 patients with anti-gp210 antibody-negative) were included. Baseline and follow-up data were collected. The independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U rank sum test were used for comparison between groups of continuous data. The χ2 test was used to compare the data between groups for the count data. The Pearson test was used for correlation analysis between continuous variables. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the disease progression-free survival rate. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for disease progression. Results:The male proportion (11.2% vs. 5.1%, P=0.040) and IgM level [3.29(1.88, 4.80) g/L vs. 2.56(1.44, 3.87) g/L, P=0.019] were significantly higher in patients with PBC with positive anti-gp210 antibodies than those of the negative group. Histopathological analysis showed that the Scheuer score [1(0,3) vs. 0(0,2)], bile duct inflammation [(2(1,3) vs. 1(1,2)] and bile duct reaction score [(2(1,3) vs. 1(1,2)] were higher in the positive group than those of the negative group ( P<0.05), and the maturity of the tertiary lymphoid structure was higher ( P=0.011). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 5-year disease-free survival rate was significantly lower in patients with positive anti-gp210 antibodies than that of the negative group (55.8% vs. 79.7%, P=0.006) at a median follow-up of 3(2,6) years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that γ-glutamyl transferase [ HR=1.002 (95% CI: 1.000～1.003)] and platelet count [ HR=0.993 (95% CI: 0.988～0.999)] were the independent influencing factors for disease progression in patients with anti-gp210 antibody-positive PBC ( P=0.002, 0.017). Conclusion:Patients with anti-gp210 antibody-positive PBC have more severe clinical pathological manifestations and a higher risk of disease progression. Higher levels of γ-glutamyl transferase and lower platelet counts during the first visit are independent risk factors for disease progression in patients with anti-gp210 antibody-positive PBC, which can be used as dynamic monitoring indicators for this population, suggesting the need for early intensive intervention.

Objective:To evaluate the sample preparation proficiency and storage proficiency of 11 clinical biobanks in Beijing through simulated experiments, and to establish an assessment method for the quality comparability of biological samples.Methods:An exploratory research design was adopted. In November 2023, artificial composite serum quality control materials containing six recombinant human protein markers—recombinant human alanine aminotransferase (rhALT), recombinant human aspartate aminotransferase (rhAST), recombinant human creatine kinase (rhCK), recombinant human creatine kinase-MB (rhCK-MB), recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide (rhBNP), and recombinant human troponin I (rhTNI)—were distributed to 11 clinical biobanks in Beijing City. Sample preparation and storage followed the standardized operating procedures. Proficiency differences were assessed through statistical analysis.Results:Three-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed all six protein markers showed a declining trend over storage time in ultra-low-temperature environments ( F values 11.68-4 179.66, all P<0.01). However, neither long-term/temporary refrigerator types ( F values 0.01-1.23, all P>0.05)nor placement locations within refrigerators significantly affected the stability of these six proteins ( F valus 0.03-1.47, all P>0.05). The biases in detection results for rhALT, rhAST, rhTNI, and rhBNP at different storage time points were within the allowable bias limits for each item, supporting their use as markers for protein stability in biobank samples. All 11 institutions passed the storage proficiency assessment. In the preparation proficiency assessment, deviations were observed in post-preparation sample results, with a notably high out-of-control rate for rhCK (36.36%). Conclusion:Sample preparation proficiency can serve as a quality control metric for clinical biobanks. Future external quality assessment systems for biobanks should focus on sample preparation rather than storage processes.