ObjectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS); however, its underlying neurological pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Endogenous formaldehyde (FA), a metabolic byproduct of methylation-demethylation cycles, has recently been implicated in neurotoxicity, oxidative damage, and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate whether excessive FA contributes to myelin sheath demyelination in mice and to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of two FA-elimination strategies: sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃), a classical FA scavenger, and polyethylene glycol-modified astaxanthin nanoparticles (PEG-ATX@NPs), a brain-targeted nano-antioxidant formulation. MethodsA chronic demyelination model was established by feeding female C57BL/6J mice a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone (CPZ) for four weeks, followed by a two-week intervention period. Eighty mice were randomly assigned to four groups: NS (normal saline), CPZ+NS, CPZ+NaHSO₃, and CPZ+PEG-ATX@NPs. Behavioral tests, including open-field, Y-maze, and pole-climbing assays, were conducted to assess locomotor activity, motor coordination, and working memory. FA levels in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were measured using an Na-FA fluorescent probe and quantified via in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. Neuroinflammatory responses were evaluated by measuring TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels using ELISA, while oxidative stress was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity. Demyelination was examined via Luxol fast blue staining, and microglial activation was analyzed by Iba1 immunofluorescence. Correlation analyses were performed to explore relationships among FA levels, inflammatory cytokines, ROS intensity, and behavioral parameters. ResultsCompared with the NS group, mice in the CPZ+NS group exhibited significant weight loss, impaired motor coordination and memory, and markedly reduced myelin regeneration (P<0.05). FA levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord (P<0.05). FA-associated fluorescence in brain and spinal tissues, as well as ROS intensity across all tissues examined, also increased substantially (P<0.05). CPZ treatment induced pronounced microglial activation and severe demyelination in the corpus callosum (P<0.01). Both NaHSO₃ and PEG-ATX@NPs effectively reduced FA accumulation in the brain and spinal cord, attenuated demyelination, suppressed microglial activation, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, and improved motor and cognitive performance. These results confirm that CPZ induced severe demyelination accompanied by oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and abnormal FA accumulation. Following intervention with either NaHSO₃ or PEG-ATX@NPs, endogenous FA levels in the CNS were substantially reduced. Both treatments alleviated demyelination and significantly decreased the number of activated microglia. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were downregulated. Behavioral performance improved significantly, as evidenced by enhanced locomotor activity, better coordination, and improved memory function. These findings indicate that both FA-scavenging agents mitigate CPZ-induced biochemical and behavioral abnormalities. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that excessive endogenous FA is closely associated with cognitive impairment, inflammatory dysregulation, and demyelination in a CPZ-induced chronic demyelination mouse model. Clearing abnormally elevated FA effectively reduces neuroinflammation, suppresses microglial overactivation, decreases oxidative stress, and alleviates demyelination, ultimately improving motor and cognitive outcomes in mice. These results suggest that targeting endogenous FA represents a promising therapeutic strategy for MS and other demyelinating disorders. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term safety, dosage optimization, and molecular pathways involved in FA-mediated neurotoxicity.

ObjectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS); however, its underlying neurological pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Endogenous formaldehyde (FA), a metabolic byproduct of methylation-demethylation cycles, has recently been implicated in neurotoxicity, oxidative damage, and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate whether excessive FA contributes to myelin sheath demyelination in mice and to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of two FA-elimination strategies: sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃), a classical FA scavenger, and polyethylene glycol-modified astaxanthin nanoparticles (PEG-ATX@NPs), a brain-targeted nano-antioxidant formulation. MethodsA chronic demyelination model was established by feeding female C57BL/6J mice a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone (CPZ) for four weeks, followed by a two-week intervention period. Eighty mice were randomly assigned to four groups: NS (normal saline), CPZ+NS, CPZ+NaHSO₃, and CPZ+PEG-ATX@NPs. Behavioral tests, including open-field, Y-maze, and pole-climbing assays, were conducted to assess locomotor activity, motor coordination, and working memory. FA levels in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were measured using an Na-FA fluorescent probe and quantified via in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging. Neuroinflammatory responses were evaluated by measuring TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels using ELISA, while oxidative stress was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluorescence intensity. Demyelination was examined via Luxol fast blue staining, and microglial activation was analyzed by Iba1 immunofluorescence. Correlation analyses were performed to explore relationships among FA levels, inflammatory cytokines, ROS intensity, and behavioral parameters. ResultsCompared with the NS group, mice in the CPZ+NS group exhibited significant weight loss, impaired motor coordination and memory, and markedly reduced myelin regeneration (P<0.05). FA levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly elevated in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord (P<0.05). FA-associated fluorescence in brain and spinal tissues, as well as ROS intensity across all tissues examined, also increased substantially (P<0.05). CPZ treatment induced pronounced microglial activation and severe demyelination in the corpus callosum (P<0.01). Both NaHSO₃ and PEG-ATX@NPs effectively reduced FA accumulation in the brain and spinal cord, attenuated demyelination, suppressed microglial activation, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, and improved motor and cognitive performance. These results confirm that CPZ induced severe demyelination accompanied by oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and abnormal FA accumulation. Following intervention with either NaHSO₃ or PEG-ATX@NPs, endogenous FA levels in the CNS were substantially reduced. Both treatments alleviated demyelination and significantly decreased the number of activated microglia. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum, corpus callosum, and spinal cord were downregulated. Behavioral performance improved significantly, as evidenced by enhanced locomotor activity, better coordination, and improved memory function. These findings indicate that both FA-scavenging agents mitigate CPZ-induced biochemical and behavioral abnormalities. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that excessive endogenous FA is closely associated with cognitive impairment, inflammatory dysregulation, and demyelination in a CPZ-induced chronic demyelination mouse model. Clearing abnormally elevated FA effectively reduces neuroinflammation, suppresses microglial overactivation, decreases oxidative stress, and alleviates demyelination, ultimately improving motor and cognitive outcomes in mice. These results suggest that targeting endogenous FA represents a promising therapeutic strategy for MS and other demyelinating disorders. Further investigations are warranted to explore the long-term safety, dosage optimization, and molecular pathways involved in FA-mediated neurotoxicity.

ObjectiveAt present, the most commonly used photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy are still chemical photosensitizers, such as porphyrin and methylene blue, in order to specifically target cellular tissues, and thus poison cells, chemical photosensitizers need to use antibody conjugation or a transgenically encoded tag with affinity for the modified photosensitizing ligand, e.g. FlAsH, ReAsh or Halo Tag. Gene-encoded photosensitizers can directly poison cells by targeting specific cell compartments or organelles. However, currently developed gene-encoded photosensitizers have low reactive oxygen species production and low cytotoxicity, so it is necessary to continue to develop and obtain photosensitizers with higher reactive oxygen species production for the treatment of microbial infections and tumors. MethodsIn this study, we developed a photosensitizer LovPSO2 based on the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) structural domain of phototropin-1B-like from Oryza sativa japonica. LovPSO2 was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified to obtain protein samples, the purified protein samples were added 3 µmol/L singlet oxygen probe of SOSG and 5 µmol/L superoxide anion probe of DHE after fixed to A₄₄₅=0.063±0.003, respectively, then measured every 2 min of singlet oxygen production for 10 min and every 1 min of superoxide anion production for 5 min under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1. ResultsThe results showed that LovPSO2 could produce a large amount of singlet oxygen under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m^-2·s^-1, and its singlet oxygen quantum yield was 0.61, but its superoxide anion yield was low, so in order to improve the superoxide anion yield of LovPSO2, a mutant with a relatively high superoxide anion yield was obtained by further development and design on its basis LovPRO2. The stability of proteins is crucial for research in drug development and drug delivery, among others. Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photosensitive proteins and their stability, while the temperature in cell culture and mammals in vivo is about 37°C, and the temperature inside tumor cells is about 42-45°C. Therefore, we further analyzed the photostability of miniSOG, SOPP3, LovPSO2, and LovPRO2 and their thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃. The analysis of proteins thermostability showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃, respectively. Analysis of the photostability of the proteins showed that LovPRO2 had better photostability. In addition, to further determine the phototoxic effects of photosensitizers, LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and HeLa cells, respectively. The results showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better phototoxicity to E. coli BL21(DE3) under blue light irradiation, and the cellular phototoxicity lethality was as high as 90% after 30 min of continuous light irradiation, but the phototoxicity was weaker in HeLa cells. The reason for this result may be that the intracellular environment exacerbated the photobleaching of FMN encapsulated by LovPSO2 and LovPRO2, respectively, which attenuated the damage of reactive oxygen species to animal cellular tissues, limiting its use as a mechanistic tool to study oxidative stress. ConclusionLovPSO2 and LovPRO2 can be used as antibacterial photosensitizers, which have broader application prospects in the food and medical fields.

Schizophrenia (SZ) stands as a severe psychiatric disorder. This study applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in conjunction with graph neural networks to distinguish SZ patients from normal controls (NCs) and showcases the superior performance of a graph neural network integrating combined fractional anisotropy and fiber number brain network features, achieving an accuracy of 73.79% in distinguishing SZ patients from NCs. Beyond mere discrimination, our study delved deeper into the advantages of utilizing white matter brain network features for identifying SZ patients through interpretable model analysis and gene expression analysis. These analyses uncovered intricate interrelationships between brain imaging markers and genetic biomarkers, providing novel insights into the neuropathological basis of SZ. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of graph neural networks applied to multimodal DTI data for enhancing SZ detection through an integrated analysis of neuroimaging and genetic features.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Brain/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; White Matter/pathology* ; Gene Expression ; Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging* ; Graph Neural Networks

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of the short-penis treatment apparatus and wide-band infrared therapy apparatus on penile dysplasia (PDP) in children and establish objective parameters for assessing the severity of PDP. METHODS: This study included 252 children received in the Department of pediatric urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January to December 2023, 102 with PDP (the PDP group) and the other 150 with normal penile development (the control group), those of the former group treated with the short-penis therapeutic apparatus and wide-band infrared therapy apparatus. Before and after 30 days of treatment, we measured the flaccid penile length (FPL), stretched penile length (SPL) and penile diameters (PD) of the children, and defined the penile dysplasia index as the FPL/SPL and FPL/PD ratios. RESULTS: The penile parameters exhibited statistically significant differences between the PDP and control groups, (FPL:［1.97±0.72］cm vs ［3.25±0.51］ cm, P<0.01; SPL:［3.80±0.81］cm vs ［5.21±0.79］cm,P<0.01).The FPL remarkably increased in the PDP group after treatment(［1.97±0.72］cm vs ［2.90±1.20］ cm, P<0.01). Both FPL and SPL were notably shorter in the PDP cases than in the controls, with the cutoff values of 0.57 and 2.09, sensitivities of 80.7% and 95.3%, and specificities of 69.6% and 82.4% for FPL/SPL and FPL/PD, respectively. CONCLUSION The short-penis therapeutic apparatus and wide-band infrared therapy apparatus can promote the growth and development of the penis in children. The ratio of FPL/PD can serve as an objective indicator to effectively describe the severity of penile developmental abnormalities.
Humans ; Male ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Child ; Penile Diseases/therapy* ; Child, Preschool ; Infant

Objective To investigate the changes of brain deep gray matter nucleus volume and iron content in patients with type 2 dia-betes mellitus(T2DM)based on quantitative MR technology,and their correlation and mediating effect with cognitive impairment.Methods A total of 60 T2DM patients(T2DM group)and 61 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were prospectively selected.The volume of brain deep gray matter nucleus of 3D-T1 sequence map was measured by artificial intelligence(AI)automatic segmentation technique,the corresponding region of interest(ROI)was manually drawn and quantitative susceptibility mapping(QSM)value was measured on QSM,the cognitive score,QSM value and volume of nucleus were compared by independent sample t test and rank sum test,and the correlation analysis of imaging indexes with differences between the two groups was made.The mediating effect between fasting blood glucose(FBG)and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)score was analyzed.Results The MoCA and mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores in the T2DM group were lower than those in the HC group(P＜0.05),the volumes of bilateral caudate nucleus,putamen,globus pallidus,thalamus,and right hippocampus in the T2DM group were lower than those in the HC group(P＜0.05),and the QSM values of left caudate nucleus,thalamus and bilateral globus pallidus in the T2DM group were higher than those in the HC group(P＜0.05).In the T2DM group,the volumes of bilateral thalamus and right hippocampus were positively correlated with MoCA score(left thalamus:r=0.326,P=0.012;right thalamus:r=0.373,P=0.004;right hippocampus:r=0.509,P＜0.001),and the QSM value of left thalamus was negatively correlated with MoCA score(r=-0.263,P=0.044).The mediating effect of right hippocampus volume and left thalamus QSM value was significant(P＜0.05),and the direct effect of FBG on cog-nitive score was significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Brain deep gray matter nucleus atrophy and brain iron deposition are closely related to T2DM and cognitive impairment,and there is a mediating effect.Brain iron deposition will increase the risk of cognitive impairment in T2DM.

Purpose This study aims to explore the effect of peroxisomal membrane protein 4(PXMP4)on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer(CC)cells,as well as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)process.Methods Bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to examine the expression of PXMP4 in CC tissues and its correlation with clinical pathological characteristics.Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of PXMP4 in CC cells.CCK-8 assay,scratch healing assay,and Transwell invasion assay were utilized to assess the proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities of CC cells.Western blot was conducted to measure the expression of N-cadherin,E-cadherin,vimentin,phosphorylated ERK(p-ERK),and total ERK proteins in cervical CC.Results The TCGA database showed that the mRNA expression level of PXMP4 was significantly elevated in non-paired CC tissues(P=0.000 29),while the GEO database showed that the mRNA expression level of PXMP4 was sig-nificantly elevated in paired CC tissues(P=0.02).Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PXMP4 was primarily localized in the cytoplasm and cell membrane,with a positive rate of 70.31％(45/64)in CC tissues,significantly higher than 29.69％(19/64)in adjacent tissues.Clinical pathological analysis found that PXMP4 expression was as-sociated with maximum tumor differentiation(P=0.000 328)and lymph node metastasis(P=0.000 226),but not with age(P=0.637)or tumor diameter(P=0.304).CCK-8 assay,wound healing assay,and Transwell invasion as-say demonstrated that interference with PXMP4 inhibited the proliferation,invasion,and migration of CC cells,while overexpression of PXMP4 promoted these processes.Western blot results indicated that interference with PXMP4 signif-icantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin,vimentin,and p-ERK expression(P＜0.05).Conversely,overexpression of PXMP4 led to a significant decrease in E-cadherin and an increase in N-cadherin,vim-entin,and p-ERK expression(P＜0.05).Additionally,stimulation of CC cells with different concentrations of the U0126 inhibitor significantly increased E-cadherin expression and decreased N-cadherin,vimentin,and p-ERK expres-sion(P＜0.05).Conclusion PXMP4 is highly expressed in CC tissues and is closely related to tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis.PXMP4 promotes the EMT process of CC cells through the phosphorylated ERK1/2 signa-ling pathway.

Objective To develop a refined management model for operating rooms and assess its clinical impact on op-erational efficiency and cost control.Methods The study included 10,728 elective surgeries from January to June 2024 as the study group and 9 414 elective surgeries from January to June 2023 as the control group.The differences in operational metrics before and after implementing the refined management model were compared.The model was developed through comprehensive management by hospital leadership and multi-department collaboration,focusing on management structure,systems,processes,information technology,and resource allocation.Results In terms of efficiency,the on-time start rate of the first surgeries in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group(P＜0.05).The turnover time between surgeries was shorter in the study group(P＜0.01),and the rate of unexpected surgery cancellations was lower(P＜0.01).The average cost per surgery for consumables,excluding the impact of centralized procurement of consumables,was approximately 971 yuan,representing an 11% reduction compared to the previous year,despite a 14% increase in surgical volume.The average daily operating cost per operating room was about 12 303 yuan,a 7% reduction.Economic benefits increased by 8.43 million yuan,a 38% year-on-year increase.Conclusion Implementing a refined management model in operating rooms can significantly enhance efficiency,re-duce costs,and achieve dual improvements in social and economic benefits.

Objective To investigate the expression of NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase family member 2(NSUN2)and protein arginine methyltransferase 5(PRMT5)in retinoblastoma(Rb)tissue and their correlation with the survival prognosis of Rb patients.Methods From February 2019 to February 2021,84 patients with Rb(Rb group)were selected from Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University Nanchong Hospital,and 50 normal retinal tissues were used as control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the levels of NSUN2 mRNA and PRMT5 mRNA in retinal tissues.Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze the effect of NSUN2 mRNA and PRMT5 mRNA on the prognosis of Rb patients.COX regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of Rb.Results The expression of NSUN2 mRNA(3.11±0.42)and PRMT5 mRNA(2.84±0.39)in Rb cancer tissues were higher than that in the control group(0.80±0.23,0.76±0.20),and the differences were statistically significant(t=35.935,35.033,all P<0.001).The expression of NSUN2 mRNA and PRMT5 mRNA in Rb cancer tissues with tumor diameter≥20mm,undifferentiated and ⅡRC stage D～E were higher than that in tumor diameter<20mm,differentiated tissues and ⅡRC stage A～C cancer tissues,and the differences were statistically significant(t=18.297,141.770,16.693;18.663,139.144,39.947,均P<0.001).The 3-year progression-free survival rate in the high expression group of NSUN2 mRNA was lower than that in the low expression group(60.00%vs 88.64%).The 3-year progression-free survival rate in the high expression group of PRMT5 mRNA was lower than that in the low expression group(56.10%vs 93.02%)(Log rank χ2=13.440,19.501,all P<0.001).Undifferentiated type,ⅡRC stage D-E stage,NSUN2 mRNA high,PRMT5 mRNA high were risk factors affecting the prognosis of Rb patients(Waldχ2=5.923～7.161,all P<0.001).Conclusion The expression of NSUN2 mRNA and PRMT5 mRNA in Rb tissues is increased,which is related to the maximum diameter of tumor,pathological classification and ⅡRC stage,and can be used as a tumor marker to evaluate the survival prognosis of Rb.