Self-face is a unique and highly distinctive stimulus, not shared with others, and serves as a reliable marker of self-awareness. Compared to other faces, self-face processing exhibits several advantages, including the self-face recognition advantage, self-face attention advantage, and self-face positive processing advantage. The self-face recognition advantage manifests as faster and more accurate identification across different orientations and spatial frequency components, supported by enhanced early event-related potential (ERP) components, such as N170. Attentional biases toward self-face are evident in target detection during spatial tasks and the attentional blink effect in temporal paradigms. However, measurement sensitivity, perceptual load, and task demands contribute to some mixed findings. Positive biases further characterize the self-face processing advantage, with individuals perceiving their faces as more attractive or trustworthy than objective representations. These biases even extend to self-similar others, influencing social behaviors such as trust and voting preferences. Self-face processing advantages have been observed at an unconscious level and are regulated by several factors, including self-esteem, cultural differences, and multisensory integration. Cultural and individual differences play a crucial role in shaping self-face advantages. Individuals from Western cultures, which emphasize independent self-construal, exhibit stronger self-face biases compared to those from East Asian collectivist contexts. Self-esteem also modulates self-face advantages: high-self-esteem individuals generally maintain their self-face recognition advantage despite interference, exhibit attentional prioritization of self-faces, and demonstrate enhanced positive associations with subliminal self-faces. In contrast, low-self-esteem individuals display recognition vulnerabilities to social cues, show context-dependent attentional divergence (prioritizing others’ faces in task-oriented settings while prioritizing self-face in free-viewing tasks), and exhibit reversed positive associations with subliminal self-faces. Multisensory integration, such as synchronized visual-tactile cues, enhances self-face advantages and induces perceptual plasticity. This phenomenon is exemplified by the enfacement illusion, in which synchronous visual and tactile inputs update the mental representation of the self-face, leading to assimilation with another face. Neuroanatomically, self-face processing is predominantly lateralized to the right hemisphere and involves a network of brain regions, including the occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, insula, and cingulate gyrus. Disruptions in these networks are linked to self-face processing deficits in socio-cognitive disorders. For instance, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are associated with attenuated self-face advantages and abnormal neural activity in regions such as the right inferior frontal gyrus, insula, and posterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that self-face processing could serve as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis and intervention of such disorders. In recent years, researchers have proposed various theoretical explanations for self-face processing and its advantage effects. However, some studies have reported no significant behavioral or neural advantages of self-faces over familiar faces, leaving the specificity of self-face a subject of debate. Further elucidation of self-face specificity requires the adoption of a face association paradigm, which controls for facial familiarity and helps determine whether qualitative differences exist between self-faces and familiar faces. Given the close relationship between self-face processing advantages and socio-cognitive disorders (e.g., ASD, schizophrenia), a deeper understanding of self-face specificity has the potential to provide critical insights into the early identification, classification, and intervention of these disorders. This research holds both theoretical significance and substantial social value.

ObjectiveTo explore the impacts of material type and loading volume of rigid containers on the hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilization of thoracoscopic instruments, to identify the best rigid containers and loading volume of thoracoscopic instruments. MethodsThoracoscopic instruments sterilized by STERRAD^® 100NX hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated to Tongji University from August to September 2024 were selected as the research items. According to the material of rigid containers, the instruments were divided into polyethylene case group (A), stainless steel case group (B) and silicone resin case group (C). In terms of the loading volume, the rigid containers were divided into (loading capacity <80%) groups of 8, 10 and 12 instruments. The results of physical monitoring, the first type of chemical indicator card monitoring, and the five types of card luminal chemical process challenge device (PCD) monitoring of the 9 groups of A8, A10, A12, B8, B10, B12, C8, C10 and C12 were compared and evaluated. ResultsCompared to A8, A10 A12, C8, C10 or C12 groups, the thoracoscope instruments in the stainless steel containers in B8, B10 or B12 group had higher hydrogen peroxide concentrations and shorter elapsed time in the pressure check phases 1 and phases 2, with the differences statistically significant (P<0.05), followed by the silicone resin case group and the polyethylene case group. The nine groups of physical parameter monitoring, the first type of chemical indicator monitoring, and the five types of chemical PCD monitoring for lumen sterilization achieved 100% qualification rates, and there were no significant differences in the qualified rates of sterilization among the 9 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionWhen using hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma to sterilize thoracoscopic instruments, it is recommended to use stainless steel or silicone resin rigid containers with a controlled loading capacity (≤12) to ensure optimal sterilization quality.

This study aims to explore the impact of host plants on the quality of Taxilli Herba and provide a theoretical basis for the quality control of Taxilli Herba. The components of Taxilli Herba from three different host plants(Morus alba, Salix babylonica, and Cinnamomum cassia) and its 3 hosts(mulberry branch, willow branch, and cinnamon branch) were detected by widely targeted metabolomics based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis(PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and Venn diagram were employed for analysis. A total of 717 metabolites were detected in Taxilli Herba from the three host plants and the branches of these host plants by UPLC-MS/MS. The results of PCA and OPLS-DA of Taxilli Herba from the three different host plants showed an obvious separation trend due to the different effects of host plants. The Venn diagram showed that there were 32, 8, and 26 characteristic metabolites in samples of Taxilli Herba from M. alba host, S. babylonica host, and C. cassia host, respectively. It was found by comparing the characteristic metabolites of Taxilli Herba and its hosts that each host transmits its characteristic components to Taxilli Herba, so that the Taxilli Herba contains the characteristic components of the host. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the differential metabolites of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were mainly enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Furthermore, the differential metabolites enriching pathways of Taxilli Herba from the three hosts were different depending on the host. In a word, host plants have a significant impact on the metabolites of Taxilli Herba, and it may be an important factor for the quality of Taxilli Herba.
Metabolomics/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Salix/chemistry* ; Cinnamomum aromaticum/metabolism* ; Principal Component Analysis

From the perspective of competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA) constructed by metastasy-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(Malat1) and microRNA 16-5p(miR-16-5p), the improvement mechanism of Tonggu Xiaotong Capsules(TGXTC) on the imbalance and disorder of "cholesterol-iron" metabolism in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis(OA) was explored. In vivo experiments, 60 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were acclimatized and fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into two groups: blank group(12 mice) and modeling group(48 mice). The animals in modeling group were anesthetized by 5% isoflurane inhalation, which was followed by the construction of OA model. They were then randomly divided into model group, TGXTC group, Malat1 overexpression group, and TGXTC+Malat1 overexpression(TGXTC+Malat1-OE) group, with 12 mice in each group. The structural changes of mouse cartilage tissues were observed by Masson staining after the intervention in each group. RT-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in cartilage tissues. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein(SREBP), cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily B member 1(CYP7B1), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein(CHOP), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4), and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) in cartilage tissues. In vitro experiments, mouse chondrocytes were induced by thapsigargin(TG), and the combination of Malat1 and miR-16-5p was detected by double luciferase assay. The fluorescence intensity of Malat1 in chondrocytes was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The miR-16-5p inhibitory chondrocyte model was constructed. RT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in chondrocytes under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. Western blot was adopted to analyze the regulation of TG-induced chondrocyte proteins ABCA1, SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, ACSL4, and GPX4 by TGXTC under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. The results of in vivo experiments showed that,(1) compared with model group, TGXTC group exhibited a relatively complete cartilage layer structure. Compared with Malat1-OE group, TGXTC+Malat1-OE group showed alleviated cartilage surface damage.(2) Compared with model group, TGXTC group had a significantly decreased Malat1 mRNA level and an increased miR-16-5p mRNA level in mouse cartilage tissues(P<0.01).(3) Compared with the model group, the protein levels of ABCA1 and GPX4 in the cartilage tissue of mice in the TGXTC group increased, while the protein levels of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP and ACSL4 decreased(P<0.01). The results of in vitro experiments show that,(1) dual-luciferase was used to evaluate that miR-16-5p has a targeting effect on the Malat1 gene.(2)Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group had an increased mRNA level of miR-16-5p and an decreased mRNA level of Malat1(P<0.01).(3) Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group exhibited increased expression of ABCA1 and GPX4 proteins and decreased expression of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, and ACSL4 proteins(P<0.01). The reasults showed that TGXTC can regulate the ceRNA of Malat1 and miR-16-5p to alleviate the "cholesterol-iron" metabolism disorder of osteoarthritis chondrocytes.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Iron/metabolism* ; Male ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; Humans ; Capsules ; RNA, Competitive Endogenous

This study aims to investigate the effect of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula on the neuroinflammation of rats with insomnia complicated with depression through the regulation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)/complement protein C1q signaling pathway. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive drug group, as well as a high, medium, and low-dose groups of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other groups were injected with p-chlorophenylalanine and exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress to establish the rat model of insomnia complicated with depression. The sucrose preference experiment, open field experiment, and water maze test were performed to evaluate the depression in rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to detect serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), dopamine(DA), and norepinephrine(NE) levels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the damage in nucleus accumbens neurons. Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed to detect TREM2, C1q, postsynaptic density 95(PSD-95), and synaptophysin 1(SYN1) expressions in rat nucleus accumbens, respectively. Golgi-Cox staining was utilized to observe the synaptic spine density of nucleus accumbens neurons. The results show that, compared with the model group, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can significantly increase the sucrose preference as well as the distance and number of voluntary activities, shorten the immobility time in forced swimming test and the successful incubation period of positioning navigation, and prolong the stay time of space exploration in the target quadrant test. The serum 5-HT, DA, and NE contents in the model group are significantly lower than those in the normal group, with the above contents significantly increased after the intervention of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In addition, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can alleviate pathological damages such as swelling and loose arrangement of tissue cells in the nucleus accumbens, while increasing the Nissl body numbers. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can improve synaptic damage in the nucleus accumbens and increase the synaptic spine density. Compared to the normal group, the expression of C1q protein was significantly higher in the model group, while the expression of TREM2 protein was significantly lower. Compared to the model group, the intervention with Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula significantly downregulated the expression of C1q protein and significantly upregulated the expression of TREM2. Compared with the model group, the PSD-95 and SYN1 fluorescence intensity is significantly increased in the groups receiving different doses of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In summary, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can reduce the C1q protein expression, relieve the TREM2 inhibition, and promote the synapse-related proteins PSD-95 and SNY1 expression. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula improves synaptic injury of the nucleus accumbens neurons, thereby treating insomnia complicated with depression.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Depression/complications* ; Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Receptors, Immunologic/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Synapses/metabolism*

Spermatogenesis is a fundamental process that requires a tightly controlled epigenetic event in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The mechanisms underlying the transition from SSCs to sperm are largely unknown. Most studies utilize gene knockout mice to explain the mechanisms. However, the production of genetically engineered mice is costly and time-consuming. In this study, we presented a convenient research strategy using an RNA interference (RNAi) and testicular transplantation approach. Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation was dynamically regulated during spermatogenesis. As Jumonji domain-containing protein 1A (JMJD1A) and Jumonji domain-containing protein 2C (JMJD2C) demethylases catalyze histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), we firstly analyzed the expression profile of the two demethylases and then investigated their function. Using the convenient research strategy, we showed that normal spermatogenesis is disrupted due to the downregulated expression of both demethylases. These results suggest that this strategy might be a simple and alternative approach for analyzing spermatogenesis relative to the gene knockout mice strategy.
Spermatogenesis/physiology* ; Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/metabolism* ; Histones/metabolism* ; RNA Interference ; Testis/metabolism* ; Methylation ; Mice, Knockout ; Histone Demethylases

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between insulin resistance and uterine volume in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 61 girls diagnosed with ICPP who visited the pediatric growth and development clinic of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2022 and September 2024, designated as the ICPP group, and 61 normally developing girls as the control group. The differences in insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR), uterine volume, and other indicators between the two groups were compared, and the relationship between insulin resistance and uterine volume in these girls was analyzed. RESULTS: The uterine volume and HOMA-IR level in the ICPP group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive correlation between HOMA-IR level and uterine volume in the ICPP group (r_s=0.643, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that as HOMA-IR increased,uterine volume in the girls tended to increase (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is an association between insulin resistance and uterine volume in girls with ICPP, and as HOMA-IR increases, uterine volume in the girls also increases.
Humans ; Female ; Insulin Resistance ; Puberty, Precocious/metabolism* ; Uterus/pathology* ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Organ Size ; Linear Models

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for recurrent plastic bronchitis (PB) among children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). METHODS: The clinical data of children with MPP complicated by PB who underwent bronchoscopy at Gansu Province Maternity and Child Health Hospital between July 2023 and January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped into a single-episode PB group and a recurrent PB group according to the number of PB episodes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for recurrent PB. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance of individual and combined predictors. RESULTS: A total of 264 children were included; 188 (71.2%) had a single episode of PB and 76 (28.8%) had recurrent PB. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that decreased serum albumin, atelectasis, and fever persisting beyond 72 hours after the initial bronchoscopy were significantly associated with recurrent PB (all P<0.05). The combination of these predictors yielded a sensitivity of 82.9%, specificity of 61.7%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.777 (95%CI: 0.714-0.839), outperforming any single predictor (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In children with MPP complicated by PB, decreased serum albumin, the presence of atelectasis, and fever persisting beyond 72 hours after the initial bronchoscopy are associated with an increased risk of PB recurrence. In such cases, early repeat or multiple bronchoscopic interventions should be considered.
Humans ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Risk Factors ; Recurrence ; Child, Preschool ; Bronchitis/etiology* ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; Logistic Models ; Infant ; ROC Curve ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of Chinese medicine (CM) Lianhua Qingwen Granule (LHQW) and Jingyin Gubiao Prescription (JYGB) in asymptomatic or mild patients with Omicron infection in the shelter hospital. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in the largest shelter hospital in Shanghai, China, from April 10, 2022 to May 30, 2022. A total of 56,244 asymptomatic and mild Omicron cases were included and divided into 4 groups, i.e., non-administration group (23,702 cases), LHQW group (11,576 cases), JYGB group (12,112 cases), and dual combination of LHQW and JYGB group (8,854 cases). The length of stay (LOS) in the hospital was used to assess the effectiveness of LHQW and JYGB treatment on Omicron infection. RESULTS: Patients aged 41-60 years, with nadir threshold cycle (C_T) value of N gene <25, or those fully vaccinated preferred to receive CM therapy. Before or after propensity score matching (PSM), the multiple linear regression showed that LHQW and JYGB treatment were independent influence factors of LOS (both P<0.001). After PSM, there were significant differences in LOS between the LHQW/JYGB combination and the other groups (P<0.01). The results of factorial design ANOVA proved that the LHQW/JYGB combination therapy synergistically shortened LOS (P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a nadir C_T value <25 were more likely to accept CM. The LHQW/JYGB combination therapy could shorten the LOS of Omicron-infected individuals in an isolated environment.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Length of Stay ; Young Adult ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-photoaging properties of salvianolic acid B (Sal B). METHODS: The optimal photoaging model of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were constructed by expose to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. The cells were divided into control, model and different concentrations of Sal B groups. Cell viability was measured via cell counting kit-8. Subsequently, the levels of oxidative stress, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroxyproline (Hyp), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using the relevant kits. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) protein level was detected using Western blot. The binding pattern of Sal B and SIRT1 was determined via molecular docking. RESULTS: Sal B significantly increased the viability of UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Sal B effectively scavenged the accumulation of ROS induced by UVB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, Sal B modulated oxidative stress by increasing the intracellular concentrations of Hyp and CAT and the activity of GSH-Px (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The Western blot results revealed a substantial increase in SIRT1 protein levels following Sal B administration (P<0.05). Moreover, Sal B exhibited good binding affinity toward SIRT1, with a docking energy of -7.5 kCal/mol. CONCLUSION Sal B could improve the repair of photodamaged cells by alleviating cellular oxidative stress and regulating the expression of SIRT1 protein.
Humans ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Oxidative Stress/radiation effects* ; Keratinocytes/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Benzofurans/pharmacology* ; Skin Aging/radiation effects* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Cell Survival/radiation effects* ; HaCaT Cells ; Hydroxyproline/metabolism* ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism* ; Catalase/metabolism* ; Depsides