ObjectiveTo observe the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on quality of life and immune function in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） patients undergoing chemotherapy. MethodsSeventy NSCLC patients with qi deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group， with 35 cases in each group. The control group received chemotherapy combined with routine symptomatic treatment， while the intervention group additionally received heat-sensitive moxibustion since the first day of chemotherapy. Acupoints included Dazhui （GV14）， bilateral Feishu （BL13）， Zhongwan （CV12）， Qihai （CV6）， and Guanyuan （CV4）. The site exhibiting the strongest heat-sensitization response was selected for moxibustion. Treatment was administered for 45 minutes per session， three times weekly for three consecutive weeks， totaling nine sessions. Before and after treatment， quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire （EORTC QLQ-C30）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were evaluated. Peripheral blood levels of natural killer （NK） cells and T-lymphocyte subsets including CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD8⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were measured. Levels of programmed cell death protein-1 （PD-1）， including PD-1⁺CD4⁺ and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ cells， were also assessed. Liver and renal function were monitored before and after treatment， and adverse events were recorded. ResultsIn the intervention group， 1 participant withdrew and 1 was excluded， while in the control group， 2 participants withdrew. Ultimately， 33 participants in each group were included in the final analysis. The intervention group showed significant improvements in physical， role， emotional， cognitive， and social functioning， as well as global health status after treatment， while scores for fatigue， nausea and vomiting， dyspnea， appetite loss， diarrhea， and TCM syndrome scale were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Moreover， the intervention group demonstrated higher scores in physical functioning， role functioning， and global health status， as well as lower scores for fatigue， nausea and vomiting， dyspnea， appetite loss， diarrhea， and the TCM syndrome scale than the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the levels of peripheral NK cells and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in the intervention group increased significantly； furthermore， the intervention group exhibited higher peripheral NK cell levels and lower PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cell levels than the control group （P＜0.05）. No significant differences were found in liver or renal function between the two groups （P＞0.05）. In addition， no adverse events such as burns or moxibustion-induced syncope occurred during the study. ConclusionHeat-sensitive moxibustion as an adjunctive therapy may enhance immune function， alleviate clinical symptoms， and improve quality of life， while demonstrating a favorable safety profile in NSCLC patients with qi deficiency and phlegm stasis.

ObjectiveFlavonoids are clinically significant natural products, yet their oxygen-glycosylation in aqueous environments relies heavily on expensive nucleotide-activated sugar donors such as UDP-glucose. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) creates specialized, membraneless physicochemical microenvironments capable of modulating enzymatic functions and overcoming mass transfer limitations. This study aims to investigate whether the gut microbiota-derived DgpB/C complex—a multienzyme system traditionally recognized for cleaving stable C-glycosidic bonds and facilitating isomerization—can undergo functional remodeling within phase-separated condensates. Our core objective is to elucidate the role of phase separation in expanding enzymatic catalytic plasticity and to provide a non-canonical, highly cost-effective biocatalytic mechanism for the direct utilization of free sugars in the synthesis of O-glycosylated natural products. MethodsAn artificial phase-separation platform was constructed utilizing the multivalent arginine-glycine-glycine motif (RGG)-repeat domain derived from the Caenorhabditis elegans LAF-1 protein. To ensure precise spatial compartmentalization, the DgpB/C complex was specifically recruited into the RGG condensates via a high-affinity SZ1/SZ2 heterodimerization tag system. Condensate formation and substrate partitioning were visualized using light and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The chemical structures and regioselectivity of the reaction products were rigorously characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS systems. Furthermore, molecular docking and 20-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed via the Hermite platform and Uni-GBSA pipeline to elucidate the structural and thermodynamic basis underlying the phase-transition-induced functional shift. ResultsWe observed that the condensates formed by RGG proteins selectively recruited and significantly enriched hydrophobic flavonoid substrates. Strikingly, within the LLPS microenvironment, the DgpB/C complex—which typically exhibits only degradative or isomerase activities—underwent a profound functional remodeling, transforming into an efficientO-glycosyltransferase. Diverging from canonical pathways that require high-energy donors, the sequestered DgpB/C complex directly utilized unactivated free glucose to catalyze the formation of new O-glycosidic bonds. This remodeled activity was found to be evolutionarily conserved across DgpB/C homologs from diverse gut microbiota strains, such as P581a and W974-1. LC-MS/MS analysis further revealed that the phase-separated environment reduced the regioselectivity constraints of the enzyme, enabling catalytic action on multiple hydroxyl positions of the flavonoid scaffold. MD simulations further indicated that the low-water-activity microenvironment of the condensates reconfigured the conformational dynamics of the catalytic pocket, favoring a spatial orientation highly conducive to dehydration condensation. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that LLPS drives the functional remodeling of the gut microbiota enzyme DgpB/C through the reconfiguration of the physicochemical microenvironment. These findings challenge traditional perceptions regarding the functional boundaries of metabolic enzymes and reveal a novel biocatalytic pathway that bypasses the requirement for nucleotide-activated sugars. Consequently, this provides a highly promising artificial compartmentalization strategy for the green manufacturing of complex, high-value-added natural products.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill neonates.Methods:It was a retrospective study. The baseline characteristic data, PD protocols, PD catheter placement methods and clinical outcomes of AKI neonates who underwent PD in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between July 2015 and December 2024 were collected and analyzed.Results:(1) Among the 8 neonates with AKI, gestational age was (30.38±6.02) weeks, and birth weight was 1 397.5 (839.0, 2 312.5) g, with 6 premature infants. The time from birth to AKI onset was 144 (48, 294) hours. The leading cause of AKI was sepsis (6/8). The treatment time of PD was (93.12±37.20) hours. (2) Renal function recovery: After PD treatment, urine output was significantly increased ( Z=-3.29, P<0.001), and serum creatinine was significantly decreased ( t=2.66, P=0.032). (3) Hyperkalemia: Six out of 8 patients presented with hyperkalemia, which significantly decreased after PD treatment ( t=3.37, P=0.008). (4) Acid-base balance:Five out of 8 neonates had metabolic acidosis, and 3 of 5 neonates achieved basically complete correction (including lactic acidosis). There was no statistically significant difference in acid-base balance indicators before and after PD treatment (all P>0.05). (5) PD-related complications: Two out of 8 patients experienced peritoneal dialysate leakage, and no other PD-related complications occurred. (6) Outcomes: The hospital stay was 27.0 (8.0, 57.5) days. Four out of 8 neonates survived, while the other 4 neonates died after withdrawal of treatment. The primary cause was multiple organ failure. Conclusions:PD is a safe and effective treatment for neonatal AKI, facilitating early renal recovery and correction of electrolyte and acid-base imbalances.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a modified Devine procedure with a subcutaneous sliding fixation method for the treatment of congenital concealed penis, we retrospectively selected 45 patients with congenital concealed penises who were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University (Yinchuan, China) between September 2020 and November 2023. In all cases, the penis was observed to be short, and retracting the skin at the base revealed a normal penile body, which immediately returned to its original position upon release. All patients underwent the modified Devine procedure with subcutaneous sliding fixation and completed a 12-week postoperative follow-up. A statistically significant increase in penile length was observed postoperatively, with the median length increasing from 4.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.5-4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.9-4.4) cm to 8.0 (IQR: 7.8-8.0; 95% CI: 7.7-7.9) cm, with P < 0.001. The parents were satisfied with the outcomes, including increased penile length, improved hygiene, and enhanced esthetics. Except for mild foreskin edema in all cases, no complications (such as infections, skin necrosis, or penile retraction) were observed. The edema was resolved within 4 weeks after the operation. This study demonstrates that the modified Devine procedure utilizing the subcutaneous sliding fixation method yields excellent outcomes with minimal postoperative complications, reduced penile retraction, and high satisfaction rates among patients and their families.
Humans ; Male ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Retrospective Studies ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Child ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To prepare clinical-grade human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) with high expression of hematopoietic supporting factors and evaluate their stem cell characteristics. METHODS: Fetal umbilical cord tissues were collected from healthy postpartum women during full-term cesarean section. Wharton's jelly was mechanically separated and hUC-MSCs were obtained by explant culture method and enzyme digestion method in an animal serum-free culture system with addition of human platelet lysate. The phenotypic characteristics of hUC-MSCs obtained by two methods were detected by flow cytometry. The differences in proliferation ability between the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified through CCK-8 assay and colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assay. The differences in multilineage differentiation potential between the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified through induction of adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. The mRNA expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors such as SCF, IL-3, CXCL12, VCAM1 and ANGPT1 in the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified by real-time fluorescence quantiative PCR(RT-qPCR). RESULTS: The results of flow cytometry showed that hUC-MSCs obtained by the two methods both expressed high levels of CD73, CD90 and CD105, while lowly expressed CD31, CD45 and HLA-DR. The results of CCK-8 and CFU-F assay showed that the proliferation ability of hUC-MSCs obtained by explant culture method was better than those obtained by enzyme digestion method. The results of the triple lineage differentiation experiment showed that there was no significant difference in multilineage differentiation potential between the two grous of hUC-MSCs. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors SCF, IL-3, CXCL12, VCAM1 and ANGPT1 in hUC-MSCs obtained by explant cultrue method were higher than those obtained by enzyme digestion method. CONCLUSION Clinical-grade hUC-MSCs with high expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors were successfully cultured in an animal serum-free culture system.
Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Umbilical Cord/cytology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism* ; Angiopoietin-1/metabolism* ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Stem Cell Factor/metabolism* ; Flow Cytometry ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) holds significant value in guiding drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment and enhancing outcomes. However, the predictive capability of post-angioplasty QFR for long-term clinical events in patients with de novo lesions who receive DCB treatment remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the potential significance of post-angioplasty QFR measurements in predicting clinical outcomes in patients underwent DCB treatment for de novo lesions. METHODS: Patients who underwent DCB-only intervention for de novo lesions were enrolled. QFR was conducted after DCB treatment. The patients were then categorized based on post-angioplasty QFR. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), encompassing all-cause death, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 553 patients with 561 lesions were included. The median follow-up period was 505 days, during which 66 (11.8%) MACEs occurred. Based on post-procedural QFR grouping, there were 259 cases in the high QFR group (QFR > 0.93) and 302 cases in the low QFR group (QFR ≤ 0.93). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative incidence of MACE in the low QFR group (log-rank P = 0.004). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between QFR and the occurrence of MACEs (HR = 0.522, 95%CI: 0.289-0.942, P = 0.031). Landmark analysis indicated that high QFR had a significant reducing effect on the cumulative incidence of MACEs within 1 year (log-rank P = 0.016) and 1-5 years (log-rank P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS In patients who underwent DCB-only treatment for de novo lesions, higher post-procedural QFR values (> 0.93) were identified as an independent protective factor against adverse prognosis.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in elderly men, the incidence of which gradually increases with age and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are widely used for the treatment of BPH in China and some other countries. To explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs for BPH, we conducted a review based on peer-reviewed English-language publications in PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception to December 31, 2023. This article primarily reviewed 32 papers on the use of CHMs and its active compounds in the treatment of BPH, covering animal and cell experiments, and identified relevant mechanisms of action. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of CHMs in treating BPH may involve the regulation of sex hormones, downregulation of cell growth factors, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis. CHMs also exhibit α-blocker-like effects, with the potential to relax urethral smooth muscle and alleviate LUTS. Additionally, we also reviewed 4 clinical trials and meta-analyses of CHMs for the treatment of BPH patients, which provided initial evidence of the safety and effectiveness of CHMs treatment. CHMs treatment for BPH shows advantages as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapy, which can mitigate the severity of the disease, improve LUTS, and may become a reliable treatment option in the future.
Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Male ; Animals

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis of the connective tissue in the vaginal wall predominates in pelvic organ prolapse (POP), which is characterized by excessive fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our study aimed to investigate the effect of ECM stiffness on vaginal fibroblasts and to explore the role of methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) in the development of POP. METHODS: Polyacrylamide hydrogels were applied to create an ECM microenvironment with variable stiffness to evaluate the effects of ECM stiffness on the proliferation, differentiation, and expression of ECM components in vaginal fibroblasts. METTL3 small interfering RNA and an overexpression vector were transfected into vaginal fibroblasts to evaluate the effects of METTL3 silencing and overexpression on matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal modulation of the ECM. Both procedures were detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunofluorescence (IF). RESULTS: Vaginal fibroblasts from POP patients exhibited increased proliferation ability, increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), decreased expression of collagen I/III, and significantly decreased expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the stiff matrix ( P <0.05). Compared with those from non-POP patients, vaginal wall tissues from POP patients demonstrated a significant increase in METTL3 content ( P <0.05). However, silencing METTL3 expression in vaginal fibroblasts with high ECM stiffness resulted in decreased proliferation ability, decreased α-SMA expression, an increased ratio of collagen I/III, and increased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression. Conversely, METTL3 overexpression significantly promoted the process of increased proliferation ability, increased α-SMA expression, decreased ratio of collagen I/III and decreased TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression in the soft matrix ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elevated ECM stiffness can promote excessive proliferation, differentiation, and abnormal ECM modulation, and the expression of METTL3 plays an important role in alleviating or aggravating matrix stiffness-induced vaginal fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and abnormal ECM modulation.
Humans ; Female ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Cell Differentiation/genetics* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/pathology* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Vagina/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/physiology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Middle Aged

Hypochlorous acid/hypochlorite(HClO/ClO-)plays a key role in biological processes and is commonly used as a disinfectant in drinking water.However,excessive intake of HClO/ClO-can oxidize biomolecules like DNA,RNA,and proteins,causing organ damage.Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease can also lead to overproduction of HClO/ClO-.Therefore,accurately detecting HClO/ClO-levels is crucial.In this study,an HClO/ClO-fluorescent probe,NC-TPA-PPh3,was designed and synthesized,with a triphenylamine core as the fluorescent unit,carbon-carbon double bonds as recognition sites,and a quaternary ammonium salt for mitochondria targeting,forming a D-π-A structure.This probe had a fluorescence lifetime of 3.71 ns and a fluorescence quantum yield of 0.51.Upon exposure to HClO/ClO-,the maximum fluorescence emission wavelength of the probe in DMSO/H2O(9∶1,V/V,pH=7.4)solution(20 μmol/L)shifted from 550 nm to 430 nm,with a fluorescence intensity increase of 35.7 times compared to blank probe solution,allowing for selective recognition of HClO/ClO-.The probe also exhibited a large Stokes shift(130 nm)and a low limit of detection(LOD)of 9.16×10-8 mol/L.Based on characterization by proton nuclear magnetic resonance(1H NMR),electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(ESI-MS),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and theoretical calculations,it was speculated that NC-TPA-PPh3 recognized HClO/ClO-through oxidative cleavage of the C=C bond in the probe,generating TPA-CHO with lower water solubility and a smaller conjugated structure.This disrupted the D-π-A structure,blocking intramolecular charge transfer(ICT),causing the fluorescence emission peak to blue-shift from 550 nm to 430 nm.Additionally,this process induced an aggregation-induced fluorescence effect,significantly enhancing the fluorescence intensity at 430 nm.