ObjectiveThis study leverages structural data from antigen-antibody complexes of the influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) protein to investigate the spatial recognition relationship between the antigenic epitopes and antibody paratopes. MethodsStructural data on NA protein antigen-antibody complexes were comprehensively collected from the SAbDab database, and processed to obtain the amino acid sequences and spatial distribution information on antigenic epitopes and corresponding antibody paratopes. Statistical analysis was conducted on the antibody sequences, frequency of use of genes, amino acid preferences, and the lengths of complementarity determining regions (CDR). Epitope hotspots for antibody binding were analyzed, and the spatial structural similarity of antibody paratopes was calculated and subjected to clustering, which allowed for a comprehensively exploration of the spatial recognition relationship between antigenic epitopes and antibodies. The specificity of antibodies targeting different antigenic epitope clusters was further validated through bio-layer interferometry (BLI) experiments. ResultsThe collected data revealed that the antigen-antibody complex structure data of influenza A virus NA protein in SAbDab database were mainly from H3N2, H7N9 and H1N1 subtypes. The hotspot regions of antigen epitopes were primarily located around the catalytic active site. The antibodies used for structural analysis were primarily derived from human and murine sources. Among murine antibodies, the most frequently used V-J gene combination was IGHV1-12*01/IGHJ2*01, while for human antibodies, the most common combination was IGHV1-69*01/IGHJ6*01. There were significant differences in the lengths and usage preferences of heavy chain CDR amino acids between antibodies that bind within the catalytic active site and those that bind to regions outside the catalytic active site. The results revealed that structurally similar antibodies could recognize the same epitopes, indicating a specific spatial recognition between antibody and antigen epitopes. Structural overlap in the binding regions was observed for antibodies with similar paratope structures, and the competitive binding of these antibodies to the epitope was confirmed through BLI experiments. ConclusionThe antigen epitopes of NA protein mainly ditributed around the catalytic active site and its surrounding loops. Spatial complementarity and electrostatic interactions play crucial roles in the recognition and binding of antibodies to antigenic epitopes in the catalytic region. There existed a spatial recognition relationship between antigens and antibodies that was independent of the uniqueness of antibody sequences, which means that antibodies with different sequences could potentially form similar local spatial structures and recognize the same epitopes.

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury （NSSI） behavior among adolescents has become a global public health concern. Anxiety and depression are considered key factors influencing NSSI behavior， while social support may play a protective role in alleviating emotional and behavioral issues. However， existing research has primarily focused on the direct impact of individual factors on NSSI behavior， with insufficient exploration of the combined effects of anxiety， depression and social support. ObjectiveTo investigate the direct effect of anxiety on NSSI， the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of social support in relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior， thus to provide references for the prevention and intervention of NSSI behavior among adolescents. MethodsIn February 2022， a total of 40 820 students in grades 7 to 12 across 10 middle schools in a district of Chengdu were selected as participants， and they were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item （GAD-7）， Patient's Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item （PHQ-9）， Social Support Scale for Urban Students （SSSUS） and Adolescent Self-Harm Scale （ASHS）. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlations between scale scores among adolescents with NSSI behaviors. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using Process 3.5 in SPSS， and the significance was tested with bootstrapping. The interaction was visualized by using simple slope analysis. ResultsAmong 34 534 （84.60%） valid respondents， 542 adolescents （1.57%） reported engaging in NSSI behavior. Significant differences in gender， GAD-7 scores， PHQ-9 scores， and SSSUS scores were observed between NSSI behavior group and non-NSSI group （χ²/t=62.889， 71.120， 94.365， -41.464， P<0.01）.Adolesents with NSSI showed positive correlations between GAD-7 scores and both ASHS and PHQ-9 scores （r=0.158， 0.166， P<0.01）. PHQ-9 scores were positively correlated with ASHS scores （r=0.364， P<0.01）， but negatively correlated with SSSUS scores （r=-0.290， P<0.01）. SSSUS scores were negatively correlated with ASHS scores （r=-0.247， P<0.01）. Depression partially mediated the relationship between anxiety and NSSI behavior， with an effect size of 0.544 （95% CI： 0.162~0.944）， accounting for 35.79% of the total effect. Social support moderated the relationship between depression and NSSI bahavior， with an effect value of -0.082 （95% CI： -0.135~-0.029）. ConclusionAnxiety not only directly influences NSSI bahavior among adolescents， also indirectly exacerbates it through depression， while social support mitigates the impact of depression on NSSI behavior. ［Funded by Youth Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China （number， 82401812）； Project of Health Commission of Sichuan Province （number， 24LCYJPT18）］

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 clinical effect of physical intervention combined with medical nutritional weight loss (PI+MNWL) in the treatment of short penis in obese children. METHODS: One hundred and twenty obese children with a short penis were included and equally divided into three groups: PI+MNWL, MNWL, and self-guided diet, who underwent PI+MNWL, MNWL intervention under the supervision of professional nutritionists in the hospital, or self-guided diet intervention at home, respectively, all for 30 days. We measured the penile parameters, including stretched penile length (SPL), flaccid penile length (FPL) and penile diameter (PD), of the children before and after treatment, and compared them among the three groups. RESULTS: After intervention, the body weight of the children was significantly decreased in all the three groups (27.1－94.1［53.59±11.88］ kg vs 23.0－85.1［49.01±11.61］ kg， P < 0.05). The weight of children in 3 groups decreased to different degrees, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). MNWL was found remarkably more effective than self-guided weight loss in reducing the body weight of the children (P < 0.05). Based on weight loss achieved through medical nutrition combined with physical intervention, the FPL in the PI+MNWL group increased from (1.93 ± 0.76) cm before treatment to (3.41 ± 1.41) cm after one course of comprehensive treatment, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Similarly, SPL increased from (3.75 ± 0.76) cm before treatment to (4.98 ± 0.64) cm, and PD increased from (1.32 ± 0.21) cm before treatment to (1.61 ± 0.66) cm, both showing statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). In the MNWL group , FPL increased from (2.01 ± 0.81) cm to (2.77 ± 0.84) cm after one course of treatment, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Additionally, SPL increased from (4.03 ± 0.84) cm before treatment to (4.40 ± 0.76) cm, also demonstrating statistical significance (P < 0.05), while PD increased from (1.37 ± 0.21) cm before treatment to (1.42 ± 0.22) cm, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). FPL and SPL increased significantly in the PI+MNWL group compared to the MNWL group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in PD between the two groups following the intervention (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION MNWL is more effective than self-guided diet in controlling the body weight of children, while the combination approach of PI+MNWL is even superior to the management of short penis in obese children, with the advantages of improving the appearance and increasing the exposed length of the penis.
Humans ; Male ; Child ; Weight Loss ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Obesity/complications* ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) Fuzheng Huazhuo Decoction (FHD) in treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who persistently tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Shanghai New International Expo Center shelter hospital in China between April 1 and May 30, 2022. Patients diagnosed as COVID-19 with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for ⩾8 days after diagnosis were enrolled. Patients in the control group received conventional Western medicine (WM) treatment, while those in the FHD group received conventional WM plus FHD for at least 3 days. The primary outcome was viral clearance time. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion rate within 14 days, length of hospital stay, cycle threshold (Ct) values of the open reading frame 1ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid protein (N) genes, and incidence of new-onset symptoms during hospitalization. Adverse events (AEs) that occurred during the study period were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1,765 eligible patients were enrolled in this study (546 in the FHD group and 1,219 in the control group). Compared with the control group, patients receiving FHD treatment showed shorter viral clearance time for nucleic acids [hazard ratio (HR): 1.500, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.353-1.664, P<0.001] and hospital stays (HR: 1.371, 95% CI: 1.238-1.519, P<0.001), and a higher negative conversion rate within 14 days (96.2% vs. 82.6%, P<0.001). The incidence of new-onset symptoms was 59.5% in the FHD group, similar to 57.8% in the control group (P>0.05). The Ct values of ORF1ab and N genes increased more rapidly over time in the FHD group than those in the control group post-randomization (ORF1ab gene: β =0.436±0.053, P<0.001; N gene: β =0.415 ±0.053, P<0.001). The incidence of AEs in the FHD group was lower than that in the control group (24.2% vs. 35.4%, P<0.001). No serious AEs were observed. CONCLUSION FHD was effective and safe for patients with persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200063956).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects* ; COVID-19/virology* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: Depressive and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders worldwide and are associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The Life's Simple 7 (LS7) guideline proposed by the American Heart Association aims to reduce cardiovascular risk by improving behaviors such as diet and physical activity, but its impact on mental health is not yet fully clear. This study examined the association between LS7 scores and symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults undergoing routine health examinations. METHODS: Data were collected from individuals who underwent health examinations from May 2015 to December 2024 at the Health Management Center of the Third Xiangya Hospital. All participants completed the LS7 assessments, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Participants were categorized into 4 LS7 score groups: Low (≤7), average (8-9), good (10), and excellent (11-14). Those with SDS or SAS≥50 were classified as having mental disorder symptoms; with this group, SAS≥50 indicated anxiety, SDS≥50 indicated depression, and SDS and SAS≥50 indicated comorbid anxiety-depression. Binary logistic regression was used to assess associations between LS7 score and mental symptoms, calculating odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression model was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between LS7 score (continuous variable) and the risk of mental symptoms. Nodes were set at the 5th, 35th, 65th, and 95th percentiles of the LS7 score, with the 5th percentile as the reference point. All models were adjusted for covariates such as gender, age, living alone, drinking status, education level, and sleep quality. Logistic regression framework was used to fit and calculate the adjusted OR (aOR) and 95% CI. Nonlinear relationship tests were also conducted. Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the interaction between gender, age, drinking habits, education level, and other factors and the LS7 score in influencing the risk of mental symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 5 449 participants were included; 1 363 (25.01%) had depressive symptoms, 398 (7.30%) had anxiety symptoms, and 259 (4.75%) had comorbid anxiety-depression. The prevalence of mental symptoms decreased significantly as LS7 scores increased. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression indicated that LS7 score≥8 was protective against mental symptoms. Multivariate Logistic regression demonstrated moderate discriminative ability (AUC=0.672). Among individuals with anxiety, depression, or comorbid symptoms, LS7 score distributions showed a graded decrease from poor to excellent groups. After adjustment, an excellent LS7 score was associated with a 39% lower risk of depression (aOR=0.61, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.78, P<0.001), a 63% lower risk of anxiety (aOR=0.37, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.59, P<0.001), and a 66% lower risk of comorbid anxiety-depression (aOR=0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.62, P=0.001). The AUC values of the anxiety model, depression model, and comorbid anxiety and depression model were 0.632, 0.672, and 0.619, respectively. All models demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability, which was statistically significant, but their capacity to distinguish cases from non-cases was limited. RCS analysis confirmed a linear inverse relationship between LS7 score and mental symptom risk. Not smoking and regular physical activity were the strongest protective behaviors. Subgroup analysis suggested stronger protective effects in men, younger adults (≤60), non-drinkers, and those with higher education levels, and revealed a significant interaction between alcohol use and LS7 score (P for interaction=0.021), indicating that alcohol consumption may weaken the protective effect of LS7. CONCLUSIONS Ideal healthy lifestyle behaviors, as reflected by higher LS7 scores, are associated with lower risks of anxiety and depression in adults. Promoting LS7-based lifestyle practices may serve as a practical and effective strategy for the prevention and management of anxiety and depression in both clinical and daily life settings.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Anxiety/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Healthy Lifestyle ; Risk Factors ; Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Physical Examination ; Aged

Host-derived small RNAs are emerging as critical regulators in the dynamic interactions between host tissues and the microbiome, with implications for microbial pathogenesis and host defense. Among these, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have garnered attention for their roles in modulating microbial behavior. However, the bacterial factors mediating tsRNA interaction and functionality remain poorly understood. In this study, using RNA affinity pull-down assay in combination with mass spectrometry, we identified a putative membrane-bound protein, annotated as P-type ATPase transporter (PtaT) in Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), which binds Fn-targeting tsRNAs in a sequence-specific manner. Through targeted mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization, we showed that in both the Fn type strain and a clinical tumor isolate, deletion of ptaT led to reduced tsRNA intake and enhanced resistance to tsRNA-induced growth inhibition. Global RNA sequencing and label-free Raman spectroscopy revealed the phenotypic differences between Fn wild type and PtaT-deficient mutant, highlighting the functional significance of PtaT in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. Furthermore, AlphaFold 3 prediction provides evidence supporting the specific binding between PtaT and Fn-targeting tsRNA. By uncovering the first RNA-binding protein in Fn implicated in growth modulation through interactions with host-derived small RNAs (sRNAs), our study offers new insights into sRNA-mediated host-pathogen interplay within the context of microbiome-host interactions.
Fusobacterium nucleatum/growth & development* ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics* ; RNA, Bacterial/metabolism* ; Humans ; RNA, Transfer/metabolism*

BackgroundThe distressingly high prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents exerts profound impacts on their physical and psychological development， urgently necessitating effective preventive interventions. Existing studies， however， have predominantly focused on isolated risk factors， neglecting to construct an integrated model that systematically disentangles the intricate relationships linking parenting styles， learning burnout， and childhood trauma to adolescent depressive symptoms. Moreover， the potential protective roles of social support and psychological resilience in this context remain insufficiently elucidated. ObjectiveTo construct a structural equation model encompassing multiple pathways to unravel the comprehensive mechanisms through which negative parenting styles， childhood trauma， learning burnout， psychological resilience， and social support collectively influence adolescent depressive symptoms， thereby providing evidence-based intervention strategies. MethodsA stratified sampling technique was utilized to recruit 5 865 students from 12 middle schools in Chengdu City， Sichuan Province from March to May 2022. Participants were assessed using the following validated instruments： the Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran （s-EMBU）， the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form （CTQ-SF）， the Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory， the Patients' Health Questionnaire Depression Scale-9 item （PHQ-9）， the Social Support Rating Scale （SSRS），and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale （CD-RISC）. A partial least squares structural equation modeling （PLS-SEM） approach was employed to construct a predictive framework examining the complex network of pathways through which negative parenting styles， childhood trauma， learning burnout， psychological resilience，and social support collectively influence depressive symptoms in adolescents. ResultsThe PHQ-9 scores demonstrated significant positive correlations with the scores on s-EMBU overprotection subscale （r=0.272， P<0.01）， s-EMBU rejection subscale （r=0.368， P<0.01）， CTQ-SF （r=0.288， P<0.01） and Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory （r=0.587， P<0.01）. Conversely， significant negative correlations were observed between PHQ-9 scores and both SSRS （r=-0.532， P<0.01） and CD-RISC scores （r=-0.418， P<0.01）. Negative parenting styles （β=0.113， 95% CI： 0.087-0.138） and learning burnout （β=0.339， 95% CI： 0.315-0.364） emerged as significant positive predictors of depressive symptoms， with childhood trauma mediating the relationship between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms （effect size=0.018， 95% CI： 0.013-0.024）. Social support servesed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms （β=0.080， 95% CI： 0.069-0.092）， as well as between negative parenting styles and childhood trauma （β=0.041， 95% CI： 0.032-0.050）. It also functioned as an intermediary pathway linking learning burnout to depressive symptoms （β=0.092， 95% CI： 0.081-0.104） and connecting learning burnout with childhood trauma （β=0.048， 95% CI： 0.037-0.058）. Additionally， psychological resilience serveed as a mediating pathway between negative parenting styles and depressive symptoms （β=0.004， 95% CI： 0.002-0.007）， between learning burnout and depressive symptoms （β=0.037， 95% CI： 0.023-0.052）， and between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms （β=0.003， 95% CI： 0.001-0.006）. ConclusionLearning burnout exerts a direct effect on adolescent depressive symptoms. Negative parenting styles influence depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly through childhood trauma. Furthermore， social support and psychological resilience serve as mediator linking negative parenting styles and learning burnout to depressive symptoms in adolescents. ［Funded by Science and Technology Project of the Health Commission of Sichuan Province （number， 24LCYJPT18）］