The aim of this investigation was to determine the optimal storage medium for testicular hypothermic transportation and identify the ideal concentration for the application of the protective agent 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the protective effects of 5-ALA. First, we collected and stored mouse testicular fragments in different media, including Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS; n = 5), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12; n = 5), and alpha-minimum essential medium (αMEM; n = 5). Storage of testicular tissue in HBSS preserved the integrity of testicular morphology better than that in the DMEM/F12 group ( P < 0.05) and the αMEM group ( P < 0.01). Testicular fragments were subsequently placed in HBSS with various concentrations of 5-ALA (0 [control], 1 mmol l -1 , 2 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 ) to determine the most effective concentration of 5-ALA. The 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group ( n = 3) presented the highest positive rate of spermatogonial stem cells compared with those in the control, 1 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 5-ALA groups. Finally, the tissue fragments were preserved in HBSS with control ( n = 3) and 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA ( n = 3) under low-temperature conditions. A comparative analysis was performed against fresh testes ( n = 3) to elucidate the underlying mechanism of 5-ALA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for WikiPathways revealed that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was downregulated in the 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group compared with that in the control group (normalized enrichment score [NES] = -1.57, false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.229, and P = 0.019). In conclusion, these data suggest that using 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA in HBSS effectively protected the viability of spermatogonial stem cells upon hypothermic transportation.
Male ; Animals ; Testis/cytology* ; Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Organ Preservation/methods* ; Organ Preservation Solutions/pharmacology* ; Cryopreservation/methods*

The minor purchasing process and mode of some hospital were introduced,and the implementation of the hospital's minor purchasing projects in the past year was analyzed.The causes for high failure rate of purchasing were pointed out including long interval between project creation and procurement,unreasonable demand presentation,insufficient demand demonstration and lack of active participation of suppliers.Some suggestions were put forward such as timely adjustment of demands,strengthening of demand demonstration,improvement of supplier motivation and enhancement of procurement process management,which were of great significance for increasing the success rate of minor purchasing of the hospital.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(8):91-95]

This paper aims to study the effect of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts on chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior models of mice. The CUMS-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior model of mice was established by CUMS treatment for three weeks. The mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive drug diazepam group(2 mg·kg~(-1)), as well as low-dose group(1.95 g·kg~(-1)), medium-dose group(3.9 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose group(7.8 g·kg~(-1)) of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts, with 18 mice in each group. On the 15th day of modeling, the drug was administered intragastrically once a day for one week. Then, the pentobarbital sodium cooperative righting experiment, open field experiment, and elevated plus maze experiment were carried out, respectively. The contents of neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) in serum and thalamus of mice, as well as the levels of corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), and corticosterone(CORT) in serum, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The neuron damage in the hippocampus of mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2), serotonin transporter(SERT), monoamine oxidase A(MAOA), five prime repressors under dual repression binding protein 1(Freud1), synaptic plasticity-related proteins [cellular gene FOS(C-FOS), postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD95), synapsin 1(SYN1), and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated gene(ARC)], blood-brain barrier(BBB) permeability-related proteins [zonula occludens 1(ZO-1), occludin, and claudin 1], inflammatory factors [NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), gasdermin D(GSDMD), caspase-3, and caspase-8], and antioxidant factors [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2) and heme oxygenase 1(HO1)] in thalamic tissue of mice. The results indicated that compared with that in the model group, the sleep latency was significantly shortened, and the sleep duration was significantly prolonged in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The number of visits to the central area of the open field and the distance and time of visits were significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. In addition, the proportion of distance and time of entering the open arm area of the elevated plus maze was significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in serum and thalamus of mice increased to varying degrees in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts; the contents of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in serum of mice were significantly decreased. The protein expression of TPH2 was significantly increased. The protein expression of MAOA, SERT, and Freud1 was significantly decreased. Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could also significantly reduce the protein expression of C-FOS but significantly increase the protein expression of PSD95, ARC, and SYN1. They could reduce the pathological damage of the hippocampus in mice and significantly increase the protein expression of ZO-1, occluding, and claudin 1. The protein expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, caspase-3, and caspase-8 in the thalamic tissue of mice was significantly decreased, and the protein expression of HO1 and NRF2 was significantly increased. In conclusion, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could effectively improve sleep disorders and depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced model mice, which may be related to regulating the 5-HT anabolism process and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis-related hormone levels, reducing pathological damage in the hippocampus, improving synaptic plasticity, repairing BBB integrity, and alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress damage.
Animals ; Ziziphus/chemistry* ; Mice ; Male ; Depression/psychology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology* ; Stress, Psychological/complications* ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal

This study aims to elucidate the role and mechanism of clematichinenoside AR(CAR) in protecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. BMSCs were isolated by the bone fragment method and identified by flow cytometry. Cells were cultured under normal conditions(37℃, 5% CO_2) and hypoxic conditions(37℃, 90% N_2, 5% CO_2) and treated with CAR. The BMSCs were classified into eight groups: control(normal conditions), CAR(normal conditions + CAR), hypoxia 24 h, hypoxia 24 h + CAR, hypoxia 48 h, hypoxia 48 h + CAR, hypoxia 72 h, and hypoxia 72 h + CAR. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay and terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL) were employed to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The number of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by MitoTracker®Red CM-H2XRo staining and JC-1 staining, respectively. The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS) was measured with the DCFH-DA fluorescence probe. The protein levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein(BAX), caspase-3, and optic atrophy 1(OPA1) were determined by Western blot. The results demonstrated that CAR significantly increased cell proliferation. Compared with the control group, the hypoxia groups showed increased apoptosis rates, reduced mitochondria, elevated ROS levels, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, upregulated expression of BAX and caspase-3, and downregulated expression of OPA1. In comparison to the corresponding hypoxia groups, CAR intervention significantly decreased the apoptosis rate, increased mitochondria, reduced ROS levels, elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulated the expression of BAX and caspase-3, and upregulated the expression of OPA1. Therefore, it can be concluded that CAR may exert an anti-apoptotic effect on BMSCs under hypoxic conditions by regulating OPA1 to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Animals ; Rats ; Cell Hypoxia/drug effects* ; Homeostasis/drug effects* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Caspase 3/genetics* ; Male ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics* ; Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Protective Agents/pharmacology* ; Cells, Cultured

Objective To investigate the protective effects of secretomes released by three-dimensional cultured mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)on neurons subjected to seawater immersion(SW)and stretch injury(SI),and to provide new insights into neuronal repair following SW combined with traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods MSCs were cultured using the hanging drop method,and the conditioned medium(CM)containing MSCs secretomes was collected.A cellular model combining SW with SI was established using mouse hippocampal neuronal cells(HT22 cells).HT22 cells were randomly assigned to five groups:control,SI,SI+SW,SI+CM,and SI+SW+CM groups.Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay,apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry,cell migration ability was evaluated by scratch assay,and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-2-associated protein(Bax),and ferroptosis-related proteins long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACSL4)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)were detected by Western blotting.Results Immersion in 15%seawater for 12 h significantly decreased HT22 cell viability(P<0.05).The CCK-8 assay indicated that cell viability in both the SI and SI+SW groups was significantly lower than that in control group after 12 h of treatment(P<0.05).Treatment with CM containing MSCs secretomes significantly increased cell viability in SI+CM group compared to SI group(P<0.0001),and in SI+SW+CM group compared to SI+SW group(P<0.001).Flow cytometry results revealed that the apoptosis rate in SI and SI+SW groups was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05 or P<0.001),while in SI+CM group was lower than that in SI group(P<0.05),and in SI+SW+CM group was lower than that in SI+SW group(P<0.05).Western blotting showed that compared to control group,SI and SI+SW groups exhibited reduced Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.01 or P<0.0001)and increased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.01 or P<0.0001).Compared to SI group,the SI+CM group displayed increased Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.05)and decreased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.05).Compared to SI+SW group,SI+SW+CM group exhibited increased Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.01)and decreased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.01 or P<0.001).Scratch assay results demonstrated that at both 12 h and 24 h,the cell migration rate in SI and SI+SW groups was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.01 or P<0.0001),while the migration rate in SI+CM group was significantly higher than that in SI group(P<0.0001 or P<0.01),and the migration rate in SI+SW+CM group was significantly higher than that in SI+SW group(P<0.0001).Conclusion Secretomes derived from MSCs cultured using the hanging drop method can alleviate neuronal damage caused by SW and TBI,potentially offering a therapeutic approach for SW combined with TBI.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI)for the treatment of primary aortic valve regurgitation(NAVR)and to compare the difference in the choice of prosthetic valve size and the difference in complications with aortic stenosis(AS).Methods According to the definition of Valve Academic Research Consortium(VARC-3),143 patients with NAVR/AS treated with TAVI and patients with NAVR treated with surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)at Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology,China,from March 2019 to September 2024 were selected,and clinical data on baseline,perioperative,and primary endpoint events were were retrospectively collected and compared.Results Forty-three patients with NAVR were treated with TAVI,with a device success rate of 86.0％and a surgical success rate of 95.3％.Subgroup comparisons:(1)NAVR-TAVI group than NAVR-SAVR group:patients in the TAVI group had a significantly shorter operative time than those in the SAVR group(P＜0.001);complete left bundle branch block was more likely to occur after TAVI(P=0.042),and complete right bundle branch block was more likely to occur after SAVR(P=0.044).SAVR postoperatively The incidence of congestive heart failure was higher(P=0.013),and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the SAVR group than in the TAVI group(P=0.019).(2)NAVR-TAVI group than AS-TAVI group:the differences in access selection,THV size[28(22,34)mm vs.24(22,32)mm,P=0.044]and proportion of THV overdiameter[14％(7％,20％)vs.7％(3％,11％),P＜0.001]were statistically significant.patients in AS and NAVR groups had 1 case of permanent pacing after TAVI treatment.In the AS and NAVR groups,there was 1 case of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI.2 patients in the AS group were converted to surgical treatment,and 6 patients died.Conclusions The use of"off-label"(transfemoral)and"on-label"(transapical)TAVI devices(both from domestic sources)is safer than SAVR for the treatment of NAVR,especially in elderly and high-risk patients.Compared with patients with AS treated with TAVI,larger diameter annulas are usually selected for NAVR,with higher rates of valve migration,but overall safety and efficacy are comparable to AS.

The minor purchasing process and mode of some hospital were introduced,and the implementation of the hospital's minor purchasing projects in the past year was analyzed.The causes for high failure rate of purchasing were pointed out including long interval between project creation and procurement,unreasonable demand presentation,insufficient demand demonstration and lack of active participation of suppliers.Some suggestions were put forward such as timely adjustment of demands,strengthening of demand demonstration,improvement of supplier motivation and enhancement of procurement process management,which were of great significance for increasing the success rate of minor purchasing of the hospital.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(8):91-95]

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI)for the treatment of primary aortic valve regurgitation(NAVR)and to compare the difference in the choice of prosthetic valve size and the difference in complications with aortic stenosis(AS).Methods According to the definition of Valve Academic Research Consortium(VARC-3),143 patients with NAVR/AS treated with TAVI and patients with NAVR treated with surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)at Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology,China,from March 2019 to September 2024 were selected,and clinical data on baseline,perioperative,and primary endpoint events were were retrospectively collected and compared.Results Forty-three patients with NAVR were treated with TAVI,with a device success rate of 86.0％and a surgical success rate of 95.3％.Subgroup comparisons:(1)NAVR-TAVI group than NAVR-SAVR group:patients in the TAVI group had a significantly shorter operative time than those in the SAVR group(P＜0.001);complete left bundle branch block was more likely to occur after TAVI(P=0.042),and complete right bundle branch block was more likely to occur after SAVR(P=0.044).SAVR postoperatively The incidence of congestive heart failure was higher(P=0.013),and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the SAVR group than in the TAVI group(P=0.019).(2)NAVR-TAVI group than AS-TAVI group:the differences in access selection,THV size[28(22,34)mm vs.24(22,32)mm,P=0.044]and proportion of THV overdiameter[14％(7％,20％)vs.7％(3％,11％),P＜0.001]were statistically significant.patients in AS and NAVR groups had 1 case of permanent pacing after TAVI treatment.In the AS and NAVR groups,there was 1 case of permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVI.2 patients in the AS group were converted to surgical treatment,and 6 patients died.Conclusions The use of"off-label"(transfemoral)and"on-label"(transapical)TAVI devices(both from domestic sources)is safer than SAVR for the treatment of NAVR,especially in elderly and high-risk patients.Compared with patients with AS treated with TAVI,larger diameter annulas are usually selected for NAVR,with higher rates of valve migration,but overall safety and efficacy are comparable to AS.

There is increasing evidence that the activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor(GLP-1R)can be used as a therapeutic intervention for cognitive disorders.Here,we have screened GLP-1 R targeted com-pounds from Scutellaria baicalensis,which revealed baicalein is a potential GLP-1 R small-molecule agonist.Mitophagy,a selective autophagy pathway for mitochondrial quality control,plays a neuro-protective role in multiple cognitive impairment diseases.We noticed that Glp1r knock-out(KO)mice present cognitive impairment symptoms and appear worse in spatial learning memory and learning capacity in Morris water maze(MWM)test than their wide-type(WT)counterparts.Our mechanistic studies revealed that mitophagy is impaired in hippocampus tissue of diabetic mice and Glp1r KO mice.Finally,we verified that the cognitive improvement effects of baicalein on diabetic cognitive dysfunction occur through the enhancement of mitophagy in a GLP-1 R-dependent manner.Our findings shed light on the importance of GLP-1 R for cognitive function maintenance,and revealed the vital significance of GLP-1R for maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.Furthermore,we identified the therapeutic potential of baicalein in the treatment of cognitive disorder associated with diabetes.

The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is the core issue to ensure the modernization,industrialization and internationalization of TCM.Compared with other detection methods,electrochemical analysis method has many advantages such as high sensitivity,fast detection speed and low cost,making it an important means of quality control for TCM and having broad development prospects.This article reviewed the research progress of electrochemical methods in quality control of TCM in recent years,discussed the application of electrochemical fingerprinting technique in identification of TCM,and comprehensively summarized the application of electrochemical technology in analyzing effective components and harmful substances in TCM,including flavonoids,alkaloids,quinones,glycosides,heavy metals and pesticide residues.Finally,the development prospects of electrochemical methods in the field of quality control of TCM were discussed.