Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Objective To explore the protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Portulaca oleracea L.(POHA)on ulcerative colitis(UC)and bone loss in mice.Methods The C57BL/6 mice were treated with dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)to establish UC model.A total of 50 mice were randomly assigned to including control group,DSS group,mesalazine(MS)group,low dose of POHA(POHAL)group,or high dose of POHA(POHAH)group.The control group freely drank drinking water,while the DSS,MS,POHAL and POHAH groups drank drinking water containing DSS for 8 weeks.Since the 2nd week,the control group and DSS group were given normal saline by gavage.The MS group was given MS(100 mg/kg)by gavage.The POHAL group and POHAH group were given POHA(1 000 mg/kg and 2 000 mg/kg)by gavage,respectively.Body weight and disease activity index(DAI)were recorded and calculated every 2 d.On the 56th day,the colon weight index,liver index,and spleen index were calculated,and the histological changes of colon were observed.Serum levels of bone metabolism markers and microstructure parameters of femur were detected.Results Compared with the control group,the DSS group showed significantly increased DAI score,colon weight index,liver index,and spleen index(all P＜0.01).The DSS group exhibited significant pathological damage in colon tissues and significantly increased serum levels of osteocalcin,C-terminal peptide of collagen type Ⅰ,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(P＜0.01).The bone loss was significant in the DSS group,manifested by markedly decreased bone mineral density(BMD),bone tissue volume to tissue volume ratio(BV/TV),trabecular bone number(Tb.N),and trabecular bone thickness(Tb.Th),and markedly increased bone surface to bone volume ratio(BS/BV)and trabecular bone separation(Tb.Sp)(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with the DSS group,the BMD,BV/TV,Tb.N and Tb.Th of the femur in the MS group and POHAH group of mice were all increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),the BS/BV all decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the Tb.Sp all decreased without significant differences(all P＞0.05).The above bone microstructure parameters in the POHAL group showed no significant differences compared with those in the DSS group(all P＞0.05).Conclusion POHA has protective effect on DSS-induced UC and bone loss,and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of hyperactive bone metabolism.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Little is known about the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). We performed a study to compare taxonomic profiles of gut microbiota of ED and healthy males. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 ED patients and 16 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) with a cutoff value of 21 was used to evaluate erectile function. All participants underwent nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity test. Samples of stool were sequenced to determine the gut microbiota. Results: We identified a distinct beta diversity of gut microbiome in ED patients by unweighted UniFrac analysis (R2=0.026, p=0.036). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfse) analysis showed Actinomyces was significantly enriched, whereas Coprococcus_1, Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group, Lactococcus, Ruminiclostridium_5, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 were depleted in ED patients. Actinomyces showed a significant negative correlation with the duration of qualified erection, average maximum rigidity of tip, average maximum rigidity of base, tip tumescence activated unit (TAU), and base TAU. Coprococcus_1, Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group, Ruminiclostridium_5, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 were significantly correlated with the IIEF-5 score. Ruminiclostridium_5 and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 were positively related with average maximum rigidity of tip, average maximum rigidity of base, ΔTumescence of tip, and Tip TAU. Further, a random forest classifier based on the relative abundance of taxa showed good diagnostic efficacy with an area under curve of 0.72. Conclusions This pilot study identified evident alterations in the gut microbiome composition of ED patients and found Actinomyces was negatively correlated with erectile function, which may be a key pathogenic bacteria.

Background::Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe and acute cardiovascular syndrome with high mortality among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). Accurate prediction and timely intervention play a pivotal role in enhancing survival rates. However, there is a notable scarcity of practical early prediction and risk assessment systems of PE in patients with AIIRD.Methods::In the training cohort, 60 AIIRD with PE cases and 180 age-, gender-, and disease-matched AIIRD non-PE cases were identified from 7254 AIIRD cases in Tongji Hospital from 2014 to 2022. Univariable logistic regression (LR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to select the clinical features for further training with machine learning (ML) methods, including random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), neural network (NN), logistic regression (LR), gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT), classification and regression trees (CART), and C5.0 models. The performances of these models were subsequently validated using a multicenter validation cohort.Results::In the training cohort, 24 and 13 clinical features were selected by univariable LR and LASSO strategies, respectively. The five ML models (RF, SVM, NN, LR, and GBDT) showed promising performances, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.962-1.000 in the training cohort and 0.969-0.999 in the validation cohort. CART and C5.0 models achieved AUCs of 0.850 and 0.932, respectively, in the training cohort. Using D-dimer as a pre-screening index, the refined C5.0 model achieved an AUC exceeding 0.948 in the training cohort and an AUC above 0.925 in the validation cohort. These results markedly outperformed the use of D-dimer levels alone.Conclusion::ML-based models are proven to be precise for predicting the onset of PE in patients with AIIRD exhibiting clinical suspicion of PE.Trial Registration::Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2200059599.

Objective To screen the pharmacodynamic material basic components of Artemisiae Annuae Herba and study its antioxidant activity in vitro by investigating the spectrum-effect relationship between the HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of Artemisiae Annuae Herba(dried aerial part of Artemisia annua L.).Methods The determination was performed on Aglient C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)with mobile phase consisted of 0.2%phosphoric acid solution-Methanol(gradient elution)at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min.The column temperature was indoor temperature,and detection wavelength was 220 nm,with sample size of 10 μl.Using isochlorogenic acid A as reference,HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of samples were determined.The common peaks of 11 batches of samples were identified and recorded through TCM chromatographic fingerprint similarity evaluation system(2012 edition).Using scavenging rate of DPPH and ABTS free radical as pharmacodynamic indicators of antioxidant effects,SIMCA 14.1 analysis software was used for PLSR to establish the spectra-effect relationship.Results There were 48 common peaks on 11 batches of sample,11 components were identified as scopoletin,scoparone,isochlorogenic acid B,A,C,luteolin,apigenin,chrysosplenetin,artemisinin,artemisetin and artemisinic acid.The scavenging activity of 11 batches of samples to DPPH and ABTS free radicals was detected.The spectrum-effect relationship showed that isochlorogenic acid A,B,C and scoparone were positively associated with its antioxidant capacity,and variable projection value was greater than 1.It was suggested that these components were the material basis of antioxidant effect in Artemisiae Annuae Herba.Conclusion This study investigates the antioxidant capacity of different substances in Artemisiae Annuae Herba in vitro,and proves that isochlorogenic acid A,B,C and scoparone play a major role for the antioxidant capacity.

With the rapid changes in people's lifestyles, natural and social environments in recent years, the prevalence of chronic and non-communicable diseases in China and its related risk factors have also had tremendous changes. The epidemiological characteristics of chronic and non-communicable diseases and their risk factors vary throughout the country, and the impact of unique climate, diet and lifestyle in southern China on the incidence and prevalence of chronic and non-communicable chronic diseases remains to be elucidated. Therefore, large-scale cohort study is urgently needed to provide evidence for the etiological research and management of chronic and non-communicable chronic diseases in different areas, and for the national management strategy for major chronic and non-communicable diseases. The prospective cohort study of chronic and non-communicable diseases in general population in southern China was established in December 2017. The study recruited permanent residents aged 35-74 years from both urban and rural areas in Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian Provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A big data platform of precision medicine which integrates health information with biological samples for long-term follow up has been established. A baseline database of 116 520 people aged (54.9±12.5) years, including 71 077 women (61.0%), has been established. Collecting questionnaire survey data, physical examination data, and biological samples. This paper briefly introduces the concept, design and progress of the prospective cohort study of chronic and non-communicable diseases in general population in southern China.