ObjectiveGastrodia elata has evolved ecological types with shortened rhizome internodes and diversified flower and fruit coloration in response to different altitudes. Studying the genetic mechanisms of different ecotype germplasm is significant for guiding variety breeding in different cultivation areas. MethodsThe bHLH gene family was identified based on the whole-genome datasets of G. elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Subsequently， the gene family members were subject to analysis， including gene structure， chromosomal localization， cis-acting elements， gene synteny， and phylogeny. Combined with transcriptome data and quantitative Real-time PCR， the expression patterns of bHLH genes in the stems of the different G. elata ecotype germplasm were analyzed. Finally， correlation analysis was conducted between gene expression patterns and color to obtain the key bHLH genes regulating the color formation of stem. ResultsA total of 63 bHLH genes were identified in both G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca， unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes and clustered into 16 subfamilies， with significant expansion in some family members. Obvious inversions of bHLH genes on the same chromosome and interchromosomal translocations were detected in the two ecotype germplasm. Among these genes， 12 bHLH genes （such as bHLH62-3 and bHLH74） were associated with the bright yellow color of G elata f. elata stem， while 9 bHLH genes （such as PIL13， UNE12， and bHLH130） were correlated with the red color of G. elata f. glauca stem. Compared to G. elata f. glauca， the bHLH48 expression level was significantly higher in flowers and scale leaves of G elata f. elata， and the bHLH62-3 expression level was significantly higher in all organs of G elata f. elata. ConclusionsFunctional pathway divergence of the bHLH family members has occurred across different chromosomes in G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Through synergism or antagonism with other genes， 21 bHLH genes participate in the coloration metabolic pathway regulation of stems， flowers， and fruits. Specifically， bHLH62-3 is involved in regulating stem color differentiation in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway of G. elata， thus relevant to the color formation of stem. Additionally， GebHLH48 positively regulates flowering-related pathways to promote the early-flowering phenotype of G. elata f. elata. These findings have laid the foundation for analyzing the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying the color formation of the G. elata stem.

ObjectiveGastrodia elata has evolved ecological types with shortened rhizome internodes and diversified flower and fruit coloration in response to different altitudes. Studying the genetic mechanisms of different ecotype germplasm is significant for guiding variety breeding in different cultivation areas. MethodsThe bHLH gene family was identified based on the whole-genome datasets of G. elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Subsequently， the gene family members were subject to analysis， including gene structure， chromosomal localization， cis-acting elements， gene synteny， and phylogeny. Combined with transcriptome data and quantitative Real-time PCR， the expression patterns of bHLH genes in the stems of the different G. elata ecotype germplasm were analyzed. Finally， correlation analysis was conducted between gene expression patterns and color to obtain the key bHLH genes regulating the color formation of stem. ResultsA total of 63 bHLH genes were identified in both G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca， unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes and clustered into 16 subfamilies， with significant expansion in some family members. Obvious inversions of bHLH genes on the same chromosome and interchromosomal translocations were detected in the two ecotype germplasm. Among these genes， 12 bHLH genes （such as bHLH62-3 and bHLH74） were associated with the bright yellow color of G elata f. elata stem， while 9 bHLH genes （such as PIL13， UNE12， and bHLH130） were correlated with the red color of G. elata f. glauca stem. Compared to G. elata f. glauca， the bHLH48 expression level was significantly higher in flowers and scale leaves of G elata f. elata， and the bHLH62-3 expression level was significantly higher in all organs of G elata f. elata. ConclusionsFunctional pathway divergence of the bHLH family members has occurred across different chromosomes in G elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca. Through synergism or antagonism with other genes， 21 bHLH genes participate in the coloration metabolic pathway regulation of stems， flowers， and fruits. Specifically， bHLH62-3 is involved in regulating stem color differentiation in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway of G. elata， thus relevant to the color formation of stem. Additionally， GebHLH48 positively regulates flowering-related pathways to promote the early-flowering phenotype of G. elata f. elata. These findings have laid the foundation for analyzing the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying the color formation of the G. elata stem.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Zishen Tiaogan prescription on the oxidative stress injury in the rat model of diminished ovarian reserve （DOR） and explore the role of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）/nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway. MethodsForty-eight female SD rats were randomly assigned into a normal group （n=12） and a modeling group （n=36）. The rats in the modeling group received subcutaneous injection of galactose （350 mg·kg^-1） combined with immobilization stress daily. After 28 days of modeling， 6 rats in the normal group and 6 rats in the modeling group were sacrificed to examine the modeling results. The successfully modeled rats were assigned into model， estradiol valerate （0.09 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （6.39， 12.78， 25.56 g·kg^-1， respectively） Zishen Tiaogan prescription groups. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks with 6 animals per group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the estrous cycle and the pathological changes in the ovarian tissue. The ovarian index was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of sex hormones and oxidative stress-related indexes. Western blot and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels， respectively， of Nrf2， Keap1 and HO-1 in the ovarian tissue. The positive expression of superoxide dismutase 2 （SOD2） in the ovarian tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced follicles in the ovary， loose arrangement of the follicle granule layer， declined levels of anti-Mullerian hormone （AMH） and estradiol （E₂） in the serum， elevated levels of luteinizing hormone （LH） and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH） （P<0.01）， lowered levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT）， and glutathione （GSH） （P<0.01）， and increased accumulation of malondialdehyde （MDA） （P<0.01）. In addition， the modeling led to up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Keap1 （P<0.01）， the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， the mRNA expression of Nrf2 was significantly decreased （P<0.05）， the mRNA expression of HO-1 was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， in the ovarian tissue. Compared with model group， the estradiol valerate and low-， medium-， and high-dose Zishen Tiaogan prescription groups showed increases in the ovarian index （P<0.01） and serum E₂ and AMH levels （P<0.01）， declined levels of FSH and LH （P<0.01）， increased follicles in the ovary， elevated levels of SOD， CAT， and GSH， and reduced accumulation of MDA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Furthermore， these groups showcased down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Keap1 （P<0.01）， the expression of Nrf2 protein was significantly increased （P<0.01）， the expression level of HO-1 protein was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased positive expression of SOD2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionZishen Tiaogan prescription can regulate the serum levels of hormones， down-regulate the expression of Keap1， up-regulate the expression of Nrf2， HO-1， and SOD2， enhance the antioxidant capacity， and reduce the peroxidation damage in the ovarian tissue to improve the ovarian reserve function in the rat model of DOR. High-dose Zishen Tiaogan prescription demonstrated the best effect and the mechanism is associated with the regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Zishen Tiaogan prescription on the oxidative stress injury in the rat model of diminished ovarian reserve （DOR） and explore the role of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）/nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway. MethodsForty-eight female SD rats were randomly assigned into a normal group （n=12） and a modeling group （n=36）. The rats in the modeling group received subcutaneous injection of galactose （350 mg·kg^-1） combined with immobilization stress daily. After 28 days of modeling， 6 rats in the normal group and 6 rats in the modeling group were sacrificed to examine the modeling results. The successfully modeled rats were assigned into model， estradiol valerate （0.09 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （6.39， 12.78， 25.56 g·kg^-1， respectively） Zishen Tiaogan prescription groups. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks with 6 animals per group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the estrous cycle and the pathological changes in the ovarian tissue. The ovarian index was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the serum levels of sex hormones and oxidative stress-related indexes. Western blot and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels， respectively， of Nrf2， Keap1 and HO-1 in the ovarian tissue. The positive expression of superoxide dismutase 2 （SOD2） in the ovarian tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced follicles in the ovary， loose arrangement of the follicle granule layer， declined levels of anti-Mullerian hormone （AMH） and estradiol （E₂） in the serum， elevated levels of luteinizing hormone （LH） and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH） （P<0.01）， lowered levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， catalase （CAT）， and glutathione （GSH） （P<0.01）， and increased accumulation of malondialdehyde （MDA） （P<0.01）. In addition， the modeling led to up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Keap1 （P<0.01）， the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， the mRNA expression of Nrf2 was significantly decreased （P<0.05）， the mRNA expression of HO-1 was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， in the ovarian tissue. Compared with model group， the estradiol valerate and low-， medium-， and high-dose Zishen Tiaogan prescription groups showed increases in the ovarian index （P<0.01） and serum E₂ and AMH levels （P<0.01）， declined levels of FSH and LH （P<0.01）， increased follicles in the ovary， elevated levels of SOD， CAT， and GSH， and reduced accumulation of MDA （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Furthermore， these groups showcased down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of Keap1 （P<0.01）， the expression of Nrf2 protein was significantly increased （P<0.01）， the expression level of HO-1 protein was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and increased positive expression of SOD2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionZishen Tiaogan prescription can regulate the serum levels of hormones， down-regulate the expression of Keap1， up-regulate the expression of Nrf2， HO-1， and SOD2， enhance the antioxidant capacity， and reduce the peroxidation damage in the ovarian tissue to improve the ovarian reserve function in the rat model of DOR. High-dose Zishen Tiaogan prescription demonstrated the best effect and the mechanism is associated with the regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

Objective To assess the prevalence of mycoplasma genitalium(MG)in patients attending sexually transmitted disease(STD)clinic in Guangzhou,and to provide an epidemiological foundation for clinical treatment and laboratory diagnostics.Methods Utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR),we analyzed MG DNA in 2,749 clinical specimens collected from 2,722 outpatients in the Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University from July 2019 to December 2021.Concurrent testing for MG,Chlamydia trachomatis(CT),and Neisseria gonorrhoeae(NG)was performed on 2,382 of these specimens.Patient data extracted from medical records were used to investigate the correlation between STD symptoms and MG infection.Results The investigation revealed that the overall prevalence of MG infection was 4.4%among the sampled patients(120 out of 2,722),with a higher prevalence in males(4.9%,or 87 out of 1,790)compared to in females(3.5%,or 33 out of 932).Notably,the prevalence decreased with increasing age.The highest incidence of MG infection was observed in females aged 18～25 years(6.4%,or 18 out of 281),while the lowest was in males aged 46 years and above(1.5%,or 5 out of 342),showing a statistically significant variation across age groups(P<0.05).Among males with urethritis symptoms,MG positive rate was significantly higher at 7.3%(42 out of 574).The rate of single MG infection was prominent,accounting for 89.9%(71 out of 79)in MG-positive male patients and 61.5%(16 out of 26)in MG-positive female patients.Co-infection rate of MG with CT was 1.2%in females and 0.3%in males,indicating a significant dif-ference(P<0.05).Conclusion The findings suggest a relatively high prevalence of MG infection and co-infection with CT among STD clinic attendees in Guangzhou,particularly in the younger demographic.The study underscores the need for early screening and vigilant surveillance of MG to mitigate its transmission among sexually active popula-tions at high risk.