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*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on testicular injury in mice exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides (NNI). METHODS: Fifteen C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control group (CTRL group), exposure group (NNI group) and Lactobacillus intervention group (NNI-L group). The mice in CTRL group were given 0.02ml/g of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution by gavage for 14 days. The mice in NNI group were given 0.02 ml/g of NNI mixture by gavage for 14 days. The mice in NNI-L group were given 0.02 ml/g of NNI mixture by gavage and 5×108cfu/ml of Lactobacillus reuteri powder solution for 14 days. Then, the histomorphology and function of testicle were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunofluorescence staining and RNA sequencing. RESULTS: Compared with CTRL group, the thickness of testicular seminiferous epithelium in the NNI group was significantly thinner. And the decline in the number of spermatogenic cells and sperm was observed. And the expression of spermatogonial stem cell marker UCHL1 was down-regulated which was significantly improved in NNI-L group compared with the NNI group. The abnormal expressions of hormone and sperm methylation related genes in testis of NNI group were detected by RNA sequencing, with significant down-regulation being found in NPFF and IGF2. While the expression of HSD3B8 was significantly up-regulated. The abnormal expression of these genes could be significantly improved after oral administration of Lactobacillus reuteri. CONCLUSION Testicular spermatogenesis and endocrine function can be damaged by NNI exposure. And oral administration of Lactobacillus reuteri protects testis from the adverse effects of NNI toxicity.
Animals ; Male ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri ; Testis/pathology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Insecticides/toxicity* ; Neonicotinoids/toxicity* ; Probiotics ; Spermatogenesis/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of Wenyang Lishui Formula (WYLSF) in preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and explore the suitable range of estradiol (E₂) on the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) day in patients with OHSS using WYLSF. METHODS: Part I: eligible patients at high risk for OHSS undergoing ovulation induction between January and December, 2023 were randomized into 2 groups based on the actual treatment. The treatment group received 200 mL WYLSF formula twice daily for 5 days after oocyte retrieval in a combination of lifestyle coaching (LC) intervention including regular diet and exercise, whereas the LC group received LC intervention alone. The incidence of OHSS, OHSS self-assessment scales, changes in E₂ levels on HCG day and 5 days after oocyte retrieval, ovarian morphology changes, and menstrual recovery were compared between the two groups. Part II: patients at high risk for OHSS treated with WYLSF were studied. The optimal E₂ threshold on the HCG day was determined using the maximum selection test, and a multivariate analysis was adopted to compare the relationship between different E₂ levels on HCG day and hospitalization rate, incidence of moderate to severe OHSS, and self-assessment scales, to explore the preventive effect of WYLSF on OHSS in patients with varying E₂ levels. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were included in the Part I analysis. The treatment group (60 cases) showed a significant reduction in the incidence, duration, and severity of abdominal distension, as well as the incidence of vomiting compared with the LC group (P<0.05). The post-retrieval E₂ levels in the treatment group decreased significantly more (P=0.032). Among 1,652 patients treated with WYLSF in the Part II, 90 patients with ⩽ 10092 pmol/L, 159 with >31074 pmol/L, and 1,403 in the middle range group were formed based on E₂ levels on HCG day in Part two analysis. Univariate and regression analyses showed that patients with E₂ levels >31073 pmol/L had a significantly higher incidence of moderate to severe OHSS compared to those with E₂ levels ⩽ 10092 pmol/L (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS WYLSF can effectively reduce specific symptoms in high-risk OHSS patients after ovulation induction and significantly lower E₂ levels. It may be more suitable for high-risk OHSS patients with E₂ levels <31073 pmol/L on HCG day. (Registration No. MR-11-23-032493, https://www.medicalresearch.org.cn/login ).
Humans ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome/blood* ; Female ; Adult ; Prospective Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Estradiol/blood* ; Ovulation Induction ; Chorionic Gonadotropin

Endosomes are characterized by the presence of various phosphoinositides that are essential for defining the membrane properties. However, the interplay between endosomal phosphoinositides metabolism and innate immunity is yet to be fully understood. Here, our findings highlight the evolutionary continuity of RAB-10/Rab10's involvement in regulating innate immunity. Upon infection of Caenorhabditis elegans with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an increase in RAB-10 activity was observed in the intestine. Conversely, when RAB-10 was absent, the intestinal diacylglycerols (DAGs) decreased, and the animal's response to the pathogen was impaired. Further research revealed that UNC-16/JIP3 acts as an RAB-10 effector, facilitating the recruitment of phospholipase EGL-8 to endosomes. This leads to a decrease in endosomal phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and an elevation of DAGs, as well as the activation of the PMK-1/p38 MAPK innate immune pathway. It is noteworthy that the dimerization of UNC-16 is a prerequisite for its interaction with RAB-10(GTP) and the recruitment of EGL-8. Moreover, we ascertained that the rise in RAB-10 activity, due to infection, was attributed to the augmented expression of LET-413/Erbin, and the nuclear receptor NHR-25/NR5A1/2 was determined to be indispensable for this increase. Hence, this study illuminates the significance of endosomal PI(4,5)P2 catabolism in boosting innate immunity and outlines an NHR-25-mediated mechanism for pathogen detection in intestinal epithelia.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics* ; Endosomes/immunology* ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/immunology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate/immunology* ; Immunity, Innate ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology* ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Diglycerides/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: High-altitude hypoxia exposure often damages hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Nogo-A is an important axonal growth inhibitory factor. However, its function in high-altitude hypoxia and its mechanism of action remain unclear. METHODS: In an in vivo study, a low-pressure oxygen chamber was used to simulate high-altitude hypoxia, and genetic or pharmacological intervention was used to block the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway. Contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze behavioral tests were used to assess learning and memory in rats, and synaptic damage in the hippocampus and changes in oxidative stress levels were observed. In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells were used to assess oxidative stress and mitochondrial function with or without Nogo-A knockdown in Oxygen Glucose-Deprivation/Reperfusion (OGD/R) models. RESULTS: Exposure to acute high-altitude hypoxia for 3 or 7 days impaired learning and memory in rats, triggered oxidative stress in the hippocampal tissue, and reduced the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons. Blocking the Nogo-A/NgR1 pathway ameliorated oxidative stress, synaptic damage, and the learning and memory impairment induced by high-altitude exposure. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the detrimental role of Nogo-A protein in mediating learning and memory impairment under high-altitude hypoxia and suggest the potential of the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway as a crucial therapeutic target for alleviating learning and memory dysfunction induced by high-altitude exposure. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT available in www.besjournal.com.
Animals ; Oxidative Stress ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats ; Nogo Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Altitude ; Synapses ; Humans ; Altitude Sickness/metabolism*

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Objective To explore the postmortem diffusion rule of Aconitum alkaloids and their metabo-lites in poisoned rabbits,and to provide a reference for identifying the antemortem poisoning or post-mortem poisoning of Aconitum alkaloids.Methods Twenty-four rabbits were sacrificed by tracheal clamps.After 1 hour,the rabbits were administered with aconitine LD50 in decocting aconite root powder by intragastric administration.Then,they were placed supine and stored at 25℃.The biological samples from 3 randomly selected rabbits were collected including heart blood,peripheral blood,urine,heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney tissues at 0 h,4 h,8 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h and 96 h after intragastric administration,respectively.Aconitum alkaloids and their metabolites in the biological samples were ana-lyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).Results At 4 h after intragastric administration,Aconitum alkaloids and their metabolites could be detected in heart blood,peripheral blood and major organs,and the contents of them changed dynamically with the preservation time.The contents of Aconitum alkaloids and their metabolites were higher in the spleen,liver and lung,especially in the spleen which was closer to the stomach.The average mass fraction of benzoylmesaconine metabolized in rabbit spleen was the highest at 48 h after intragastric administration.In contrast,the contents of Aconitum alkaloids and their metabolites in kidney were all lower.Aconi-tum alkaloids and their metabolites were not detected in urine.Conclusion Aconitum alkaloids and their metabolites have postmortem diffusion in poisoned rabbits,diffusing from high-content organs(stomach)to other major organs and tissues as well as the heart blood.The main mechanism is the dispersion along the concentration gradient,while urine is not affected by postmortem diffusion,which can be used as the basis for the identification of antemortem and postmortem Aconitum alkaloids poisoning.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of therapy of clearing heat,percolating dampness and lowering turbidity combined with Silibin Meglumine Tablets in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level of damp-heat accumulation type.Methods A retrospective study was conducted.According to the medication,80 patients with NASH with abnormal ALT level of damp-heat accumulation type were divided into control group and observation group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Silibin Meglumine Tablets,and the observation group was treated with therapy of clearing heat,percolating dampness and lowering turbidity on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered 12 weeks.The changes of liver function indicators of ALT,aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT),blood lipid indicators of total cholesterol(CHOL)and triglyceride(TRIG),and the degree of hepatic steatosis in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After 12 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 95.00%(38/40),and that of the control group was 77.50%(31/40).The curative effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the levels of ALT,AST and GGT in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of ALT,AST and GGT in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the levels of CHOL and TRIG in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of CHOL and TRIG in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the degree of hepatic steatosis in the two groups was significantly lower than that before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of the degree of hepatic steatosis in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05).(5)During the treatment,no obvious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups,indicating high safety.Conclusion The therapy of clearing heat,percolating dampness and lowering turbidity combined with Silibin Meglumine Tablets exerts certain effect in the treatment of NASH patients with abnormal ALT level of damp-heat accumulation type,and the therapy can significantly enhance the clinical efficacy of Silibin Meglumine Tablets alone for NASH.