Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional growth factors of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. They regulate steroid secretion from mammalian granulosa cells, promote granulosa cell survival and proliferation, and inhibit follicular atresia, luteinization, and granulosa cell apoptosis, thereby promoting the development and maturation of mammalian follicles. At the same time, BMPs play an important role in embryonic morphogenesis, induction of uterine receptivity, and blastocyst attachment. This paper describes the effects of BMPs on mammalian follicular and embryonic development and the roles of BMPs in female reproduction, focusing on the process in which BMPs promote follicular maturation by regulating steroid secretion from granulosa cells during mammalian oocyte maturation. This review aims to provide a reference for further research on mammalian oocyte culture and improvement of reproductive efficiency in female animals.
Animals ; Embryonic Development/drug effects* ; Female ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/pharmacology* ; Reproduction/physiology* ; Humans ; Granulosa Cells/cytology* ; Oocytes

BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain.At present,there are many modeling methods for disc degeneration in China and abroad,but there is not a model for low back pain due to disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor α and complete Freund's adjuvant with a conventional disc mechanical puncture alone. METHODS:A total of 18 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,with 6 animals in each group.No treatment was given in the blank group.Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration were made in the L4-5 segments of rats in the control using conventional mechanical puncture.In the experimental group,on the basis of mechanical puncture,tumor necrosis factor α+complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the L4-5 intervertebral discs using a microinjector to establish a model of disc degeneration induced by mechanical puncture combined with inflammatory factors.Four weeks after surgery,the pain threshold of rats was measured by the hot plate method for assessing the perception of heat injury in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration.MRI examination was performed to observe the disc degeneration in each group.ELISA was used to detect the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and prostaglandin E2.Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O-fast green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the disc. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In terms of pain,the behavioral pain threshold of the experimental group was continuously decreased,and the levels of serum inflammatory factors were significantly higher compared with the control group.In terms of morphology,the MRI results showed that the L4-5 nucleus pulposus signal completely disappeared in the experimental group.Histopathological results showed that in the control group,the nucleus pulposus was intact,more notochord cells were visible,and some fiber rings were ruptured,while in the experimental group,there are fewer notochord cells and the structure of the nucleus pulposus and fibrous ring is disturbed,with the boundary disappearing.To conclude,mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor alpha and complete Freund's adjuvant can successfully establish a discogenic low back pain model in rats.This operation is simple and economical to achieve obvious disc degeneration and low back pain,with greatly shortened molding cycle.This model can be used as a reference for studying discogenic low back pain models.

Objective:To discuss the clinical phenotype and genotype characteristics of two pediatric patients with late-onset methylmalonic acidemia(MMA)cblC type,and to provide the basis for early clinical recognition of MMA.Methods:The clinical data of two pediatric patients with late-onset MMA cblC type were collected,including clinical phenotypes,biochemical detection results,blood and urine organic acid analyses,neuroimaging,electroencephalograms,genotypes and so on.The characteristics of the disease were analyzed in combination with the related literature review.Results:Both pediatric patients were female,with onset in adolescence.Patient 1 presented with psychiatric symptoms,while pediatric patient 2 presented with cognitive impairment.Both pediatric patients experienced weakness in both lower limbs and speech disorders.At initial diagnosis,the serum homocysteine(Hcy)levels were severely increased,the urine methylmalonic acid levels were increased,the brain magnetic resonance imaging results indicated brain atrophy,and the electroencephalogram results showed the increased slow wave activity in both cerebral hemispheres.The pediatric patient 2 exhibited epileptiform discharges in bilateral frontal and temporal regions.The genetic testing results showed the c.482G＞A mutation in the MMACHC gene.Both two pediatric patients were treated with intramuscular injections of vitamin B12,along with oral folic acid,vitamin B6,levocamitine,and betaine.The symptoms of two patierts were improved,the serum Hcy levels were decreased,and the urine methylmalonic acid levels returned to normal.Conclusion:The phenotype of late-onset MM A cblC type is diverse,primarily involving neuropsychiatric impairment,with the c.482G＞A mutation being the most common genotype.The increasing of serum Hcy levels and brain atrophy can serve as the biomarkers for the early recognition of late-onset cblC type pediatric patients.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of small-dose esketamine on the learning and memory ability of chronic sleep-deprived rats and the role of hippocampal amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptors (AMPARs).Methods:Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 4 months, weighing 200-280 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: normal control group (N group), chronic sleep deprivation group (SD group), chronic sleep deprivation+ esketamine group (SDK group) and chronic sleep deprivation + esketamine + AMPAR antagonist CNQX group (SDKI group). The sleep deprivation model was prepared by the modified multi-platform water environment method. For 3 consecutive days after developing the model, ketamine 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in SDK group, and SDKI group received intraperitoneal injection of CNQX 1 mg/kg followed by ketamine 10 mg/kg. Morris water maze test was used to detect spatial learning and memory ability after the end of sleep deprivation or after administration. After the water maze test, rats were sacrificed, and the hippocampal tissue was obtained to detect the expression of hippocampal Homer1a mRNA (by quantitative polymerase chain reaction), Homer1a, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and AMPAR (by Western blot). The density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region was determined by Golgi staining. Results:Compared with N group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and the number of times the animals crossing the platform were decreased, the expression of Homer1a protein and mRNA and mGluR5 was up-regulated, the expression of AMPAR was down-regulated, and the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region was decreased in SD group ( P<0.05). Compared with SD group, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and the number of times the animals crossing the platform were increased, the expression of AMPAR was up-regulated, and the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region was increased in SDK group ( P<0.05). Compared with SDK group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant and the number of times the animals crossing the platform were decreased, the expression of AMPAR was down-regulated, and the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region was decreased in SDKI group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of Homer1a protein and mRNA and mGluR5 among SD group, SDK group and SDKI group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Small-dose esketamine can improve the learning and memory ability of chronic sleep-deprived rats, and the mechanism may be related to up-regulation of the expression of hippocampal AMPARs.

Objective:To compare the quality of sleep and rehabilitation after routine surgery versus day surgery in pediatric patients with snoring.Methods:This was a prospective study.Seventy pediatric patients with snoring, aged 4-6 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy in the Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from March to June 2023, were divided into routine surgery group (group R) and day surgery group (group D), with 35 cases in each group. A sleep-detecting bracelet was used to monitor the sleep status. The proportion of deep sleep, light sleep and rapid eye movement, sleep continuity score and the maximum and minimum heart rate were recorded on the night before surgery, the first and second night after surgery. Rehabilitation was assessed using Quality of Recovery-15 at 1 day before surgery and 24 and 48 h and 28 days after surgery.Results:Compared with group R, the maximum heart rate at the night before surgery was significantly decreased, the proportion of light sleep on the second night after surgery was increased, the proportion of rapid eye movement sleep on the second night after surgery was decreased, the scores for items on " getting support from hospital doctors and nurses", " feeling comfortable and in control", and " having a feeling of general well-being" and the total score of Quality of Recovery-15 were significantly decreased at 24 and 48 h after operation, and the score for items on " feeling rested" and " have had a good sleep" at 48 h after surgery was decreased in group D ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Pediatric patients with snoring have poor quality of early sleep and rehabilitation after day surgery compared with routine surgery.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the predominant polyphenol in green tea, exerts a spectrum of physiological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Emerging research underscores the significance of EGCG in modulating oocyte aging. EGCG can enhance antioxidant defenses, improve mitochondrial functions, and inhibit apoptotic pathways, thereby retarding the aging of oocytes. This review delineates the main molecular features of EGCG and expounds its regulatory mechanisms concerning oocyte aging, enriching the knowledge on the role of EGCG in the amelioration of oocyte aging.
Catechin/pharmacology* ; Oocytes/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Female ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Tea/chemistry* ; Apoptosis/drug effects*

Tear film hyperosmolarity plays a core role in the development of dry eye disease (DED) by mediating the disruption of ocular surface homeostasis and triggering inflammation in ocular surface epithelium. In this study, the mechanisms involving the hyperosmolar microenvironment, glycolysis mediating metabolic reprogramming, and pyroptosis were explored clinically, in vitro, and in vivo. Data from DED clinical samples indicated that the expression of glycolysis and pyroptosis-related genes, including PKM2 and GSDMD, was significantly upregulated and that the secretion of IL-1β significantly increased. In vitro, the indirect coculture of macrophages derived from THP-1 and human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) was used to discuss the interaction among cells. The hyperosmolar environment was found to greatly induce HCECs' metabolic reprogramming, which may be the primary cause of the subsequent inflammation in macrophages upon the activation of the related gene and protein expression. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) could inhibit the glycolysis of HCECs and subsequently suppress the pyroptosis of macrophages. In vivo, 2-DG showed potential efficacy in relieving DED activity and could significantly reduce the overexpression of genes and proteins related to glycolysis and pyroptosis. In summary, our findings suggested that hyperosmolar-induced glycolytic reprogramming played an active role in promoting DED inflammation by mediating pyroptosis.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and genetics of a Chinese patient with Gitelman syndrome (GS) and improve the awareness and diagnosis of GS among clinicians.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed the GS patient's clinical feature, laboratory examination, diagnosis, treatment and literature review admitted to Hebei General Hospital in September 2022.Results:A twelve-year-old boy was admitted to our department due to weakness of lower limbs. Laboratory tests after admission showed hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia and metabolic alkalosis. Genetic testing showed tow compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 gene (c.1456G>A and c.634G>A), which ultimately diagnosed as GS. The patient is on the mend and allowed to leave the hospital after treated by potassium supplement.Conclusion:The rate of leak diagnosis is high. Genetic testing should be undergo earlier if the patients suspected GS.

Incarvillea younghusbandii Sprague is a traditional tonic herb. The roots are used as herbal medicine for nourishing and strengthening, as well as treating postpartum milk deficiency and weakness. In this study, the chloroplast genome of I. younghusbandii was sequenced and assembled by the high-throughput sequencing technology. The sequence characteristics, sequence repeats, codon usage bias, phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence time of I. younghusbandii were analyzed. The 159 323 bp sequence contained a large single copy (80 197 bp), a small single copy (9 030 bp) and two inverted repeat sequences (35 048 bp). It contained 120 genes, including 77 protein coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes and 35 transfer RNA genes. AAA was the most frequent codon in the chloroplast coding sequence of I. younghusbandii. A total of 42 simple sequence repeats were identified in the chloroplast genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed I. younghusbandii was mostly like its taxonomically close relative Incarvillea compacta. The divergence between I. younghusbandii and I. compacta was dated to 4.66 million years ago. This study was significant for the scientific conservation and development of resources related to I. compacta. It also provides a basic genetic resource for the subsequent species identification of the genus Incarvillea, and the population genetic diversity study of Bignoniaceae.
Phylogeny ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Genome, Chloroplast ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Whole Genome Sequencing

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and mechan ism of thalidomide on Alzheimer ’s disease （AD）model of Caenorhabditis elegans . METHODS In this study ，the BR 5270 strain of C. elegans was used as AD model and BR 5271 strain as the control. The effects of thalidomide （0.5，2.0，6.0，15.0 mg/mL）on the motility of BR 5270 strains of C. elegans were studied by the basal slowing response assay ；the effects of thalidomide （0.5，2.0，6.0，15.0 mg/mL）on the survival time of BR 5270 strain of C. elegans were studied by life assay ；the effects of thalidomide （0.5，2.0，6.0 mg/mL）on learning and memory ability of BR 5270 strain of C. elegans were studied by short-term and long-term learning and memory assay. RT-PCR technology was used to study the effects of thalidomide （0.5，2.0，6.0 mg/mL）on mRNA expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）signal pathway related genes （Age-1，Akt-1，Gsk-3）and calpain homologous gene （Clp-1）in BR 5270 strain of C. elegans . RESULTS After the intervention of thalidomide ，oscillation times of BR 5270 strain of C. elegans increased significantly within 30 s （except for 0.5 mg/mL group ），and the 10％ of maximum life span was prolonged significantly （only 0.5 mg/mL group ）；the short-term and long-term learning indexes were improved significantly （only 6.0 mg/mL group ）；mRNA expression of Age-1 and Akt-1（except for 0.5，2.0 mg/mL groups ）were increased significantly ，mRNA expression of Gsk-3（except for 0.5 mg/mL group ） and Clp-1 were decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Thalidomide can ameliorate the dyskinesia of AD model of C. elegans，prolong the lifespan of this strain ，and enhance its learning and memory ability. Its mechanism of action may be related to activation of PI 3K/Akt signaling pathway and inhibition of calpain.