ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Formula （益气养阴活血方， YYHF） in the treatment of membranous nephropathy （MN） based on the NOX4-mediated stromal cell-derived factor-1α（SDF-1α）/CXC chemokine receptor 4 （CXCR4） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 42 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group （n=6） and modeling group （n=36）. The modeling rats were given a single injection of sheep antirat Fx1A （6 ml/kg） serum into the tail vein to establish MN model. Thirty-six rats with successful modeling were further divided into model group （normal saline， 10 ml/kg）， benazepril group （10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， the medium-dose YYHF group （11.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1） and high-dose YYHF group （22.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 9 rats in each group. All groups received daily intragastric administration for 6 consecutive weeks. During the experimental period， the general condition of rats in each group was observed. After gavage administration finished， a fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to measure the 24-hour urine total protein （24 h-UTP） and serum biochemical parameters， including albumin （ALB）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， serum creatinine （SCr）， total cholesterol （TC）， and triglyceride （TG）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and periodic acid-silver metheramine （PASM） staining were used to observe the histopathological changes of renal tissues in each group of rats. The levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in renal tissues were detected by ELISA. The protein expression levels of NOX4， SDF-1α， CXCR4， Nrf2， nuclear factor kappa B subunit p65 （NF-κB p65） and podocyte slit diaphragm protein nephrin in rat renal tissues were detected by Western Blotting. The mRNA expressions of NOX4， SDF-1α， CXCR4， Nrf2， NF-κB p65 and Nephrin in renal tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. ResultsCompared to the blank group， rats in the model group exhibited typical features of MN， including lethargy， reduced activity， dull and coarse fur， marked edema， and massive proteinuria. Compared to the model group， these abnormal conditions were improved to varying degrees in all treatment groups. The high-dose YYHF group showed a level of improvement comparable to that of the benazepril group， with overall recovery superior to that of the medium-dose YYHF group. Compared to the blank group， the model group showed increased levels of 24 h-UTP， BUN， SCr， TC and TG， decreased level of ALB， increased levels of MDA and protein and mRNA expressions of NOX4， SDF-1α， CXCR4 and NF-κB p65 in renal tissue， along with decreased levels of SOD and protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2， Nephrin （P＜0.01）， accompanied by severe renal pathological damage. Compared to the model group， the benazepril and the medium- and high-dose YYHF groups showed significant improvements in the above indicators （P＜0.01）， along with alleviation of renal pathological injury. The 24 h-UTP level in the high-dose YYHF group was lower than that in the medium-dose group （P＜0.01）， while no statistically significant difference was observed among the other treatment groups （P＞0.01）. ConclusionYYHF may alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by down-regulating the expression of NOX4 and inhibiting the SDF-1α/CXCR4-Nrf2 signaling pathway， thereby improving podocyte damage and protecting renal function.

In March 2024, three male and two female specimens of the genus Lispe were intercepted on cargo ships inbound for Wan Zai Port under Gongbei Customs. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the specimens were identified as Lispe pumila. In this study, we describe the morphological features, diagnostic characteristics, and geographical distribution of L. pumila, with the aim of providing a reference for the identification of this species when intercepted at ports.

Tissue repair requires the reconstruction of functional vascular networks to restore oxygen and nutrient delivery, eliminate metabolic waste, and maintain tissue homeostasis. Although biochemical factors such as growth factors and cytokines have been extensively studied in vascular regeneration, increasing evidence indicates that mechanical signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM) are equally important regulators of angiogenesis. Matrix stiffness, as a major biomechanical property of the tissue microenvironment, provides critical information that influences endothelial cell (EC) behavior and vascular remodeling through mechanotransduction. However, the biological effects of matrix stiffness are not universally defined as either pro- or anti-angiogenic, but are highly dependent on tissue context, cellular composition, disease progression, and the dynamic changes occurring during tissue repair. Therefore, understanding how matrix stiffness regulates vascular regeneration is essential for developing more precise strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the regulation of angiogenesis by matrix stiffness during tissue repair from multiple perspectives. First, we discuss the direct effects of matrix stiffness on EC behaviors, including differentiation, morphological remodeling, migration, proliferation, barrier maintenance, and vascular network formation. ECs sense mechanical alterations in the surrounding matrix through various mechanosensitive structures, including integrins, focal adhesion complexes, and mechanosensitive ion channels such as Piezo1 and TRPV proteins. These mechanical signals are subsequently transmitted through intracellular pathways involving FAK, RhoA/ROCK, MAPK, and Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling, leading to cytoskeletal reorganization and transcriptional regulation. Through these mechanisms, matrix stiffness regulates endothelial functional states and determines the balance between regenerative vascular formation and pathological vascular remodeling. Beyond the direct regulation of ECs, we further highlight the importance of stiffness-mediated intercellular communication within the regenerative microenvironment. Matrix stiffness can regulate the behavior and secretory profiles of vascular-associated cells, including mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages, thereby indirectly affecting endothelial function through paracrine mechanisms. Changes in matrix mechanics influence the secretion of angiogenic factors, inflammatory cytokines, and extracellular vesicles from these cells, creating a mechanical regulation network that coordinates vascular regeneration. This perspective extends the traditional concept of matrix stiffness from a physical support structure to an active regulatory signal that integrates multiple cellular responses during tissue repair. Furthermore, we discuss the tissue-specific effects of matrix stiffness in vascular regeneration across different organs, including the aorta, lung, liver, and heart. Although excessive matrix stiffening is frequently associated with fibrosis and vascular dysfunction, the consequences of mechanical changes vary considerably among tissues. Moderate stiffness alterations may support endothelial activation and vascular stabilization in certain regenerative contexts, whereas persistent pathological stiffening can promote inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired vascular repair. These findings emphasize that the biological meaning of “soft” and “stiff” microenvironments should be interpreted according to specific tissue and experimental conditions rather than as universal mechanical classifications. Finally, we summarize current challenges and future perspectives in this field. A major limitation is the lack of standardized mechanical characterization among different studies, as stiffness measurements are influenced by material properties, testing methods, and experimental conditions, limiting direct comparison across research systems. Moreover, most existing models fail to fully reproduce the dynamic and viscoelastic properties of native ECM during tissue regeneration. Future studies should combine advanced biomaterials with standardized mechanical analysis, organoid models, and multi-omics approaches to establish more accurate mechanical regulatory maps. Overall, this review proposes that matrix stiffness is not merely a structural feature of tissues, but an active biological signal that regulates vascular regeneration through coordinated mechanotransduction and multicellular interactions. A deeper understanding of stiffness-mediated vascular regulation will provide new theoretical insights and therapeutic opportunities for improving tissue repair outcomes.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of electroacupuncture at governor vessel or Jiaji acupoints on the activation of lumbar spinal cord neurons and the recovery of motor function in paralyzed hind limbs in rats with complete transection of spinal cord injury. MethodsTwenty adult female SD rats were selected. Among them， 15 rats underwent the complete transection of the 10th thoracic spinal cord and were randomly divided into the Control group， the electroacupuncture at governor vessel acupoints （GV） group and the electroacupuncture at Jiaji acupoints （JJ） group， with 5 rats in each group. The other 5 rats served as the Normal group. Electroacupuncture treatment was initiated 3 days after surgery in the GV and JJ groups and performed every other day. Basso-Beatti-Bresnahan （BBB） behavioral score was evaluated weekly. Eight weeks after the operation， cortical motor evoked potential （CMEP） detection was performed， followed by perfusion fixation， tissue harvest， frozen sectioning， and immunofluorescence staining experiments. Results① Both electroacupuncture treatments activated the expression of the excitatory marker c-Fos in L1 spinal cord neurons. The c-Fos⁺ activated neurons were mainly distributed in lamina Ⅳ， Ⅴ and Ⅶ of the L1 spinal cord， while no c-Fos⁺ neuron was observed in the Normal group and the Control group. The percentages of c-Fos⁺ neurons activated by electroacupuncture in the GV group and the JJ group were （10.23±0.15） % and （10.77±1.12） %， respectively， and there was no significant difference between the two electroacupuncture groups. ② vGluT1⁺ proprioceptive afferent nerve fibers were mainly distributed in the dorsal horn and lamina Ⅶ of intermediate zone of L1 spinal cord gray matter. In the dorsal horn of L1 spinal cord， the relative fluorescence intensity of vGluT1⁺ nerve fibers in the GV group and the JJ group were greater than that in the Control group， and that in the JJ group was greater than that in the GV group. In the lamina Ⅶ in intermediate zone of L1 spinal cord， where the central pattern generator （CPG） for hindlimb rhythmic movement is located， the relative fluorescence intensity of vGluT1⁺ nerve fibers in the GV group and the JJ group were significantly higher than that in the Control group， and the JJ group was also higher than the GV group； The lamina Ⅶ neurons innervated by vGluT1⁺ axon terminals were activated to express the excitatory marker c-Fos in the GV group and the JJ group. ③ The immunofluorescence staining results of acetylcholinesterase （ChAT） in the ventral horn of L4 spinal cord of each group showed that the number of surviving ChAT⁺ motor neurons in the GV group （19.1±3.4， P=0.000 2） and JJ group （19.0±2.9， P=0.000 2） were higher than that in the Control group （9.9±1.9）. ④ The quantitative analysis of the vGluT2⁺ excitatory axonal terminals， vGAT⁺ inhibitory axonal terminals， and the ratio of vGluT2⁺/vGAT⁺ axonal terminals ［reflecting the excitation/inhibition （E/I） balance of motor neurons］ innervating ChAT⁺ motor neurons in the ventral horn of the L4 spinal cord revealed that all three indices were significantly higher in the GV and JJ groups than in the Control group. Moreover， the E/I ratio of motor neurons in the two electroacupuncture groups gradually reached the same level as normal and showed no statistical difference from the Normal group. ⑤ The electrophysiological and behavioral detection results showed that compared with the Control group， the latencies of CMEP in the GV group and the JJ group shortened， while their amplitudes increased. The BBB score of paralyzed hindlimbs showed that after 8 weeks of treatment， the scores of both the GV group （4.25±1.26， P=0.023 4） and the JJ group （4.75±0.96， P=0.000 2） were higher than those of the Control group （1.80±1.30）， but there was no statistical difference between the two electroacupuncture groups. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at GV or JJ acupoints may promote the afferent of vGluT1⁺ proprioceptive nerve fibers into the spinal cord， indicating the possibility to activate CPG neurons in lamina Ⅶ of L1 spinal cord； facilitate the survival of motor neurons in the L4 spinal cord and restore their excitatory/inhibitory balance， improving the motor function of the paralyzed hindlimbs in rats.

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of rectal injury (RI) occurring after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: The clinical data of 513 patients with prostatic cancer undergoing RP in our hospital during Mar.2013 and Oct.2022 were retrospectively collected and statistical description of the occurrence of RI among them was conducted.There were a total of 7 patients with RI during operation and 1 progressed to rectourethral fistula (RUF).We summarized the clinical and pathological data of these 7 patients.The treatment strategies of RI/RUF after RP in 11 different centers were explored and summarized in combination with literature review. Results: Among the 7 RI patients, 6 developed RI during operation and healed after repair, while 1 progressed to RUF after operation.For this patient, conservative treatment failed and colostomy was performed along with bilateral ureteral stent placement and cystostomy.The RUF was repaired via the transanal approach.During the treatment process, recurrent and refractory bladder irritation symptoms and bladder spasms occurred.Data of 3203 patients who underwent RP in 11 different centers were collected; 56(1.75%) cases developed RI, 41 of which were detected and repaired during operation; 14(0.44%) developed RUF, 7 of which had fistula closed spontaneously and 7 received surgical repair. Conclusion: RI, especially RUF, is one of the rarest and severest complications after RP.Once RI is detected during operation, immediate and thorough two-layer suture repair should be performed.

Objective: To analyze the nucleic acid load of human parvovirus B19 in major commercially available blood products in China, including human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, human rabies immunoglobulin and various coagulation factor products, aiming to provide evidence for improving blood product manufacturing processes and quality control of source plasma. Methods: A total of 98 batches of coagulation factor products were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, including 42 batches of human prothrombin complex, 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ, and 21 batches of human fibrinogen. Additionally, 6 batches of human albumin, 6 batches of human intravenous immunoglobulin, and 38 batches of human rabies immunoglobulin were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid. Results: Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid were undetectable in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin and human rabies immunoglobulin. Among the 98 batches of coagulation factor products tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid, B19 nucleic acid reactivity rate was 69.0% (29/42) for human prothrombin complex batches, but nucleic acid concentration were all significantly lower than 10 IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ was 48.6% (17/35), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10 IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 21 batches of human fibrinogen was 61.9% (13/21), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10 IU/mL. Conclusion: No human parvovirus B19 has been detected in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, or human rabies immunoglobulin. Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid may exist in commercially available coagulation factor products, highlighting the need for enhanced screening of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in these products. It is also recommended that B19 viral nucleic acid testing be conducted on source plasma, particularly for coagulation factor products.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Shenling Guben Granules on quality of life and immune function in patients with HIV classified as immunological non-responders （INRs）. MethodsA prospective， multicenter， randomized， double-blind， controlled trial was conducted from August 21， 2018， to January 6， 2021， across eight hospitals in China. A total of 300 INR patients， diagnosed with spleen-kidney yang deficiency or lung-spleen Qi deficiency syndromes， were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the observation group or the control group， with 150 patients in each group. The control group received antiretroviral therapy （ART） combined with placebo， while the observation group received ART combined with Shenling Guben Granules. After 72 consecutive weeks of treatment， the World Health Organization Quality of Life for HIV brief version （WHOQOL-HIV BREF） was used to assess quality of life before and after treatment in both groups. Immune indicators （CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell counts）， complete blood count， liver and renal function， and adverse events during treatment were also evaluated to assess safety. ResultsA total of 279 patients were included in the final analysis （140 in the observation group and 139 in the control group）. After treatment， CD4⁺ T cell counts in the observation group increased significantly compared to baseline （P< 0.05）， whereas the control group showed an upward trend without statistical significance. Compared with the control group after treatment， the observation group showed a significantly greater increase in CD4⁺ levels （P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in the total score or domain scores of quality of life （physical， psychological， independence， social relationships， environment， and spirituality）， or in CD8⁺ T cell counts， before and after treatment in either group. The incidence of adverse events during treatment was 10% （14/140） in the observation group and 10.07% （14/139） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. ConclusionAlthough Shenling Guben Granules did not significantly improve quality of life in INR patients， they significantly increased CD4⁺ cell counts and demonstrated good safety， providing scientific evidence to support their use as a treatment option for INR patients.

Objective: To analyze the nucleic acid load of human parvovirus B19 in major commercially available blood products in China, including human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, human rabies immunoglobulin and various coagulation factor products, aiming to provide evidence for improving blood product manufacturing processes and quality control of source plasma. Methods: A total of 98 batches of coagulation factor products were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, including 42 batches of human prothrombin complex, 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ, and 21 batches of human fibrinogen. Additionally, 6 batches of human albumin, 6 batches of human intravenous immunoglobulin, and 38 batches of human rabies immunoglobulin were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid. Results: Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid were undetectable in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin and human rabies immunoglobulin. Among the 98 batches of coagulation factor products tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid, B19 nucleic acid reactivity rate was 69.0% (29/42) for human prothrombin complex batches, but nucleic acid concentration were all significantly lower than 10 IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ was 48.6% (17/35), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10 IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 21 batches of human fibrinogen was 61.9% (13/21), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10 IU/mL. Conclusion: No human parvovirus B19 has been detected in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, or human rabies immunoglobulin. Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid may exist in commercially available coagulation factor products, highlighting the need for enhanced screening of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in these products. It is also recommended that B19 viral nucleic acid testing be conducted on source plasma, particularly for coagulation factor products.

BACKGROUND: Without timely and effective rehabilitation, hearing loss may profoundly affect human life quality. China has a large population of hearing-impaired individuals, which imposes a heavy health burden on society. Moreover, this population is projected to increase rapidly owing to China's aging society. METHODS: We used data from a population-representative epidemiological investigation of hearing loss and ear diseases in four Chinese provinces. We estimated the national prevalence using multiple linear regression of the age-group proportions and prevalence in 31 provinces with clustering analysis. We used years lived with disability (YLDs) to analyze the disease burden and forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss by 2060 in China. RESULTS: An estimated 115 million people had moderate-to-complete hearing loss in 2015 across the 31 provinces of China (8.4% of 1.37 billion people). Of these, 85.7% were older than age 50 years (99 million people) and 2.4% were younger than 20 years old (2.8 million people). Of all YLDs attributable to hearing loss, 68.9% were attributable to moderate-to-complete cases. By 2060, a projected 242 million people in China will have moderate-to-complete hearing loss, a 110.0% increase from 2015. CONCLUSIONS The hearing loss prevalence in China is high. Population aging and socioeconomic factors substantially affect the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and the disease burden. The prevalence and severity of hearing loss are unevenly distributed across different provinces. Future public health policies should take these trends and regional variations into account.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Hearing Loss/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cost of Illness

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of eccentric treadmill exercise on adaptive hypertrophy of skeletal muscle in rats. Thirty-two 3-month-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were selected and randomly assigned to one of the four groups based on their body weights: 2-week quiet control group (2C), 2-week downhill running exercise group (2E), 4-week quiet control group (4C), and 4-week downhill running exercise group (4E). The downhill running protocol for rats in the exercise groups involved slope of -16°, running speed of 16 m/min, training duration of 90 min, and 5 training sessions per week. Twenty-four hours after the final session of training, all the four groups of rats underwent an exhaustion treadmill exercise. After resting for 48 h, all the rats were euthanized and their gastrocnemius muscles were harvested for analysis. HE staining was used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) and diameter of muscle fibers. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructural changes in muscle fibers. Purithromycin surface labeling translation method was used to measure protein synthesis rate. Immunofluorescence double labeling was used to detect the colocalization levels of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (Lamp2)-leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS) and Lamp2-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIb and LARS, as well as the phosphorylation levels of mTOR, p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). The results showed that, compared with the 2C group rats, the 2E group rats showed significant increases in wet weight of gastrocnemius muscle, wet weight/body weight ratio, running distance, running time, pre- and post-exercise blood lactate levels, myofibrillar protein content, colocalization levels of Lamp2-LARS and Lamp2-mTOR, and LARS protein expression. Besides these above changes, compared with the 4C group, the 4E group further exhibited significantly increased fiber CSA, fiber diameter, protein synthesis rate, and phosphorylation levels of mTOR, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1. Compared with the quiet control groups, the exercise groups exhibited ultrastructural damage of rat gastrocnemius muscle, which was more pronounced in the 4E group. These findings suggest that eccentric treadmill exercise may promote mTOR translocation to lysosomal membrane, activating mTOR signaling via up-regulating LARS expression. This, in turn, increases protein synthesis rate through the mTOR-p70S6K-4E-BP1 signaling pathway, promoting protein deposition and inducing adaptive skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Although the ultrastructural changes of skeletal muscle are more pronounced, the relatively long training cycles during short-term exercise periods have a more significant effect on promoting gastrocnemius muscle protein synthesis and adaptive hypertrophy.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Physical Conditioning, Animal/physiology* ; Rats ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Male ; Hypertrophy ; Adaptation, Physiological/physiology* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa/metabolism* ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins