Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanism of sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of H₂O₂ and divided into four groups: control (NC), 50 μmol/L H₂O₂, 110 μmol/L H₂O₂ and 150 μmol/L H₂O₂. SIRT3 protein expression was then measured. SIRT3 was knocked down with siRNA, and cells were further assigned to five groups: control (NC), negative-control siRNA (NCsi), SIRT3-siRNA (siSIRT3), NCsi+H₂O₂, and siSIRT3+H₂O₂. After 24 h, cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial superoxide anion (O₂•⁻) levels were determined, together with mitochondrial expression of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), acetylated-SOD2 and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1). Results The 110 and 150 μmol/L H₂O₂ decreased SIRT3 protein (both P<0.05). ATP and mitochondrial O₂•⁻ did not differ between NC and NCsi groups (both P>0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the siSIRT3 group exhibited elevated O₂•⁻ level, decreased SIRT3 protein and increased expression levels of SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein (all P<0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the NCsi+H₂O₂ group exhibited decreased cellular ATP levels, elevated mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, and reduced protein expression levels of SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 (all P<0.05). Compared with the siSIRT3 group, the siSIRT3+H₂O₂ group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, a decrease in SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 protein expression levels and a decrease in acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Compared with the NCsi+H₂O₂ group, the siSIRT3+H₂O₂ group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O₂•⁻ levels, a decrease in SIRT3, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1, TFAM protein expression levels, and an increase in SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions SIRT3 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in tubular epithelial cells via the AMPK/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, representing a key mechanism through which SIRT3 ameliorates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of assisted reproductive technology （ART） in women with a history of thyroid cancer who retained fertility intentions after completing cancer treatment. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 61 patients with a history of thyroid cancer who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection and embryo transfer （IVF/ICSI-ET）. These patients were included as the case group. A total of 122 non-cancer patients who received ART during the same period were selected as the control group using 1∶2 matching based on age and oocyte retrieval time. Baseline characteristics， outcomes of the first ART cycle， and cumulative pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the basic data， the total amount of gonadotropin （Gn） and the days of use between the case group and the control group （P>0.05）. However， the case group had significantly fewer retrieved oocytes， mature oocytes （MII）， lower fertilization and cleavage rates， and fewer transferable and high-quality embryos， as well as fewer embryos transferred during the first cycle （P < 0.05）. However， there was no significant difference in the rate of first embryo implantation and first clinical pregnancy between the two groups （P>0.05）. In the analysis of cumulative outcomes， the two groups did not show statistically significant differences in the cumulative pregnancy rate， clinical pregnancy rate per transfer cycle， the number of oocyte retrieval cycles required per live birth， the number of embryo transfer cycles required per live birth， and the number of embryos used for each live birth （P>0.05）. However， the cumulative live birth rate was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group （P=0.005）. ConclusionAfter treatment for thyroid cancer， when ART is used to help pregnant women， the pregnancy outcome is comparable to that of women without tumors. Individualized reproductive management and timely fertility preservation strategies are recommended to optimize reproductive outcomes in this population.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which 2，3，5，4'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-2-O-glucoside （THSG） mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （CI/R） injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload and promoting mitophagy. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomized into sham， model， SAS （40 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium- and high-dose （10， 20， 40 mg·kg^-1， respectively） THSG groups， with 10 rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） model was established by the modified Longa suture method. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation （OGD/R） model was constructed in PC12 cells. Neurological deficits were assessed via Zea Longa scoring， and cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Structural and functional changes of cortical neurons in MCAO/R rats were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. PC12 cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and mitochondrial calcium levels were quantified by Rhod-2 AM. Immunofluorescence was used to detect co-localization of PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembrane protein 1 （LETM1） in neurons. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology in neurons. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 （TOMM20）， autophagy-associated protein p62， microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-9 （Caspase-9）， B-cell lymphoma 2-associated protein X （Bax）， and cytochrome C （Cyt C）. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group exhibited increased infarct volume （P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.01）， neuronal structure was disrupted with reduced Nissl bodies. （P<0.01）， mitochondrial swelling/fragmentation， decreased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.01）， downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.05）， weakened PC12 viability （P<0.01）， and elevated mitochondrial calcium level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， THSG and SAS groups showed reduced infarct volumes （P<0.05，P<0.01） and neurological deficit scores （P<0.05，P<0.01）， mitigated mitochondrial damage， and increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）. Medium/high-dose THSG and SAS alleviated the neurological damage， increased Nissl bodies （P<0.05，P<0.01）， downregulated the protein levels of p62， TOMM20， Caspase-9， Bax， and Cyt C （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and elevated the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ level （P<0.05，P<0.01）. High-dose THSG enhanced PC12 cell viability （P<0.01）， increased PINK1/LETM1 co-localization （P<0.01）， and reduced mitochondrial calcium （P<0.01）. ConclusionTHSG may exert the neuroprotective effect on CI/R injury by activating the PINK1-LETM1 signaling pathway， reducing the mitochondrial calcium overload， and promoting mitophagy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which naringin alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(CI/R) injury through DRP1/LRRK2/MCU signaling axis. A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, the model group, the sodium Danshensu group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(50, 100, and 200 mg·kg~(-1)) naringin groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the sham group, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(tMCAO/R) model was established in SD rats using the suture method. Longa 5-point scale was used to assess neurological deficits. 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining was used to detect the volume percentage of cerebral infarction in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining were employed to assess neuronal structural alterations and the number of Nissl bodies in cortex, respectively. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 gene(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cleaved cysteine-aspartate protease-3(cleaved caspase-3), mitochondrial calcium uniporter(MCU), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), and P62. Mitochondrial structure and autophagy in cortical neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence assay was used to quantify the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion, as well as the co-localization of dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1) with leucine-rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2) and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20(TOMM20) with LC3 in cortical mitochondria. The results showed that compared with the model group, naringin significantly decreased the volume percentage of cerebral infarction and neurological deficit score in tMCAO/R rats, alleviated the structural damage and Nissl body loss of cortical neurons in tMCAO/R rats, inhibited autophagosomes in cortical neurons, and increased the average diameter of cortical mitochondria. The Western blot results showed that compared to the sham group, the model group exhibited increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU, and the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio in the cortex and reduced protein levels of Bcl-2 and P62. However, naringin down-regulated the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and P62 proteins in cortical area. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that compared with the model group, naringin and positive drug treatments significantly decreased the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion. Meanwhile, the co-localization of DRP1 with LRRK2 and TOMM20 with LC3 in cortical mitochondria was also decreased significantly after the intervention. These findings suggest that naringin can alleviate cortical neuronal damage in tMCAO/R rats by inhibiting DRP1/LRRK2/MCU-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and the resultant excessive mitophagy.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Flavanones/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Male ; Brain Ischemia/genetics* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) resection on soft tissue elasticity and knee stability in total knee arthroplasty(TKA). METHODS: Six adult cadaveric knee specimens (involving 10 knees) were included in the study. With the assistance of the robotic system(TiRobot Recon, TINAVI, Beijing), total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was performed sequentially using cruciate retaining (CR) prostheses and posterior stabilizing (PS) prostheses. Between the two surgical procedures, the femoral and tibial osteotomy surfaces were not altered;only the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was resected and the intercondylar fossa was treated. After installing the femoral trial component, a soft tissue balance solver was used to apply tension ranging from 30 N to 90 N in 5 N increments at 0°, 10°, and 90° of knee flexion. Meanwhile, the medial and lateral joint gaps were measured synchronously. Based on the tension-gap coupling data, the equivalent elastic coefficients of the medial and lateral soft tissue sleeves at different knee flexion angles, as well as the range of the joint line convergence angle (JLCA) under fixed varus-valgus stress, were calculated. Additionally, the gap balance status under 80 N of tension was analyzed. Self-control comparisons of each indicator were conducted before and after PCL resection to analyze the change patterns. RESULTS: After PCL resection, in the fully extended position (knee flexion 0°). The medial equivalent elastic coefficient was 32.2 (25.7, 63.3) N·mm^-1 for the CR prosthesis and 27.7 (22.0, 51.9) N·mm^-1 for the PS prosthesis, and the statistically significant difference (P=0.013). The range of JLCA was 0.41°(0.26, 0.55)° for the CR prosthesis, which was smaller than 0.75° (0.40, 0.98)° for the PS prosthesis, and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.041). At 90° of knee flexion, the medial joint gap was 10.7(10.1, 11.7) mm for the CR prosthesis, which was smaller than 12.1(10.9, 15.1) mm for the PS prosthesis, with a statistically significant difference(P=0.011). No statistically significant differences were observed in other joint gaps. CONCLUSION PCL resection reduces the rigidity of the medial soft tissues in the fully extended knee and increases the medial joint gap in the flexed position, thereby affecting knee stability and balance. This finding suggests that PS and CR prostheses may require different morphological designs, and there should be differences in indications and osteotomy strategies between CR-TKA and PS-TKA. CR-TKA is more suitable for patients with preoperative medial soft tissue laxity.
Humans ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament/physiopathology* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Elasticity ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Adult

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

Pituitary adenoma is a common intracranial tumor, and endoscopic endonasal surgery has become one of its primary treatment modalities. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) technology can provide surgeons with real-time imaging during surgery, significantly enhancing surgical precision and safety. This case report retrospectively analyzes a case of recurrent pituitary adenoma treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. During endoscopic endonasal surgery, the iMRI revealed residual tumor tissue located above the scar from previous surgery. With the aid of neuronavigation, the surgeon precisely identified and incised the proliferative fibrous tissue that had been misidentified as the diaphragma sellae, successfully removing the concealed tumor and achieving gross total resection. Postoperatively, the patient experienced marked improvement in visual acuity, preserved normal pituitary function, and had no cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Based on this case and relevant literature, this paper discusses the advantages of iMRI in endoscopic endonasal surgery and its potential to improve patient outcomes, aiming to provide reference and guidance for clinical practice.