ObjectiveTo explore the effect of oral sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle atrophy in CT26 tumor mice through the gut microbiota-skeletal muscle axis and its potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF BALB/c male mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=18) and a ABX-depleted group (ABX, n=42). The ABX mice were pretreated with a quadruple antibiotic cocktail via oral gavage (0.2 ml per administration, once daily, 6 d per week, for 2 weeks), whereas NC received an equal volume of sterile water. The quadruple antibiotic cocktail consisted of metronidazole (1 g/L), vancomycin (0.5 g/L), ampicillin (1 g/L), and gentamicin (1 g/L). Following successful pretreatment, six mice from each group were randomly selected for gut microbiota sequencing analysis and designated as the Abx group and the NC0 group, respectively. Theremaining mice in ABX were subcutaneously inoculated in the dorsum with 0.2 ml of CT26 cell suspension (at a cell density of 1×10⁷/ml). Then these mice were randomly allocated into three subgroups: a control tumor bearing model group (0_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving low-dose oral sodium butyrate (L_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving high-dose oral sodium butyrate (H_NaB, n=12). And mice in NC were inoculated at the same site with 0.2 ml of normal saline. The administration dose for L_NaB was 0.3 g/(kg·d), that for H_NaB was 0.5 g/(kg·d), while NC and 0_NaB were given the same volume of normal saline (0.2ml per time, once daily, 6 d per week, for 4 weeks). The general condition of mice was monitored, and forelimb grip strength gastrocnemius muscle mass and its muscle fiber cross-sectional area were measured for each group. The structural changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents. Pathological alterations in the intestinal wall were examined via HE staining. Serum and gastrocnemius muscle levels of TNF‑α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS were quantified using ELISA. The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the small intestine, as well as proteins associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle, were detected by Western blot analysis. Results(1) The alpha-diversity in Abx was significantly lower than that in NC0 (P<0.01), a significant decrease of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius (P<0.01), with the majority of gut microbiota being effectively depleted. (2) Compared with NC, the subcutaneous tumors of mice in 0_NaB were prominent, a significant increase of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight at the end of the 3th and 4th week (P<0.05), and a significant weakening of the forelimb grasping strength at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.01). Compared with 0_NaB, the tumor mass of mice in L_NaB and H_NaB showed a significant decreasing trend, and the grip strength of the forelimbs significantly increased at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) Compared with 0_NaB, the Shannon and Observed species indices in α diversity of L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with 0_NaB, L_NaB exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Parasutterella (P< 0.01), while H_NaB showed significant reductions in the relative abundances of both Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with 0_NaB, the small intestinal tissue structure in L_NaB and H_NaB was more intact, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the capillaries were slightly dilated. The expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in L_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.01). (5) The LPS concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and the protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF‑κB p65 in L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05). The serum TNF‑α concentration in H_NaB and TNF-α concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle of the L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). ConclusionOral administration of NaB can improve gut microbiota α diversity, adjusting its composition, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response, and delaying skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying mechanism may involve down regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture (acupuncture for unblocking the obstruction in the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) on the depression-like behavior and the hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis mediated by solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway in depression rats, and explore the mechanism of this therapy for depression. METHODS: Of 30 male SD rats of SPF grade, 24 rats were selected. According to the random number table, they were divided into a normal group (n=8) and a modeling group (n=16). The rats in the modeling group were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 28 consecutive days to establish depression model. After modeling, 16 successfully-modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and an acupuncture group, 8 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture was applied to "Dazhui"(GV14), "Shuigou" (GV26), "Baihui" (GV20) and "Shenting" (GV24). This intervention measure was deliveredonce a day, continuously for 6 days. The intervention discontinued on day 7, and was completed in 4 weeks. Before and after modeling, and after intervention completion, the behavioristics detection was performed using sucrose preference experiment and open field experiment. After intervention, using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Nissl staining, the morphology of hippocampal neurons was observed; with Western blot method, the protein expression of GPX4, SLC7A11, Ferritin and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 4 (ACSL4) in hippocampal tissues was detected; with the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR adopted, the mRNA expression of GPX4, SLC7A11, Ferritin and ACSL4 was detected; and using colorimetry, the hippocampal iron content was determined. RESULTS: After modeling, the sucrose preference rates, the total distance of movement, the standing times and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the model group and the acupuncture group were lower than those in the normal group (P<0.01). After the intervention, the sucrose preference rates, the total distance of movement, the standing times and the boxes of horizontal crossing in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the number of necrotic cells increased and the number of Nissl bodies decreased in the model group; and when compared with the model group, the neuronal pyknosis and necrosis were ameliorated, the cells were arranged more regularly, the neuronal structure was clear, the matrix was dense, the blood vessels were enriched and the number of Nissl bodies increased in the acupuncture group. In comparison with the normal group, the relative expression of protein and mRNA of hippocampal GPX4, SLC7A11 decreased (P<0.01), it increased in the expression of hippocampal Ferritin and ACSL4 (P<0.01) in the model group. When compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the relative expression of protein and mRNA of hippocampal GPX4, SLC7A11 was elevated (P<0.01, P<0.05), it was dropped for hippocampal Ferritin and ACSL4 (P<0.01). In the model group, the hippocampal iron content was elevated when compared with that in the normal group (P<0.01); and it was reduced in the acupuncture group when compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture attenuates depression-like behaviors in the depression rats, which may be related to regulating SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway and inhibiting neuronal ferroptosis in the hippocampus.
Animals ; Ferroptosis ; Male ; Hippocampus/cytology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Depression/enzymology* ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/genetics* ; Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics*

Objective To investigate the impact of risk prevention and control on the quality efficiency of medical equipment procurement.Methods The medical equipment procurement projects with enhanced risk prevention measures during 2023(119 items)were assigned to an observation group,while those without strengthened risk control during 2022(118 items)were enrolled into a control group.The two groups were compared in terms of bid failure/rejection rates,procurement completion cycles(including procurement execution cycle and total procurement cycle)and procurement satisfaction.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software.Results The observation group demonstrated significantly lower bid failure/rejection rates when compared with the control group(≥2 occurrences:5.88％vs.15.25％,P＜0.05).The procurement execution cycle was notably shorter in the observation group((69.16±78.65)d vs.(97.67±49.84)d,P＜0.05),though no significant difference was observed in total procurement cycle(P＞0.05).The observation group behaved better significantly than the control group in procurement efficiency,equipment performance,procedural compliance and post-purchase service satisfaction(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Risk prevention and control measures in medical equipment procurement effectively reduce bid failure/rejection risks while enhancing procurement quality efficiency.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):81-85]

This study was aimed at identifying the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the death of a young tiger at the Fujian Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.Tissue samples from the lungs,liver,and intestines of the deceased tiger were collected,and the bacteria were cultured inasterile environment.The bacterial strains were characterized according to their morphological and molecular biological properties,including assessment of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes,mouse lethality tests,and antibiotic susceptibility evaluations.A predominant bacterial strain isolated from the liver of the deceased tiger was identified as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)strain Tiger22513F.Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Tiger22513F strain exhibited close genetic similarity to the reference strain ETEC(MF919609.1),with 99.9%nucleotide similarity,and resided on the same evolutionary branch.The Tiger22513F strain contained 11 antibiotic resistance genes(tetA,sul1,sul3,cmlA,floR,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaCMY-2,qnrA,qnrS,and qnrD)along with five virulence genes(VT1,fyuA,tsh,iucD,and ST).Mouse lethality tests indicated significant pathogenicity toward mice,affecting primarily the lungs,liver,and intestines.Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated that this strain exhibited resistance to various classes of beta-lactam antibiotics,as well as quinolones and aminoglycosides.This investigation successfully isolated a multi-drug resistant enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain with pronounced pathogenicity from the liver of a deceased tiger;thus providing valuable scientific insights for clinical diagnosis,as well as prevention and control measures,against ETEC infections in South China tigers.

Metal ion-promoted chemodynamic therapy(CDT) combined with photodynamic therapy(PDT) offers broad application prospects for enhancing anti-tumor effects. In this study, glycyrrhizic acid(GA), copper ions(Cu~(2+)), and norcantharidin(NCTD) were co-assembled to successfully prepare a natural small-molecule, carrier-free hydrogel(NCTD Gel) with excellent material properties. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, NCTD Gel responded to the tumor microenvironment(TME) and acted as an efficient Fenton reagent and photosensitizer, catalyzing the conversion of endogenous hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) within the tumor into oxygen(O_2), and hydroxyl radicals(·OH, type Ⅰ reactive oxygen species) and singlet oxygen(~1O_2, type Ⅱ reactive oxygen species), while depleting glutathione(GSH) to stabilize reactive oxygen species and alleviate tumor hypoxia. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that NCTD Gel exhibited significant CDT/PDT synergistic therapeutic effects. Further safety evaluation and metabolic testing confirmed its good biocompatibility and safety. This novel hydrogel is not only simple to prepare, safe, and cost-effective but also holds great potential for clinical transformation, providing insights and references for the research and development of metal ion-mediated hydrogel-based anti-tumor therapies.
Hydrogels/chemistry* ; Animals ; Photochemotherapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Photosensitizing Agents/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Female ; Copper/chemistry* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Male

Cardiac fibrosis(CF) is a cardiac pathological process characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix(ECM). When the heart is damaged by adverse stimuli, cardiac fibroblasts are activated and secrete a large amount of ECM, leading to changes in cardiac fibrosis, myocardial stiffness, and cardiac function declines and accelerating the development of heart failure. There is a close relationship between heart yin deficiency and cardiac fibrosis, which have similar pathogenic mechanisms. Heart Yin deficiency, characterized by insufficient Yin fluids, causes the heart to lose its nourishing function, which acts as the initiating factor for myocardial dystrophy. The deficiency of body fluids leads to stagnation of blood flow, resulting in blood stasis and water retention. Blood stasis and water retention accumulate in the heart, which aligns with the pathological manifestation of excessive deposition of ECM, as a tangible pathogenic factor. This is an inevitable stage of the disease process. The lingering of blood stasis combined with water retention eventually leads to the generation of heat and toxins, triggering inflammatory responses similar to heat toxins, which continuously stimulate the heart and cause the ultimate outcome of CF. Considering the syndrome of heart Yin deficiency, traditional Chinese medicine capable of nourishing Yin, activating blood, and promoting urination can reduce myocardial cell apoptosis, inhibit fibroblast activation, and lower the inflammation level, showing significant advantages in combating CF.
Humans ; Fibrosis/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Yin Deficiency/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of closed reduction with Kirschner wire fixation versus open reduction with plate fixation for treating osteoporotic Colles' fractures in middle-aged and elderly patients. METHODS: Between January 2018 and January 2023, 119 patients with Colles fractures were retrospectively analyzed, including 39 males and 80 females, aged from 48 to 74 years old with an average of(60.58±6.71) years old. The time from injury to operation ranged 1 to 13 days with an average of (5.29±2.52) days. According to the surgical method, they were divided into Kirschner wire fixation group (Kirschner wire group) and plate internal fixation group (plate group). In Kirschner wire group, there were a total of 68 patients, comprising 21 males and 47 females. The average age was (61.15±6.24) years old, ranged from 49 to 74 years old. Among them, 41 cases involved the left side while 27 cases involved the right side. In the plate group, there were a total of 51 patients, including 18 males and 33 females. The average age was (59.78±5.71) years old ranged from 48 to 72 years old. Among them, there were 31 cases on the left side and 20 cases on the right side. The following parameters were recorded before and after the operation:operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization days, hospitalization expenses, postoperative complications, and radiographic parameters of distal radius (distal radius height, ulnar deviation angle, palmar tilt angle). The clinical efficacy was evaluated at 3 and 12 months after the operation using Gartland-Werley and disabilites of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH) scores. RESULTS: The patients in both groups were followed up for a duration from 12 to 19 months with an average of(13.32±2.02) months. The Kirschner wire group exhibited significantly shorter operation time compared to the plate group 27.91(13.00, 42.00) min vs 67.52(29.72, 105.32) min, Z=-8.74, P=0.00. Intraoperative blood loss was also significantly lower in the Kirschner wire group than in the plate group 3.24(1.08, 5.40) ml vs 21.91(17.38, 26.44) ml, Z=-9.31, P=0.00. Furthermore, patients in the Kirschner wire group had a shorter length of hospital stay compared to those in the plate group (8.38±2.63) days vs (11.40±2.78) days, t=-3.12, P=0.00. Additionally, hospitalization cost was significantly lower in the Kirschner wire group than in the plate group 10 111.29(6 738.98, 13 483.60) yuan vs 15 871.11(11 690.40, 20 051.82) yuan, Z=-5.62, P=0.00. The incidence of complications was 2 cases in the Kirschner wire group and 1 case in the plate group, with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05). At 3 months postoprative, the radial height of the Kirschner wire group was found to be significantly smaller than that of the plate group, with measurements of (11.45±1.69) mm and (12.11±1.78) mm respectively (t=-2.06, P=0.04). However, there were no statistically significant differences observed in ulnar deviation angle and palmar tilt angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The DASH score and Gartland-Werley score in the Kirschner group were significantly higher than those in the plate group at 3 months post-operation (19.10±9.89) vs (13.47±3.51), t=4.34, P=0.00;(11.15±3.61) vs (6.41±2.75), t=8.13, P=0.00). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 12 months post-operation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to plate internal fixation, closed reduction with Kirschner wire support fixation yields a slightly inferior recovery of radial height;however, there is no significant disparity in the functional score of the affected limb at 12 months post-operation. Nonetheless, this technique offers advantages such as shorter operation time, reduced intraoperative blood loss, decreased hospitalization duration, and lower cost.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Bone Wires ; Bone Plates ; Retrospective Studies ; Colles' Fracture/surgery* ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Open Fracture Reduction/methods* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery*

Testicular descent occurs in two consecutive stages: the transabdominal stage and the inguinoscrotal stage. Androgens play a crucial role in the second stage by influencing the development of the gubernaculum, a structure that pulls the testis into the scrotum. However, the mechanisms of androgen actions underlying many of the processes associated with gubernaculum development have not been fully elucidated. To identify the androgen-regulated genes, we conducted large-scale gene expression analyses on the gubernaculum harvested from luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor knockout ( Lhcgr KO) mice, an animal model of inguinoscrotal testis maldescent resulting from androgen deficiency. We found that the expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC)-related modular calcium binding 1 ( Smoc1 ) was the most severely suppressed at both the transcript and protein levels, while its expression was the most dramatically induced by testosterone administration in the gubernacula of Lhcgr KO mice. The upregulation of Smoc1 expression by testosterone was curtailed by the addition of an androgen receptor antagonist, flutamide. In addition, in vitro studies demonstrated that SMOC1 modestly but significantly promoted the proliferation of gubernacular cells. In the cultures of myogenic differentiation medium, both testosterone and SMOC1 enhanced the expression of myogenic regulatory factors such as paired box 7 ( Pax7 ) and myogenic factor 5 ( Myf5 ). After short-interfering RNA-mediated knocking down of Smoc1 , the expression of Pax7 and Myf5 diminished, and testosterone alone did not recover, but additional SMOC1 did. These observations indicate that SMOC1 is pivotal in mediating androgen action to regulate gubernaculum development during inguinoscrotal testicular descent.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Testis/growth & development* ; Mice, Knockout ; Androgens/pharmacology* ; Testosterone/pharmacology* ; Receptors, LH/metabolism* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism*

Testicular histology based on testicular biopsy is an important factor for determining appropriate testicular sperm extraction surgery and predicting sperm retrieval outcomes in patients with azoospermia. Therefore, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to establish the associations between testicular grayscale ultrasound images and testicular histology. We retrospectively included two-dimensional testicular grayscale ultrasound from patients with azoospermia (353 men with 4357 images between July 2017 and December 2021 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) to develop a DL model. We obtained testicular histology during conventional testicular sperm extraction. Our DL model was trained based on ultrasound images or fusion data (ultrasound images fused with the corresponding testicular volume) to distinguish spermatozoa presence in pathology (SPP) and spermatozoa absence in pathology (SAP) and to classify maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in patients with SAP. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to analyze model performance. DL based on images achieved an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.935), a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 84.6%, and an accuracy of 83.5% in predicting SPP (including normal spermatogenesis and hypospermatogenesis) and SAP (including MA and SCOS). In the identification of SCOS and MA, DL on fusion data yielded better diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969-0.989), a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 97.1%, and an accuracy of 92.1%. Our study provides a noninvasive method to predict testicular histology for patients with azoospermia, which would avoid unnecessary testicular biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Testis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/diagnostic imaging*