ObjectiveTo systematically analyze the epidemiological characteristics and cause-of-death distribution among death cases with hepatitis C in Hongkou District of Shanghai, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing healthcare resources allocation and targeted hepatitis C prevention and control measures. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted by integrating historical surveillance data from China Information System of Disease Prevention and Control and Shanghai Hongkou District Death Medical Registration System. Data on demographic characteristics, hepatitis C-related clinical and management records, and underlying causes of death for cases with hepatitis C between 2012 and 2024 in Hongkou District of Shanghai, were collected. Descriptive analyses were performed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and cause-of-death distribution of death cases, and comparative analyses were conducted across different subgroups. ResultsA total of 204 hepatitis C-related deaths were identified in Hongkou District, Shanghai, from 2012 to 2024. The average age at death was (69.49±12.75) years The majority decedents were males (71.57%) and retired (73.53%). The top three underlying causes of death were malignant tumors (45.10%), cerebrovascular diseases (15.20%) and cardiovascular diseases (12.25%), collectively accounting for 72.55% of all deaths. Deaths attributed to hepatitis C accounted for 9.80% (20/204), with a mean age at death of (63.41±11.81) years. No statistically significant differences were observed in the proportion of hepatitis C-attributed deaths across different subgroups (all P>0.05). The proportion of premature deaths was 55.88% (114/204), with a mean age at death of (60.02±6.89) years. The proportion of premature deaths was higher among males (60.27%), laboratory-diagnosed patients (62.69%), patients with other liver diseases (72.06%), and those non-compliant with follow-up (70.97%) compared to their respective counterparts (all P<0.05). Additionally, homemakers /unemployed patients (100.00%) and employed patients (88.89%) had a significantly higher proportion of premature deaths compared to retired patients (42.67%) (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of causes of death between the premature death group and the non-premature death group (χ²=14.93， P=0.048). The top three causes of premature deaths were malignant tumors (50.00%), hepatitis C (12.28%) and cerebrovascular diseases (10.53%). Regarding the proportion of deaths occuring prematurely, other viral hepatitis had the highest percentage (75.00%), followed by diabetes mellitus (71.43%) and hepatitis C (70.00%). ConclusionThe majority of death cases with hepatitis C were males and retirees in Hongkou District, Shanghai. The leading cause of death was malignant tumors, while hepatitis C ranked as the fourth underlying cause, as well as served as the second leading cause of premature death following malignant tumors. Premature death was closely associated with gender, occupation, diagnostic classification, presence of other liver diseases, and follow-up compliance, highlighting the importance of enhanced health management and targeted interventions among high-risk groups.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have great applications in both reproductive and regenerative medicine. Primates including monkeys are very similar to humans with regard to physiology and pathology. Nevertheless, little is known about the isolation, the characteristics, and the culture of primate SSCs. This study was designed to identify, isolate, and culture monkey SSCs. Immunocytochemistry was used to identify markers for monkey SSCs. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 (GFRA1)-enriched spermatogonia were isolated from monkeys, namely Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis), by two-step enzymatic digestion and magnetic-activated cell sorting, and they were cultured on precoated plates in the conditioned medium. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunocytochemistry, and RNA sequencing were used to compare phenotype and transcriptomes in GFRA1-enriched spermatogonia between 0 day and 14 days of culture, and xenotransplantation was performed to evaluate the function of GFRA1-enriched spermatogonia. SSCs shared some phenotypes with rodent and human SSCs. GFRA1-enriched spermatogonia with high purity and viability were isolated from M. fascicularis testes. The freshly isolated cells expressed numerous markers for rodent SSCs, and they were cultured for 14 days. The expression of numerous SSC markers was maintained during the cultivation of GFRA1-enriched spermatogonia. RNA sequencing reflected a 97.3% similarity in global gene profiles between 0 day and 14 days of culture. The xenotransplantation assay indicated that the GFRA1-enriched spermatogonia formed colonies and proliferated in vivo in the recipient c-Kit

To investigate the effects of gossypol acetic acid (GA) on proliferation and apoptosis of the macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and further understand the possible underlying mechanism responsible for GA-induced cell apoptosis, RAW264.7 cells were treated with GA (25~35 micromol/L) for 24 h and the cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay, while apoptotic cells were identified by TUNEL assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and flow cytometry. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) with Rhodamine 123 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with DCFH-DA were analyzed by fluorescence spectrofluorometry. In addition, the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 was assessed by Western Blot assay. Finally, the GA-induced cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry in the present of caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK and Ac-LEHD-FMK, respectively. GA significantly inhibited the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and caused obvious cell apoptosis and a loss of DeltaPsi(m) in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the ROS production in cells was elevated, and the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-9 were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, GA-induced cell apoptosis was markedly inhibited by caspase inhibitors. These results suggest that GA-induced RAW264.7 cell apoptosis may be mediated via a caspase-dependent mitochondrial signaling pathway.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gossypol/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/*drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects