Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Palliative care is a way to help end-of-life populations improve their quality of life， and its development in practice cannot be separated from the level of education in palliative care. At present， some medical schools in palliative care education compared with western developed countries have problems such as imperfect construction of hospice curriculum system， lack of medical students’ hospice knowledge； insufficient interdisciplinary teaching faculty， weak palliative care awareness of medical students； single teaching evaluation mode； weak palliative care practice teaching links. To this end， it is necessary to improve the palliative care curriculum system， explore rich and diverse teaching methods； strengthen interdisciplinary teaching and faculty development， enhancing the awareness of palliative care among medical students；establish a scientific and effective evaluation method， carry out multi-dimensional dynamic assessment； expand the palliative care practice teaching base， and accurately improve the practical skills of medical students in palliative care， and other countermeasures to improve the level of palliative care education， and to help the strategy of Healthy China.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction. Gut microbiota plays an important role in various diseases. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora dysregulation induced by high-fat diet (HFD) on erectile function. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into the normal diet (ND) and HFD groups. After 24 weeks, a measurement of erectile function was performed. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples. Then, we established fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) rat models by transplanting fecal microbiota from rats of ND group and HFD group to two new groups of rats respectively. After 24 weeks, erectile function of the rats was evaluated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, and serum samples were collected for the untargeted metabolomics detection. Results: The erectile function of rats and the species diversity of intestinal microbiota in the HFD group was significantly lower, and the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were also significantly different between the two groups. The erectile function of rats in the HFD-FMT group was significantly lower than that of rats in the ND-FMT group. The characteristics of the intestinal microbiota community structure were significantly different. In the HFD-FMT group, 27 metabolites were significantly different and they were mainly involved in the several inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions Intestinal microbiota disorders induced by HFD can damage the intestinal barrier of rats, change the serum metabolic profile, induce low-grade inflammation and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of the penis, and lead to ED.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible associations between physical function assessment scales, such as Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), with all-cause mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. METHODS: A total of 108 ADHF patients were analyzed from October 2020 to October 2022, and followed up to May 2023. The association between baseline clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality was analyzed by univariate Cox regression analysis, while for SPPB and BBS, univariate Cox regression analysis was followed by receiver operating characteristic curves, in which the area under the curve represented their predictive accuracy for all-cause mortality. Incremental predictive values for both physical function assessments were measured by calculating net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement scores. Optimal cut-off value for BBS was then identified using restricted cubic spline plots, and survival differences below and above that cut-off were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. The clinical utility of BBS was measured using decision curve analysis. RESULTS: For baseline characteristics, age, female, blood urea nitrogen, as well as statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, were predictive for all-cause mortality for ADHF patients. With respect to SPPB and BBS, higher scores were associated with lower all-cause mortality rates for both assessments; similar area under the curves were measured for both (0.774 for SPPB and 0.776 for BBS). Furthermore, BBS ≤ 36.5 was associated with significantly higher mortality, which was still applicable even adjusting for confounding factors; BBS was also found to have great clinical utility under decision curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS BBS or SPPB could be used as tools to assess physical function in ageing ADHF patients, as well as prognosticate on all-cause mortality. Moreover, prioritizing the improvement of balance capabilities of ADHF patients in cardiac rehabilitation regimens could aid in lowering mortality risk.

OBJECTIVE To prepare zeolite imidazole framework （ZIF）-8 nanoparticles （NPs） loaded with temozolomide （TMZ） （abbreviated as TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs） drug delivery system， thus increasing drug enrichment and anti-glioma effects in lesions. METHODS After preparing ZIF-8 NPs using the room temperature solution reaction method， the impregnation method was used to prepare TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs drug delivery system. Characterization was carried out using transmission electron microscopy， laser particle size， and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy， and dissolution and anti-tumor activity experiments in vitro and in vivo were conducted. RESULTS TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs were successfully prepared with the particle size of （126.23±7.92） nm， drug loading amount of （28.79±1.26）%， and 72 h cumulative dissolution rate of （72.36±3.62）%. The results of in vitro anti-tumor activity experiments showed that the relative cell survival rate of ZIF-8 NPs remained above 90%； the prepared TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs delivery system exhibited superior inhibition， higher uptake capacity， and better promoting apoptosis effects on the growth and proliferation of C6 cells as compared with the free TMZ. The results of in vivo anti-tumor activity experiments showed that ZIF-8 NPs were not enriched in the brain of rats， and the enrichment effect of TMZ in the brain was not significant， while TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs had a significant enrichment effect in the brain. CONCLUSIONS ZIF-8 NPs can effectively load TMZ， and successfully prepared TMZ@ZIF-8 NPs can improve TMZ uptake ability and anti-glioma effect.

Nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), an intricate nuclear transcription factor, is ubiquitously present within the myriad tissues and cells of the human corpus, engaging in a multiplicity of biological processes such as the development of the immune system, immune responses, inflammatory reactions, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Its cardinal role in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases is increasingly illuminated by its prevalence. Owing to the unique architecture of the ocular globe, burgeoning studies have identified the excessive activation or dysregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway as intimately associated with the progression of a multitude of ocular conditions, including, but not limited to, cataracts, dry eye syndrome, and glaucoma. The modulation of NF-κB activation, by targeting it, offers a potent mechanism for regulating ocular inflammation and mitigating disease progression, holding promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for ophthalmic disorders. An in-depth examination of the NF-κB signaling pathway's role in ocular diseases not only enriches our comprehension of the underlying mechanisms of these ailments, but also lays a crucial foundation for the innovation of new treatment modalities. Therefore, this article endeavors to provide a compendious review of the regulatory effects exerted by the NF-κB signaling pathway in ophthalmic conditions throughout recent years.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide combined with semaglutide on the cognitive ability and pathological characteristics of D-Gal-induced Alzheimer's disease(AD) model mice. METHODS Forty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely the healthy control group, PBS group, bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide group, combined treatment group and positive control group, with 8 mice in each group, half of each sex. Except for the healthy control group, D-galactose was injected to induce the AD mice model for 6 weeks. For 3 consecutive weeks starting from the 4th week, the bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide group was injected with bs-5-YHEDA(1 mg·mL–1) once every other day at 200 µL in the tail vein; the bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide(1 mg·mL–1) and semaglutide(25 nmol·kg–1·d–1) were given alternately once a day in the combination treatment group; the positive control group was given memantine(3.3 mg·kg–1·d–1) by gavage every other day. The healthy control group and PBS group were injected with the equal dose of PBS. At the end of treatment, the learning memory ability of mice was detected by the Morris water maze method, whole brain and whole blood were dissected, and pathological changes in hippocampal region were observed by HE staining, and Aβ expression and Tau protein phosphorylation levels were detected by immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. RESULTS In the Morris water maze spatial exploration experiment, the differences in the number of times the mice traversed the platform, the ratio of swimming distance to the target quadrant, and the time ratio were statistically significant in each group(P<0.05); compared with the PBS group, the ratio of swimming distance to the target quadrant increased in the combined treatment group, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that compared with the healthy control mice, the hippocampal area in the PBS group showed reduced levels of pyramidal cells, disorganized arrangement, cell edema, and deep staining of nuclei consolidation. Cellular disorganization, deep staining of nuclei and apoptosis in the hippocampus were significantly improved in each treatment group after drug treatment. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that the Aβ expression levels and Tau protein phosphorylation levels were significantly higher in the PBS-administered mice compared with the healthy control mice, and the Aβ expression levels and Tau protein phosphorylation levels were reduced in each group after drug treatment, with statistically significant differences(P<0.01 or P<0.001 ). CONCLUSION The combination of bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide and semaglutide can effectively improve the learning and memory ability and pathological characteristics of AD mice, but from the results of immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting experiments, the improvement of pathological characteristics of AD mice in the combination treatment group is not obvious compared with the single bs-5-YHEDA iron chelating peptide group, suggesting that there may be a threshold effect of our designed dual-target combination treatment on the cognitive improvement of AD mice, and the optimization and validation of the effect of multi-target combination treatment need further study.