ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 （mTORC1） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules， while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate （PR）， total sperm motility （PR+NP）， percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally， eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group， and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK， phosphorylated （p）-AMPK， regulatory-associated protein of mTOR （RAPTOR） and p-RAPTOR， and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1） in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment， as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% （3/33）， which was higher than that （3.33%， 1/30） in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% （28/33） in the observation group and 66.7% （20/30） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. After treatment， both groups were improved considering PR， PR+NP， MMP， and TCM symptom scores （P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group （P<0.05）， while the changes in PR， PR+NP， and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group， the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK （P<0.01）. The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 （P<0.01）. However， the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period， neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway， lowering the protein level of PINK1， and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 （mTORC1） signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules， while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate （PR）， total sperm motility （PR+NP）， percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally， eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group， and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK， phosphorylated （p）-AMPK， regulatory-associated protein of mTOR （RAPTOR） and p-RAPTOR， and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1） in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment， as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% （3/33）， which was higher than that （3.33%， 1/30） in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% （28/33） in the observation group and 66.7% （20/30） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. After treatment， both groups were improved considering PR， PR+NP， MMP， and TCM symptom scores （P<0.01）. Moreover， the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group （P<0.05）， while the changes in PR， PR+NP， and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group， the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK （P<0.01）. The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 （P<0.01）. However， the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period， neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway， lowering the protein level of PINK1， and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.

As a traditional nutritional and healthy cash crop in China, tea has certain significance in promoting human health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Studies have shown that the nutritional health effect of tea is due to its rich functional components, mainly including tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine, alkaloids and other bioactive substances. At present, researchers from the academic circles have continuously carried out animal and human experiments on the health effects of various functional components of tea, which has accumulated abundant research data and materials. Based on this, this article reviews the literature on the nutritional and health effects of the main functional components of tea, and adopts the method of evidence-based research to screen and extract relevant data for qualitative and quantitative meta-analysis. Subsequently, the nutritional health effects of the five functional components of tea, namely tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine, and alkaloids, are summarized and outlined. Studies have shown that tea polyphenols, tea pigments, tea polysaccharides, theanine and alkaloids have different health effects and are expected to play their unique roles in promoting human health and preventing and controlling diseases.

Objective:To explore the relationship between BMI and levels of plasma amino acids and acylcarnitines in Chinese adults.Methods:Based on 2 182 individuals with targeted mass spectrometry metabolomic measurements from the first resurvey of the China Kadoorie Biobank, we assessed the linear and nonlinear associations between BMI and plasma levels of 20 amino acids and 40 acylcarnitines using linear regression models and restricted cubic spline models, and identified BMI-related metabolic pathways. We conducted one-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) with BMI genetic risk scores as the instrumental variable further to explore the potential causal relationships between BMI and 20 amino acids and 40 acylcarnitines, and tested for horizontal pleiotropy using the MR-Egger method.Results:Observational analyses found that BMI was associated with increased plasma levels of 3 branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, and valine), 2 aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine), 3 other amino acids (cysteine, glutamate, lysine), and 7 acylcarnitines (C3, C4, C5, C10, C10:1, C14, and C16), and with decreased circulating levels of asparagine, serine, and glycine. Pathway analysis identified 7 BMI-related amino acids metabolic pathways (false discovery rate corrected all P<0.05), including branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, etc. BMI showed a nonlinear relationship with leucine, valine, and threonine, and a linear relationship with other amino acids and acylcarnitines. One-sample MR analyses revealed that BMI was associated with elevated levels of tyrosine and 4 acylcarnitines [C5-DC(C6-OH), C5-M-DC, C12-DC, and C14], with tyrosine and acylcarnitine C14 positively correlated with BMI in both observational [the β values (95% CIs) were 0.057 (0.044-0.070) and 0.018 (0.005-0.032), respectively] and One-sample MR analyses [the β values (95% CIs) were 0.102 (0.035-0.169) and 0.104 (0.036-0.173), respectively]. The MR analyses of the current study satisfied the 3 core assumptions of instrumental variable. Conclusions:BMI was associated with circulating 11 amino acids and 7 acylcarnitines in Chinese adults, involving several pathways such as branched-chain amino acid and aromatic amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and oxidative stress. There may be a causal relationship between BMI and tyrosine and acylcarnitine C14.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs. China is still among the high-burden tuberculosis countries in the world. Although the estimated incidence of tuberculosis in China has declined in recent years, the declining rate is slow. It still faces major issues such as a slower rate of decline, a widening gap between estimated and notified incidence, higher risk among middle-aged and older adults, a high number of cases among agriculture and related workers, and a heavier disease burden in the country's western regions. In addition, latent tuberculosis infection, drug-resistant tuberculosis, tuberculosis coinfection with HIV, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis have also exacerbated the disease burden of tuberculosis to some extent. This paper reviewed the epidemic characteristics of tuberculosis, the epidemiological triad, three links and two factors in the transmission process, the disease burden, and other aspects to provide a reference for formulating prevention and control strategies on tuberculosis.

Epidemiology and medical statistics are essential courses for undergraduate students majoring in clinical medicine. By studying the two courses, they can obtain the core skills for their future clinical practice. High-level medical schools both at home and abroad have accumulated successful experiences in curriculum, teaching methods and teaching models of the two disciplines. These colleges have also carried out the exploration of the curriculum reform centering on "organ systems integration". This paper summarizes the current status of epidemiology and medical statistics teaching and curriculum integration in representative medical schools both at home and abroad, and puts forward suggestions for deepening teaching reform and optimizing the curriculum system to provide reference for the integration of epidemiology and medical statistics curriculums for undergraduate students majoring in clinical medicine in China.

Biological age (BA) is a marker to accurately assess aging, facilitating the prediction of age-related diseases and promoting healthy aging. In recent years, first- and second-generation organ-system-specific BA has been developed using chronological age (CA) or aging-related outcomes (mortality) as training phenotypes and data from questionnaires, physical examinations, clinical biochemistry, imaging, and multi-omics to investigate the specificity of organ systems aging. Here, we review the methodologies for constructing BA, current efforts to assess organ system-specific BA, and related genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Previous studies predominantly used the first-generation BA method, using CA as training phenotypes. Organ-system-specific BA can accurately predict the disease risk of corresponding organ systems. We propose the development of organ system-specific BA through second-generation BA models and conducting GWAS and Mendelian randomization studies to explore organ system-specific aging processes, which will provide a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of organ system-specific BA.

Objective To observe the effect of combination of partial body weight support and functional electrical stimulation on lower limb motor function for stroke patients. Methods From January,2023 to February,2024,60 stroke patients from Rehabilitation Hospital of Chancheng District People's Hospital in Foshan City were randomly divided into control group(n=30)and observation group(n=30).The control group received routine rehabilitation,while the observation group received a combination of ce-lestial orbit system and functional electrical stimulation in addition,for three weeks.They were assessed with Balance assessment and training system,Berg Balance Scale(BBS),Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities(FMA-LE)and Holden Functional Ambulation Category(FAC)before and after treatment. Results X-axis trajectory length,average speed of swaying,total wobble trajectory,Y-axis trajectory length,trajectory length per unit area,BBS score,FMA-LE score and FAC score improved in both groups after treatment(|t|＞4.809,P＜0.001);and all the indexes improved more in the observation group than in the control group(|t|＞2.268,P＜0.05),except X-axis trajectory length and average speed of swaying. Conclusion Supplement of the combination of partial body weight support and functional electrical stimulation is more effective on lower limb motor function,balance and walking for stroke patients.

Objective To investigate the mechanism mediating the regulatory effect of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 on cisplatin(DDP)resistance in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods MAGI2-AS3 and miR-1269a expression levels were detected by qRT-PCR in DDP-sensitive lung cancer cell lines(A549 and H1299)and their resistant counterparts(A549/DDP and H1299/DDP).In A549 and H1299 cells with MAGI2-AS3 silencing and A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells overexpressing MAGI2-AS3,the effects of 20 μmol/L DDP on cell viability and apoptosis were examined with CCK-8 assay,colony formation assay,flow cytometry and Western blotting,and the changes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)were assessed with wound healing and Transwell assays.The interaction between MAGI2-AS3,miR-1269a and PTEN was predicted using GEPIA,StarBase and miRDB and verified with luciferase reporter gene assay and radioimmunoprecipitation(RIP)assay.A miR-1269a mimic and pcDNA3.1-PTEN plasmid were used to perform the rescue assay.Results MAGI2-AS3 expression was significantly downregulated in lung cancer tissues(P<0.05)in association with a poor prognosis(P<0.05).In the two DDP-resistant lung cancer cell lines,MAGI2-AS3 expression was significantly lowered as compared with the sensitive cells.Silencing MAGI2-AS3 significantly enhanced cell viability and promoted EMT of A549 and H1299 cells irrespective of DDP treatment,and also decreased DDP-induced apoptosis of the cells.In A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells,MAGI2-AS3 overexpression strongly repressed cell viability and EMT irrespective of DDP treatment and promoted DDP-induced cell apoptosis.Luciferase reporter gene and RIP assays confirmed the binding of MAGI2-AS3 with miR-1269a and the binding of miR-1269a with 3'-UTR domain of PTEN.The rescue assay demonstrated that MAGI2-AS3 acted as a sponge for miR-1269a to promote PTEN expression and downregulate AKT phosphorylation,thus inhibiting EMT and promoting DDP-induced apoptosis of A549/DDP cells.Conclusion MAGI2-AS3 enhances DDP sensitivity of NSCLC by targeted regulation of the miR-1269a/PTEN/AKT signaling axis.

Objective To investigate the role of miRNAs in maternal amniotic fluid exosomes in development of isolated ventriculomegaly(VM)in fetuses.Methods Amniotic fluid samples were collected from 9 cases of moderate isolated VM and 8 normal control cases to extract exosomal miRNA,and miRNA sequencing technique was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs between the two groups.Three miRNAs with significant differential expression between the two groups,whose high expression was associated with VM,were selected for verification with RT-qPCR.Dual luciferase reporter assays were used to verify the regulatory effect of miR-122-5p on its predicted target genes AKT3 and CCDC88C.Gene ontology(GO)and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to explore the possible roles of the top 40 significant differential miRNAs in the pathophysiology of VM.Results We identified a total of 272 differentially expressed miRNAs in VM cases,including 43 up-regulated and 229 down-regulated miRNAs.The target genes of these differential miRNAs were associated with DNA and transcription factor binding,transmembrane transporter and nucleic acid binding transcription factor activity,and cell developmental process.These miRNAs were mostly enriched in the MAPK,cGMP-PKG and Wnt signaling pathways.Verification with RT-qPCR showed that miR-122-5p expression level was significantly lower in VM group than in the control group(P<0.05),which was consistent with miRNA sequencing results;let-7b-5p expression level was significantly lower in VM group,which was contrary to miRNA sequencing result.Dual luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-122-5p was not capable of regulating AKT3 or CCDC88C expressions.Conclusions The highly abundant differentially expressed miRNAs in maternal amniotic fluid exosomes play important roles in the occurrence of fetal VM possibly by regulating the MAPK,PI3K-Akt,Wnt and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways.