Icariin inhibition of NLRP3 mediated Leydig cell pyroptosis and insulin resistance ameliorates spermatogenesis disorders in obese mice.

Obesity, characterized by excessive body fat accumulation due to energy metabolism imbalance, has emerged as a significant risk factor for male infertility. Icariin (ICA), a principal constituent of Epimedium, has demonstrated potential in improving obesity and enhancing testicular spermatogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of ICA in mitigating obesity-induced male infertility through the suppression of inflammation and insulin resistance.

Loss of KIFC1 activity induces spindle instability and actin defects during porcine oocyte maturation.

KIFC1 is a motor protein of the Kinesin family and it is involved in spindle apparatus assembly, chromosome arrangement, and microfilament-mediated biological processes in mitosis. However, the specific function of KIFC1 in pig oocytes remains unclear. Here, in order to explore the function of KIFC1 in porcine oocytes, the AZ82 inhibitor was used to inhibit the activity of KIFC1.

Machine-learning-based cost prediction models for inpatients with mental disorders in China.

Background: Mental disorders are increasingly prevalent, leading to increased medical expenditures. To refine the reimbursement of medical costs for inpatients with mental disorders by health insurance, an accurate prediction model is essential. Per-diem payment is a common internationally implemented payment method for medical insurance of inpatients with mental disorders, necessitating the exploration of advanced machine learning methods for predicting the average daily hospitalization costs (ADHC) based on the characteristics of inpatients with mental disorders.

Using Discrete Choice Experiments to Measure the Preferences of Older People for Home Care Services in China.

The global aging demographic trend has led to an increased demand for home care services among older people. We measured the preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) of older adults in China for home care services using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) design. A total of 496 valid responses from older adults were included.

Loss of LRRK2 activity induces cytoskeleton defects and oxidative stress during porcine oocyte maturation.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a ROCO family member which its mutation is closely related with Parkinson's disease, and LRRK2 is widely involved into the regulation of autophagy, vesicle transport and neuronal proliferation. However, the roles of LRRK2 during mammalian oocyte maturation are still largely unclear. In present study, we disturbed the activity of LRRK2 and showed its essential roles in porcine oocytes.

Development of a spontaneous model of renal interstitial fibrosis in NOD/SCID mice: Aging-induced pathogenesis.

Renal interstitial fibrosis, a condition prevalent in aging humans and animals, is closely linked to the eventual development of renal failure. Establishing an animal model that exactly replicates the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis induced by natural aging in humans is crucial for advancing mechanistic studies and testing antifibrotic therapies. Implanted allogeneic or xenogeneic cells are cleared by the immune system when stem cell therapy is applied in nonimmunodeficient animal fibrosis models, affecting the effect of the intervention and making it difficult to demonstrate the survival, proliferation, differentiation, or secretion of the delivered autologous human-derived cells.

Serum concentration threshold and risk factors of tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia in critically ill patients.

Objectives: Hypofibrinogenaemia is a serious adverse reaction associated with tigecycline (TGC) therapy and may lead to the discontinuation of the treatment. This study aimed to explore the relevant factors of TGC-induced hypofibrinogenaemia and determine the thresholds of serum concentration as a predictive indicator of TGC-induced hypofibrinogenaemia.

Methods: A retrospective single-centre study was conducted on patients with severe infection who were treated with TGC.

BMSCs-EVs Alleviate Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Mice by Reducing Inflammation and Promoting Tissue Regeneration.

Background/aim: Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFDs), which encompass pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and anal incontinence (AI), are common degenerative diseases in women. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) hold promise for the treatment of PFDs. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from BMSCs, have displayed an extensive role in intercellular communication and tissue repair.

Mutation of the SUMOylation site of Aurora-B disrupts spindle formation and chromosome alignment in oocytes.

Aurora-B is a kinase that regulates spindle assembly and kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) attachment during mitosis and meiosis. SUMOylation is involved in the oocyte meiosis regulation through promoting spindle assembly and chromosome segregation, but its substrates to support this function is still unknown. It is reported that Aurora-B is SUMOylated in somatic cells, and SUMOylated Aurora-B contributes the process of mitosis.

Research progress of Mn-based low-temperature SCR denitrification catalysts.

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a efficiently nitrogen oxides removal technology from stationary source flue gases. Catalysts are key component in the technology, but currently face problems including poor low-temperature activity, narrow temperature windows, low selectivity, and susceptibility to water passivation and sulphur dioxide poisoning. To develop high-efficiency low-temperature denitrification activity catalyst, manganese-based catalysts have become a focal point of research globally for low-temperature SCR denitrification catalysts.

Deoxynivalenol exposure disturbs the cytoplasmic maturation in porcine oocytes.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi and belonged to trichothecenes, and it widely presents in various food commodities. Previous studies have highlighted its potent toxicity, adversely affecting the growth, development, and reproductive in both humans and animals. However, the potential impact of DON on porcine oocyte organelles remains elusive.

Optimizing the individual dosing of paroxetine in major depressive disorder with therapeutic drug monitoring.

Introduction: Previous studies have examined the correlation between paroxetine concentrations and therapeutic efficacy in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), but findings have been contradictory.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among plasma concentrations, severity of symptoms, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to optimize individual dosing.

Methods: Eighty-seven MDD patients, after completing treatment with paroxetine, were divided into low-concentration (LC,  = 38), medium-concentration (MC,  = 27), and high-concentration (HC,  = 22) groups, based on cutoff value concentrations with the 50% response rate and the laboratory alert level from the 2017 consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in neuropsychopharmacology.

Analysis of Spinal Pilocytic Astrocytoma in 12 Case Reports and Literature Review.

Spinal pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a rare disorder with atypical, clinical and imaging characteristics, and generally limited to case reports. We analysed the clinical manifestations, imaging findings, treatment and prognostic follow-up of 12 patients with spinal PA admitted from January 2010 to July 2021, and reviewed the relevant literature. Radiological assessment, especially magnetic resonance imaging, can help to provide effective diagnostic information.

Analysis of the Improvement Sequence in Insomnia Symptoms and Factors Influencing the Treatment Outcomes of Smartphone-Delivered CBT in Patients with Insomnia Disorder.

Background: The effectiveness of medication combined with smartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been well verified, but there are few studies on the sequence of remission of insomnia symptoms. This study aims to understand the sequence of symptom improvement and the factors influencing the treatment effectiveness in patients with insomnia.

Methods: Smartphone-delivered CBT, as a form of Online CBT, allows for training through mobile devices at any time and place.

Icariin protects testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through regulation of glycolysis pathway.

Objective: This study aims to investigate potential beneficial actions of icariin (ICA) on testicular spermatogenic function in male rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes and to explore the underlying mechanisms. ICA was found to reduce blood glucose, regulate the endocrine function of the reproductive system, and improve testicular spermatogenic function.

Methods: Adult rats were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (65 mg/kg) to induce type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Dendrobium nobile-derived polysaccharides stimulate the glycolytic pathway by activating SIRT2 to regulate insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome granulosa cells.

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the major complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to investigate the effects and the molecular regulatory mechanism by which Dendrobium nobile-derived polysaccharides (DNP) improve IR in rats with letrozole and high-fat-diet induced PCOS. In vivo, DNP (200 mg/kg/d) administration not only reduced body weight, blood glucose, and insulin levels in PCOS rats, but also improve the disrupted estrous cycle.

HT-2 toxin impairs porcine oocyte in vitro maturation through disruption of endomembrane system.

HT-2 toxin is a type of mycotoxin which is shown to affect gastric and intestinal lesions, hematopoietic and immunosuppressive effects, anorexia, lethargy, nausea. Recently, emerging evidences indicate that HT-2 also disturbs the reproductive system. In this study, we investigated the impact of HT-2 toxin exposure on the organelles of porcine oocytes.

Benzo[a]pyrene exposure disrupts the organelle distribution and function of mouse oocytes.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound that is generated during combustion processes, and is present in various substances such as foods, tobacco smoke, and burning emissions. BaP is extensively acknowledged as a highly carcinogenic substance to induce multiple forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, skin cancer, and stomach cancer. Recently it is shown to adversely affect the reproductive system.

Progress in the Regulation of Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment by Bioactive Compounds of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) can aid tumor cells in evading surveillance and clearance by immune cells, creating an internal environment conducive to tumor cell growth. Consequently, there is a growing focus on researching anti-tumor immunity through the regulation of immune cells within the TME. Various bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are known to alter the immune balance by modulating the activity of immune cells in the TME.

Cu(II)-Loaded Polydopamine-Coated Urchin-like Titanate Microspheres as a High-Performance IMAC Adsorbent for Hemoglobin Separation.

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) adsorbents generally have excellent affinity for histidine-rich proteins. However, the leaching of metal ions from the adsorbent usually affects its adsorption performance, which greatly affects the reusable performance of the adsorbent, resulting in many limitations in practical applications. Herein, a novel IMAC adsorbent, i.

Kinesin KIFC3 is essential for microtubule stability and cytokinesis in oocyte meiosis.

KIFC3 is a member of Kinesin-14 family motor proteins, which play a variety of roles such as centrosome cohesion, cytokinesis, vesicles transportation and cell proliferation in mitosis. Here, we investigated the functional roles of KIFC3 in meiosis. Our findings demonstrated that KIFC3 exhibited expression and localization at centromeres during metaphase I, followed by translocation to the midbody at telophase I throughout mouse oocyte meiosis.