Antiviral activity of a polysaccharide from Sargassum fusiforme against respiratory syncytial virus.

This experiment examined the antiviral activity of polysaccharides from Sargassum fusiforme against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in vitro, including their mechanism of action and preliminary structural analysis. Four polysaccharides (SFP1, SFP2, SFP3, and SFP4) were purified from Sargassum fusiforme using a DEAE-52 cellulose column and an NW Super 150 gel column. CCK-8 and western blot were utilized to study the antiviral activities and mechanisms of the polysaccharides. Preliminary structural analysis was conducted using HPLC and NMR techniques. The findings suggest that SFP4 (120 kD) is an acidic chemical compound composed of 88.8 % total sugars, 0.13 % proteins, 10.8 % glucuronidic acids, and 21.1 % sulfates. It contains at least ten monosaccharides, primarily mannuronic acid and fucose. Among the four polysaccharides, SFP4 had the highest anti-RSV activity, with a therapeutic index (TI) exceeding 139. SFP4 exhibited noteworthy antiviral efficacy in both upper and lower respiratory cells that were infected, especially when administered as a prophylactic treatment 2 h in advance. Furthermore, SFP4 showed a dose-dependent antiviral effect, with the highest therapeutic index (TI > 320) observed at a concentration of 7.81 µg·mL-1 during the prophylactic phase. It was speculated that SFP4's antiviral effect is due to its ability to inhibit the attachment of G-proteins to cells.

Understanding the Hierarchical Structure of Collagen Fibers of the Human Periodontal Ligament: Implications for Biomechanical Characteristics.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a unique fibrous connective tissue that regulates periodontal homeostasis mechanisms. Its biomechanical properties primarily reside in the hierarchical and non-uniform collagenous network. This study aimed to investigate the region-specific structure and composition of collagen fibers in the PDL at various scales and to explore their relationship with mechanical properties in a split-mouth design. Fresh human cadaver transverse PDL specimens of maxillary anterior teeth were categorized into cervical, middle, and apical groups. These specimens were analyzed via Masson's trichrome staining, scanning electron microscopy, picrosirius red (PSR) staining, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, Raman spectroscopy, and uniaxial tensile test. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the structural, compositional, and tensile properties among the groups. Notably, the middle PDL samples exhibited superior tensile strength and higher fiber area fraction than the other two transverse sections. Despite a higher mineral-to-matrix ratio and a different collagen secondary structure, the apical PDL demonstrated a relatively weaker tensile strength, possibly associated with its discovered sparser collagen fiber areal fraction. The cervical region, characterized by a mediocre fiber areal fraction, displayed diminished tensile strength. The 3D reconstructed collagenous network model and PSR staining exposed the fiber interaction and the micropores. Microscale porosity and variations in collagen secondary structure, particularly in the apical region, suggest adaptive mechanisms for accommodating compressive forces and maintaining functional integrity. Variance in the tensile properties of samples in different force directions indicated the significant influence of fiber orientation and root level on tissue mechanics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : This study provides critical insights into the biomechanical and structural properties of the human periodontal ligament (PDL), particularly focusing on the underexplored anterior teeth. Through advanced techniques like SEM, histological staining, 3D reconstruction, Raman spectroscopy, and tensile testing, we reveal significant regional variations in PDL collagen organization, composition, and biomechanical properties. Our findings address a crucial knowledge gap concerning the material mechanics of the PDL, offering a foundational understanding for future periodontal tissue engineering and biomimetic material development. This multi-scale analysis underscores the importance of both mesoscale structural characteristics and nanoscale molecular structures in maintaining PDL mechanical integrity.

Impaired 2',3'-cyclic phosphate tRNA repair causes thermo-sensitive genic male sterility in rice.

Hybrid rice, widely planted in Asia, is pathogen resistant and has superior yields, making it a major contributor to global food security. The two-line hybrid rice system, which utilizes mutants exhibiting photo-/thermo-sensitive genic male sterility (P/TGMS), is the leading hybrid rice breeding technology. Mutations in THERMO-SENSITIVE GENIC MALE STERILE 5 (TMS5) accounts for over 95% of current TGMS lines. We previously found that tms5 carries a mutation in ribonuclease ZS1. Despite its importance for breeding robust rice lines, the mechanism underlying tms5-mediated TGMS remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that TMS5 is a tRNA 2',3'-cyclic phosphatase. The tms5 mutation leads to accumulation of 2',3'-cyclic phosphate (cP)-ΔCCA-tRNAs (tRNAs without 3' CCA ended with cP), which is exacerbated by high temperatures, and reduction in the abundance of mature tRNAs, particularly alanine tRNAs (tRNA-Alas). Overexpression of tRNA-Alas in the tms5 mutant restores male fertility to 70%. Remarkably, male fertility of tms5 mutant is completely restored at high temperatures by knocking out OsVms1 which encodes the enzyme for cP-ΔCCA-tRNA generation. Our study reveals the mechanism underlying tms5-mediated TGMS in rice and provides mechanistic insight into the further improvement of TGMS in hybrid crop development.

Modified Chitosan-Based Coating/Packaging Composites with Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and UV-Resistant Properties for Fresh Food Preservation.

Chitosan-based biomass packaging materials are a promising material for food preservation, but their limited solubility, antioxidant capacity, UV resistance, and mechanical properties severely restrict their application. In this study, we developed a novel chitosan-based coating/packaging composite (QCTO) using quaternary ammonium salt and tannic acid (TA)-modified chitosan (QCS-TA) and oxidized chitosan (OCS). The introduction of quaternary ammonium salt and TA effectively improves the water solubility and antibacterial, antioxidant, and UV-resistant properties of chitosan. The Schiff-base bond formed between OCS and QCS-TA, along with the TA-mediated multiple interactions, conferred the prepared composite film with good mechanical properties (69.9 MPa tensile strength) and gas barrier performance to water (14.3 g·h-1·m-2) and oxygen (3.5 g·mm·m-2·h-1). Meanwhile, the prepared QCTO composites demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and safety and are applied as coatings for strawberries and bananas as well as packaging films for mushrooms. These preservation experiments demonstrated that the prepared composites are able to effectively reduce weight loss, prevent microbial growth, maintain color, and significantly prolong the shelf life of fresh products (bananas, strawberries, and mushrooms extended shelf life by 6, 5, and 6 days, respectively). Therefore, the developed QCTO coating/packaging film shows great potential for applications in the field of food preservation and packaging.

Association between meeting 24-hour movement behavior guidelines and quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Meeting the 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) guideline helps enhance quality of life (QOL) of adolescents. This study aimed to assess the associations between the 24-HMB (physical activity, screen time, sleep) and QOL among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and September 2023. 24-HMB, QOL and demographic variables were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. Linear regression models and stratified analyses were used to explore statistical associations between the 24-HMB and QOL. RESULTS: A total of 1073 participants aged 10-18 years with a spinal Cobb angle between 10° and 40° were included. Overall, 20 participants (1.9%) met all three behavioral guidelines, and 272 participants (25.3%) met none. Compared to those who did not meet any of the guidelines, adolescents meeting both screen time and sleep duration (ß = 4.10, 95% CI: 2.02-6.18, P < 0.001) and all 3 guidelines (ß = 4.39, 95% CI: 0.27-8.51, P = 0.037) had higher QOL scores. Stratified analyses showed that the above associations were more pronounced in adolescents without back pain or with good self-image. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of adopting and maintaining healthy behavioral habits in order to improve QOL among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, especially in those without back pain or with good self-image.

Versatile conductive hydrogel orchestrating neuro-immune microenvironment for rapid diabetic wound healing through peripheral nerve regeneration.

Diabetic wound (DW), notorious for prolonged healing processes due to the unregulated immune response, neuropathy, and persistent infection, poses a significant challenge to clinical management. Current strategies for treating DW primarily focus on alleviating the inflammatory milieu or promoting angiogenesis, while limited attention has been given to modulating the neuro-immune microenvironment. Thus, we present an electrically conductive hydrogel dressing and identify its neurogenesis influence in a nerve injury animal model initially by encouraging the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells. Further, endowed with the synergizing effect of near-infrared responsive release of curcumin and nature-inspired artificial heterogeneous melanin nanoparticles, it can harmonize the immune microenvironment by restoring the macrophage phenotype and scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species. This in-situ formed hydrogel also exhibits mild photothermal therapy antibacterial efficacy. In the infected DW model, this hydrogel effectively supports nerve regeneration and mitigates the immune microenvironment, thereby expediting the healing progress. The versatile hydrogel exhibits significant therapeutic potential for application in DW healing through fine-tuning the neuro-immune microenvironment.

Developmental cochlear defects are involved in early-onset hearing loss in A/J mice.

BACKGROUND: A/J mice exhibited a severe hearing loss (HL) at juvenile stage. Up-to-date, studies on HL in A/J mice have mostly focused on the damage or dysfunction of hair cells (HCs), spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), and stereocilia. We examined A/J mice at the early postnatal stage and found that the damage and the loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) are not severe enough to explain the profound HL observed at this age, which suggests that other cochlear defects may be responsible for HL. To better understand the mechanisms of early-onset HLin A/J mice, we characterized the pathology of the cochlea from postnatal day 3 to day 21. RESULTS: Our results showed defects in cochlear HC stereocilia and MET channel function as early as 3 days old. We also found abnormal localization and a significant reduction in the number of ribbon synapses in 2-week-old A/J mice. There are also abnormalities in the cochlear nerve innervation and terminal swellings in 3-week-old A/J mice. CONCLUSION: All of the abnormalities of cochlear existed in the A/J mice were identified in the juvenile stage and occurred before HCs or auditory nerve loss and was the initial pathological change. Our results suggest that developmental defects and subsequent cochlear degeneration are responsible for early-onset hearing loss in A/J mice.

cNPAS2 induced ß cell dysfunction by regulating KANK1 expression in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is formed by defective insulin secretion with the addition of peripheral tissue resistance of insulin action. It has been affecting over 400 million people all over the world. AIM: To explore the pathogenesis of T2DM and to develop and implement new prevention and treatment strategies for T2DM. METHODS: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to conduct diagnostic markers. The expression level of genes was determined by reverse transcription-PCR as well as Western blot. Cell proliferation assays were performed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) tests. At last, T2DM mice underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. RESULTS: We found that NPAS2 was significantly up-regulated in islet ß cell apoptosis of T2DM. The ROC curve revealed that NPAS2 was capable of accurately diagnosing T2DM. NPAS2 overexpression did increase the level of KANK1. In addition, the CCK-8 test revealed knocking down NPAS2 and KANK1 increased the proliferation of MIN6 cells. At last, we found that gastric bypass may treat type 2 diabetes by down-regulating NPAS2 and KANK1. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that NPAS2 induced ß cell dysfunction by regulating KANK1 expression in type 2 diabetes, and it may be an underlying therapy target of T2DM.

SARS-CoV-2 variants divergently infect and damage cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 can cause cardiac complications and the latter are associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality. SARS-CoV-2 variants differ in their infectivity and pathogenicity, but how they affect cardiomyocytes (CMs) is unclear. METHODS: The effects of SARS-CoV-2 variants were investigated using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (hiPSC-) CMs in vitro and Golden Syrian hamsters in vivo. RESULTS: Different variants exhibited distinct tropism, mechanism of viral entry and pathology in the heart. Omicron BA.2 most efficiently infected and injured CMs in vitro and in vivo, and induced expression changes consistent with increased cardiac dysfunction, compared to other variants tested. Bioinformatics and upstream regulator analyses identified transcription factors and network predicted to control the unique transcriptome of Omicron BA.2 infected CMs. Increased infectivity of Omicron BA.2 is attributed to its ability to infect via endocytosis, independently of TMPRSS2, which is absent in CMs. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we reveal previously unknown differences in how different SARS-CoV-2 variants affect CMs. Omicron BA.2, which is generally thought to cause mild disease, can damage CMs in vitro and in vivo. Our study highlights the need for further investigations to define the pathogenesis of cardiac complications arising from different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Interaction of phosphorus and GA3 improved oilseed flax grain yield and phosphorus-utilization efficiency.

Introduction: Phosphorus nutrition and hormone concentration both affect crop yield formation. Ascertaining the interaction of phosphorus and GA3 has a synergistic effect on the grain yield and phosphorus utilization efficiency of oilseed flax in dryland. It is extremely important for improving grain yield and phosphorus utilization efficiency. Methods: A field experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 at the Dingxi Oil Crops Test Station to investigated the effects of phosphorus, gibberellin (GA3), and their interaction on the grain yield and phosphorus-utilization efficiency of oilseed flax plants. Phosphorus fertilizer was applied at three levels (0, 67.5, 135 kg P2O5·ha-1) and GA3 was also sprayed at three concentrations (0, 15, and 30 mg·L-1). Results: The results showed that application of 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 reduced leaves acid phosphatase (ACPase) activity, but increased phosphorus accumulation throughout the growth period, the 1000-kernel weight (TKW), and the number of grains per capsule. Spraying GA3 significantly increased the leaves ACPase activity, phosphorus accumulation after anthesis and its contribution to grain, phosphorus-utilization efficiency, the number of capsules per plant, and TKW. The phosphorus accumulation at the anthesis, kernel, and maturity stages under the treatment of fertilizing 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 and spraying 30 mg·L-1 GA3 were increased by 56.06%, 73.51%, and 62.17%, respectively, compared with the control (no phosphorus, no GA3). And the phosphorus accumulation after anthesis and its contribution to grain also increased. 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 combined with 30 mg·L-1 GA3 and 135 kg P2O5·ha-1 combined with 15 mg·L-1 GA3 both significantly increased grain yield of oilseed flax, reaching 1696 kg·ha-1 and 1716 kg·ha-1 across two years, respectively. And there was no significant difference between them. However, the former treatment significant increased the apparent utilization rate, agronomic utilization rate, and partial productivity of phosphorus. The interaction between phosphorus and GA3 was significant for grain yield. Conclusion: Therefore, the application of 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 in combination with 30 mg·L-1 GA3 is an effective fertilization approach for enhancing oilseed flax growth and grain yield in the experiment region and other similar areas.

A rare case of acute meningitis caused by Moraxella osloensis.

Meningitis caused by Moraxella osloensis is rare and easily misdiagnosed clinically. Here, we report the first case of meningitis caused by M. osloensis in China by taking advantage of the metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology in cerebrospinal fluid for pathogen screening. In addition, we extend the neurological signs, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment of this rare disease.

Cross-provincial inpatient mobility patterns and their determinants in China.

BACKGROUND: The incongruity between the regional supply and demand of healthcare services is a persistent challenge both globally and in China. Patient mobility plays a pivotal role in addressing this issue. This study aims to delineate the cross-provincial inpatient mobility network (CIMN) in China and identify the underlying factors influencing this CIMN. METHODS: We established China's CIMN by applying a spatial transfer matrix, utilizing the flow information from 5,994,624 cross-provincial inpatients in 2019, and identified the primary demand and supply provinces for healthcare services. Subsequently, we employed GeoDetector to analyze the impact of 10 influencing factors-including medical resources, medical quality, and medical expenses-on the spatial patterns of CIMN. FINDINGS: Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces are the preferred medical destinations for cross-provincial inpatients, while Anhui, Henan, Hebei, and Jiangsu provinces are the main sources for cross-provincial inpatients. Patient flow between provinces decreases with distance. The spatial distribution of medical resources, medical quality, and medical expenses account for 87%, 73%, and 56% of the formation of CIMN, respectively. Additionally, interactions between these factors enhance explanatory power, suggesting that considering their interactions can more effectively optimize medical resources and services. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of CIMN reveals the supply and demand patterns of healthcare services, providing insights into the inequality characteristics of healthcare access. Furthermore, understanding the driving factors and their interactions offers essential evidence for optimizing healthcare services.

Managing tobacco black shank disease using biochar: direct toxicity and indirect ecological mechanisms.

Black shank disease in tobacco, caused by Phytophthora nicotianae, can lead to yield losses of 30%-50% upon outbreak. Recently, biochar derived from agricultural waste has shown significant potential in controlling soil-borne diseases, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Over a 3-year observation period, we found that the incidence of black shank was significantly lower in plots amended with biochar compared with normal cultivation plots. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we studied both the direct and indirect effects of biochar on black shank. Direct antifungal assays indicated that biochar reduced the total number of sporangia by 53.91%. Further pot experiments revealed a 62.34% reduction in the P. nicotianae population in the soil following biochar application. Additionally, biochar application led to notable changes in soil physicochemical properties and microbial community composition. Microbial species analysis showed that biochar promoted the aggregation of beneficial microbes such as Sphingomonas, Flavisolibacter, and Mucoromycota. Functional predictions using the PICRUSt 2 software revealed that biochar enhances bacterial functions related to antimicrobial substance synthesis (Tetracycline biosynthesis), detoxification metabolism (D-arginine and D-ornithine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism), and lipid and fatty acid metabolism (Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis), while fungal functions showed no significant changes. This suggests that rhizosphere bacteria play a more prominent role in the suppression of black shank by biochar, a finding supported by partial least squares path modeling analysis. Therefore, we hypothesize that biochar not only directly inhibits P. nicotianae growth but also regulates the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community, inducing the production of antimicrobial substances by rhizosphere bacteria, effectively preventing P. nicotianae invasion.IMPORTANCEBlack shank, a global soil-borne fungal disease in tobacco, currently lacks effective control methods. Notably, biochar derived from agricultural waste has shown significant potential in controlling soil-borne diseases. Over a 3-year observation period, we found that plots amended with biochar had a significantly lower incidence of black shank compared with normal cultivation plots. However, the mechanisms of disease suppression remained unclear. Through in vitro antifungal assays and pot experiments, we discovered that tobacco-derived biochar can directly inhibit the growth of the pathogen. Additionally, biochar regulates the composition of the rhizosphere microbial community, inducing rhizosphere bacteria to produce antimicrobial substances, effectively preventing pathogen invasion. This discovery reveals both the direct and indirect mechanisms by which biochar suppresses black shank in tobacco. It provides a scientific basis for developing green control technologies for black shank and offers theoretical support for the application of biochar in managing soil-borne diseases in tobacco cultivation areas.

Circular RNA LDLRAD3 promotes gastric cancer progression by upregulating COL4A5 through sponging miR-137.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs play an important role in the development of gastric cancer (GC). circ-LDLRAD3 has been confirmed to be related to GC progression. miR-137 is also a suppressor in GC. However, the impact of the interaction between circ-LDLRAD3 and miR-137 on the progression of gastric cancer remains unclear at present. METHODS: The study identified expression level differences of circ-LDLRAD3, miR-137, and COL4A5 in gastric cancer pathological specimens compared to normal tissue samples. Furthermore, through in vitro experiments, including flow cytometry, CCK-8 assays, wound healing, Western blotting, and colony formation assays, we further explored the molecular regulatory mechanisms by which these factors promote the progression of gastric cancer. RESULTS: In this study, circ-LDLRAD3 was confirmed to have higher expression, and miR-137 had lower expression in GC tissues and cell lines. circ-LDLRAD3 knockdown and miR-137 overexpression promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in GC cell lines. Further experiments validated that COL4A5 has a positive relationship with GC and that circ-LDLRAD3 promotes the expression of COL4A5. circ-LDLRAD3 could be sponged and inhibited by miR-137 in GC cells. As a result, the promotional effect of circ-LDLRAD3 on COL4A5 is counteracted by miR-137. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found that the knockdown of circ-LDLRAD3 suppressed the development of GC by regulating the miR-137/COL4A5 axis.

N-palmitoylethanolamide attenuates negative emotions induced by morphine withdrawal in mice.

Depression and anxiety are prominent symptoms of withdrawal syndrome, often caused by the abuse of addictive drugs like morphine. N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a biologically active lipid, is utilized as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication. Recent studies have highlighted PEA's role in mitigating cognitive decline and easing depression resulting from chronic pain. However, it remains unknown whether PEA can influence negative emotions triggered by morphine withdrawal. This study seeks to explore the impact of PEA on such emotions and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Mice subjected to morphine treatment underwent a 10-day withdrawal period, followed by assessments of the effect of PEA on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors using various tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in specific brain regions. The findings indicate that PEA mitigated anxiety and depression symptoms and reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In summary, PEA demonstrates a significant positive effect on negative emotions associated with morphine withdrawal, accompanied with the reduction in levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in key brain regions. These insights could be valuable for managing negative emotions arising from morphine withdrawal.

Preparation and insecticidal performance of 1,8-cineole/cellulose acetate electrospun fibrous membranes.

Plant essential oils and their components have broad application prospects as substitutes for chemical pesticides. However, the burst release and persistence time need to be optimized. In this study, 1,8-cineole (1,8-CIN) was embedded in degradable cellulose acetate (CA) by electrospinning to achieve sustained release. The results showed that the sustained-release membrane had good morphology and thermal stability. The release test showed that the deficiency of the explosive release of 1,8-CIN improved after encapsulation, and 21.74 % of the drug remained after 42 days. In the application test, the fiber membrane could kill the test insects in a short period of time and affect the behavior choices of the test insects. It affected the growth and oviposition of the test insects and reduced adult longevity by 13.64 % and oviposition by 23.35 %. This study can improve the utilization rate of pesticides, alleviate environmental pressure, and provide new ideas for pest control.

Selective adsorption of methylene blue dye by a flocculation sludge-derived adsorbent prepared by carboxymethyl chitosan-based flocculants.

The flocculation of dyeing wastewater generated a large amount of sludge that was often disposed as refractory hazardous waste. The resource utilization of flocculation sludge was of great significance in terms of low treatment cost of sludge, low environmental risk and high usage efficiency of reactive dyes. Herein, a flocculation sludge-derived (FSD) adsorbent was prepared via cross-linking of flocculation sludge yielding by carboxymethyl chitosan-based flocculants and dyes. FSD adsorbent had excellent selective adsorption performance for methylene blue (MB) treatment. The highest removal rate of MB and adsorption capacity of FSD adsorbent were 96.48 % and 354.7066 mg/g, attributing to its rich functional groups, negative charges and special micropore structure. FSD adsorbent owned the favorable regeneration efficiency and stability. Its removal rate of MB was still above 71.8 % after 6 regeneration-adsorption cycles. Its leaching rate of dyes was only 0.0016 mg/mg that was rather lower than common dried flocculation sludge. The adsorption processes of FSD adsorbent were complex in accordance with its characteristics, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics and theoretical calculation. Multiple adsorption mechanisms were present in the treatment of dyeing wastewater by FSD adsorbent. The resource utilization of flocculation sludge, as adsorbents, was a potential candidate in field application.

[Linggui Formula for asthenospermia with kidney deficiency and blood stasis: A randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Linggui Formula (LGF) in the treatment of asthenospermia with kidney deficiency and blood stasis. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 90 cases of asthenospermia with kidney deficiency and blood stasis treated in our hospital from September 2022 to September 2023, 45 by oral medication with LGF (the trial group) and the other 45 with oral levocarnitine solution (the control group), all for 12 weeks. We followed up the patients for 12 weeks, recorded the semen parameters, TCM syndrome scores, sexual hormone levels, pregnancy rates, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of the patients, and compared them between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: Totally, 82 of the patients completed the study, 42 in the trial and 40 in the control group. After treatment, the patients in the trial group showed significant increases in the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) (from ï¼»19.25±3.08ï¼½% to ï¼»38.57±4.99ï¼½%, P< 0.05), total sperm motility (from ï¼»32.29±3.64ï¼½% to ï¼»46.50±4.77ï¼½%, P< 0.05) and sperm concentration (from ï¼»83.9±37.2ï¼½ to ï¼»95.1±34.9ï¼½× 106/ml ï¼½, P< 0.05), and so did the controls in PMS (from ï¼»19.75±4.28ï¼½% to ï¼»34.46±5.07ï¼½%, P< 0.05), total sperm motility (from ï¼»33.02±4.93ï¼½% to ï¼»43.11±4.72ï¼½%, P< 0.05) and sperm concentration (from ï¼»85.2±39.7ï¼½ to ï¼»88.1±35.2ï¼½ × 106/ml , P< 0.05), all even more significant in the trial than in the control group (P< 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the semen volume either in the trial (from ï¼»3.38±0.38ï¼½ to ï¼»3.24±0.45ï¼½ ml, P> 0.05) or in the control group (from ï¼»3.46±0.52ï¼½ to ï¼»3.30±0.37ï¼½ ml, P> 0.05), or between the trial and control groups (P> 0.05), or in the sexual hormone levels, pregnancy rates, and sperm DFI between the two groups before and after treatment (P> 0.05). Both groups of patients had good safety profiles without serious adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: Linggui Formula can improve the percentage of PMS in asthenospermia patients with kidney deficiency and blood stasis, potentially enhancing pregnancy rates and with a good safety.

Large-scale parameters framework with large convolutional kernel for encoding visual fMRI activity information.

Visual encoding models often use deep neural networks to describe the brain's visual cortex response to external stimuli. Inspired by biological findings, researchers found that large receptive fields built with large convolutional kernels improve convolutional encoding model performance. Inspired by scaling laws in recent years, this article investigates the performance of large convolutional kernel encoding models on larger parameter scales. This paper proposes a large-scale parameters framework with a sizeable convolutional kernel for encoding visual functional magnetic resonance imaging activity information. The proposed framework consists of three parts: First, the stimulus image feature extraction module is constructed using a large-kernel convolutional network while increasing channel numbers to expand the parameter size of the framework. Second, enlarging the input data during the training stage through the multi-subject fusion module to accommodate the increase in parameters. Third, the voxel mapping module maps from stimulus image features to functional magnetic resonance imaging signals. Compared to sizeable convolutional kernel visual encoding networks with base parameter scale, our visual encoding framework improves by approximately 7% on the Natural Scenes Dataset, the dedicated dataset for the Algonauts 2023 Challenge. We further analyze that our encoding framework made a trade-off between encoding performance and trainability. This paper confirms that expanding parameters in visual coding can bring performance improvements.