Risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis during computed tomography-guided microwave ablation in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer: A bicentric retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis during computed tomography-guided microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A total of 417 patients from two medical centers were included, of whom 353 were from center 1 and 64 were from center 2. The risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage and hemoptysis were selected by univariable and multivariable logistic analyses in the center 1 dataset. The selected risk factors were validated in the center 2 dataset. RESULTS: The risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage during MWA were focal blood supplies (odds ratio [OR], 2.602; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.609-4.210; p < 0.001), near vessels larger than 2 mm (OR, 4.145; 95% CI, 1.963-8.755; p < 0.001), and traversing vessels in the track of ablation (OR, 2.961; 95% CI, 1.492-5.874; p = 0.002). The risk factors for hemoptysis were lung parenchyma hemorrhage (OR, 34.165; 95% CI, 12.255-95.247; p < 0.001), needle track traversing the lung parenchyma by >25 mm (OR, 4.494; 95% CI, 1.833-11.018; p = 0.001), and traversing vessels in the track of ablation (OR, 5.402; 95% CI, 2.269-12.865; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Focal blood supplies, near vessels larger than 2 mm, and traversing vessels in the track of ablation were independent risk factors for lung parenchyma hemorrhage during MWA. Lung parenchyma hemorrhage, needle track traversing the lung parenchyma by >25 mm, and traversing vessels in the track of ablation were independent risk factors for hemoptysis during MWA.

Microwave ablation for high-risk pulmonary nodules in patients infected with the Omicron variant of Sars-Cov-2 within 3 months: a retrospective analysis of safety and efficacy.

Introduction: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for high-risk pulmonary nodules in patients infected with the Omicron variant within 3 months, a retrospective study was conducted. Methods: The study included patients with multiple high-risk nodules who underwent CT-guided MWA from April 2022 to April 2023. Patients were divided into an observation group and a control group. The primary endpoints were postoperative complications and hospital length of stay, while the secondary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 157 patients were included in the analysis, with 64 in the observation group and 93 in the control group. No deaths occurred within 30 days after MWA. In the observation group, the median follow-up time was 7 months, during which 5 patients experienced disease progression after MWA, including 3 cases of pulmonary metastases. Complications were primarily pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and hemorrhage, with an incidence rate of 57.8%, which was statistically significant (p=0.005). The median length of hospital stay was 5 days for the observation group and 6 days for the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in PFS between the two groups after the removal of lung metastases (p=0.265). Discussion: CT-guided MWA is an alternative treatment for patients with high-risk lung nodules who have been infected with Omicron within the past 3 months.

Expert consensus on the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of multiple ground glass nodule-like lung cancer (2024 Edition).

ABSTRACT: This expert consensus reviews current literature and provides clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple ground glass nodule-like lung cancer. The main contents of this review include the following: ① follow-up strategies, ② differential diagnosis, ③ diagnosis and staging, ④ treatment methods, and ⑤ post-treatment follow-up.

Seismic response of mountain tunnel induced by fault slip.

With the rapid development of Chinese transportation networks, such as the Sichuan-Tibet railway, numerous tunnels are under construction or planned in mountainous regions. Some of these tunnels must traverse or be situated near active fault zones, which could suffer damage from fault slip. In this study, the seismic response of a mountain tunnel subjected to coseismic faulting was analyzed using a fault-structure system in a two-step process. Firstly, a nonuniform slip model was proposed to calculate the ground deformations and internal displacements induced by a specific active fault on a geological scale, considering nonuniform slips on the fault plane. The 1989 Loma Prieta and 2022 Menyuan earthquakes were chosen as case studies to validate the proposed slip model. Secondly, the calculated displacement of the Menyuan earthquake was used as the input load for the discrete-continuous coupling analysis of the Daliang tunnel on an engineering scale. The simulated deformation of the Daliang tunnel aligned with the on-site damage observations following the Menyuan earthquake. Lastly, the effects of different fault conditions on the tunnel seismic response were investigated. The results indicate that the distribution of the peak longitudinal strain of the lining is governed by fault mechanisms, and the degree of fault slip significantly influences the response of the tunnel. A tunnel passing through an active fault with a wider fault fracture zone and smaller dip angle experience less damage.

Machine Learning Based on Clinical Information and Integrated CT Radiomics to Predict Local Recurrence of Stage Ia Lung Adenocarcinoma after Microwave Ablation.

PURPOSE: To develop and compare 3 different machine learning-based models of clinical information and integrated radiomics features predicting the local recurrence of Stage Ia lung adenocarcinoma after microwave ablation (MWA) for assisting clinical decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 360 patients with Stage Ia lung adenocarcinoma who underwent MWA were included in the training (n = 208), internal test (n = 90), and external test (n = 62) sets based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The predictors associated with local recurrence were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses of clinical information. The integrated radiomics features were extracted from pre-MWA and post-MWA (scanned immediately after the ablation) computed tomography (CT) images, and 10 radiomics features were selected by the t-test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The L2-logistic regression of machine learning was applied for the clinical model, CT radiomics model, and combined model including clinical predictors and radiomics features. Model performance was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: The ablative margin was an independent clinical predictor (P = 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29-0.73). The combined model showed the highest area under the curve value among the 3 models (training, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.91; internal test, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98; external test, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The combined model could accurately predict the local recurrence of Stage Ia lung adenocarcinoma after MWA to better support a clinical decision.

Progress of research and application of Heyndrickxia coagulans (Bacillus coagulans) as probiotic bacteria.

Probiotics are defined as living or dead bacteria and their byproducts that maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiome. They are non-toxic, non-pathogenic, and do not release any toxins either within or outside the body. Adequate consumption of probiotics can enhance metabolite production, increase immunity, maintain a balanced intestinal flora, and stimulate growth. Probiotics do not have negative antibiotic effects and help maintain the natural flora in animals in a balanced state or prevent dysbacteriosis. Heyndrickxia coagulans (H. coagulans) is a novel probiotic species that is gradually being used for the improvement of human health. Compared to commonly used probiotic lactic acid bacteria, H. coagulans can produce spores, which provide the species with high resistance to adverse conditions. Even though they are transient residents of the gut, beneficial bacteria can have a significant impact on the microbiota because they can outnumber harmful germs, and vice versa. This article discusses the probiotic mechanisms of H. coagulans and outlines the requirements for a substance to be classified as a probiotic. It also addresses how to assess strains that have recently been discovered to possess probiotic properties.

Research progress on pharmacological properties and application of probiotics in the fermentation of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a medicinal herb with a rich history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. This review concentrates on the chemical constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, with a particular emphasis on flavonoids such as baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. Additionally, it examines the effects of probiotic fermentation on the plant's chemical profile and pharmacological actions. Evidence suggests that probiotic fermentation markedly modifies the bioactive components of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, thereby augmenting its medicinal potency. The paper delves into the mechanisms by which the primary active constituents of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi are altered during fermentation and how these changes influence its pharmacological properties. This review aims to lay a theoretical groundwork for the clinical utilization of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and the formulation of innovative therapeutic approaches.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous microwave ablation for pulmonary oligometastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary oligometastases are common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the existing therapeutic options have several limitations. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of HCC-originating pulmonary oligometastases. METHODS: A total of 83 patients, comprising 73 males and 10 females with a median age of 57 years, who had pulmonary oligometastases from HCC, underwent MWA treatment at four different medical institutions. Inclusion criteria for patients involved having primary HCC under control and having less than three oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 5 cm in the unilateral lung or less than five oligometastases with a maximum diameter of ≤ 3 cm in the bilateral lung. A total of 147 tumors were treated with MWA over 116 sessions. The primary endpoints assessed included technical success, treatment efficacy, and local progression rate, while secondary endpoints encompassed complications, clinical outcomes, overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The technical success rate for MWA was 100% (116/116 sessions), and the treatment efficacy rate was 82.3% (121/147 tumors). Six months after MWA, the local progression rate was 23.1% (18/147 tumors). Complications were observed in 10.3% (major) and 47.4% (minor) of the 116 sessions, with no cases of ablation-related deaths. The median follow-up period was 21.6 months (range: 5.7-87.8 months). Median OS was 22.0 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 82.6%, 44.5%, and 25.2%, respectively. Median LPFS was 8.5 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during initial diagnosis and the number of oligometastases as potential independent prognostic factors for OS (p = 0.017 and 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous MWA is a safe and effective treatment modality for pulmonary oligometastases originating from HCC.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Microwave Ablation for Treating Postsurgical Intrapulmonary Oligometastases or Oligorecurrence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in treating tumour patients with postsurgical intrapulmonary oligometastases or oligorecurrence (PIORO). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Departments of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital and Qilu Hospital, Jinan, China, from January 2014 to June 2023. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data of 31 patients with PIORO receiving treatment with MWA were retrospectively analysed. After undergoing MWA, the patients were followed up for computed tomography (CT) examination on the 7th day, 1st month, and every 3 months, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes; overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to local progression (TTLP). RESULTS: All patients with PIORO were successfully treated with MWA. The 3-year survival rate of patients was 35.5%. The median OS was 26.0 months, the median PFS was 11.1 months, and the median TTLP was 14.4 months. Patients with oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter showed better PFS (≤3 cm, 14.261 m vs. >3 cm, 7.786 m; p <0.01) and TTLP (≤3 cm, 19.522 m vs. >3 cm, 12.214 m; p <0.05) than those with tumours >3 cm in diameter. Clinical characteristics of the patients were not significantly correlated with OS. CONCLUSION: MWA, as a topically therapeutic method, is an effective procedure for tumour patients with PIORO, especially in cases of oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter. KEY WORDS: Microwave ablation, Thermal ablation, Oligometastases, Oligorecurrence, Progression-free survival, Survival.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Patients with Spinal Infections: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Early diagnosis of spinal infections remains challenging, and emerging metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology holds promise in addressing this issue. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of mNGS in spinal infections. Patients and Methods: A total of 78 cases with suspected spinal infections were enrolled in this study, all of whom underwent laboratory, histopathological and mNGS examinations upon admission. Lesion samples were obtained by surgical or C-arm-guided puncture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of culture and mNGS were calculated for statistical analysis. Results: With histopathological results as the reference, the included 78 patients were categorized into 50 cases in the spinal infection group and 28 cases in the aseptic group. The sensitivity (84%) and negative predictive value (77.14%) of mNGS were significantly higher than those of culture (32% and 44.26%, respectively), whereas no significant differences were observed in terms of specificity and positive predictive value. In the subgroup analysis for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the sensitivity of mNGS (90.91%) and T-spot (90.91%) was significantly higher than that of culture (0). Additionally, mNGS demonstrated markedly higher specificity (100%) compared to T-spot (85.07%). Conclusion: This study underscores the substantial advantages of mNGS in terms of diagnostic accuracy and bacterial coverage for spinal infections. The findings provide compelling clinical evidence that supports the enhanced diagnostic efficacy of mNGS.

Health risk assessment of nitrate pollution of drinking groundwater in rural areas of Suihua, China.

In order to investigate the health risks of NO3- in rural drinking groundwater in Suihua, China and provide a basis for healthy drinking water, 40 sets of groundwater samples were collected in the Suihua area, and the average concentration of nitrate in the study area was 71.66 mg/L, statistical analysis software (SPSS19), Hydrogeochemical Analysis Software (AqQA) and groundwater pollution analysis software were used. Through water sample collection, chemical analysis and construction of human health risk model (HHRA), a qualitative and quantitative assessment of NO3- health risk was carried out for people of different ages and sexes, and it was concluded that there was NO3- pollution health risk in rural drinking groundwater in Suihua. Health risk level: infants > children > adult females > adult males. The evaluation provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of NO3- pollution in groundwater and new ideas for preventing human health risks.

Colitis induced by PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum-containing dual drug chemotherapy in Lewis mice and its mechanism.

Aims: To explore the occurrence and possible mechanism of colitis in Lewis mice treated with PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum-containing dual drug chemotherapy. Subjects and Methods: A Lewis lung cancer model of C57BL/6 mice was established, randomly divided into the treatment group (group C, PD-1 inhibitor + Carboplatin (CARB) + Pemetrexed (PEM)) and model group (group B, normal saline), and a control group (group A, normal saline) was set up. Observe the changes in tumor-free weight, tumor volume, disease activity index (DAI), colon histopathology, identify serum interleukin (IL)-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, the expression of claudin-1, and occludin mRNA in the colon in each animals. Results: Compared with group A, the tumor-free weight of mice in B decreased (P < 0.001), the content of IL-10 in serum increased (P < 0.01), the content of IFN-γ in serum decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with group B, the transplanted tumor volume in C was reduced (P < 0.05), DAI scores of D4 (P < 0.001), and D7 (P < 0.001) were increased, colonic histopathology analysis showed that colitis occurred, serum IL-10 content was decreased (P < 0.05), IFN-γ content was increased (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression of claudin-1 (P < 0.05) and occludin (P < 0.05) was reduced. Conclusions: This treatment can inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors but will cause colitis in Lewis mice. The impairment of intestinal barrier function following administration cause an imbalance in the expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors in the colon, thus causing colitis.

Factors that contribute to false-negative results in CT-guided transthoracic lung core-needle biopsy.

Objective: To investigate the possibility of false-negative occurrence of non-specific benign pathological results on CT-guided transthoracic lung core-needle biopsy and identify risk factors for false-negative results. Methods: The clinical, imaging, and surgical data of 403 lung biopsy patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into true-negative and false-negative (FN) groups according to the final diagnosis. Univariate analysis was used to compare the variables in two groups for statistical differences, and multivariate analysis was used to clarify the risk factors associated with FN results. Results: Of the 403 lesions, 332 were finally confirmed as benign and 71 to be malignant, with a FN rate of 17.6%. Older patient age (P = 0.01), burr sign (P = 0.00), and pleural traction sign (P = 0.02) were independent risk factors for FN results. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve's area under curve (AUC) was 0.73. Conclusion: CT-guided transthoracic lung core-needle biopsy has a high diagnostic accuracy and low rate of FN results. Older patient age, the burr sign, and the pleural traction sign are independent risk factors for FN results that should be monitored prior to surgery to reduce the risk of FN results.

Lumbar Spine Infection with Eikenella corrodens Presented as Abdominal Pain: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Eikenella corrodens is a part of the inherent flora on the surface of human mucosa. It usually does not cause disease unless the patient has been bitten, injured or surgically infected. Lumbar spine infection caused by Eikenella corrodens usually presents with conventional symptoms such as low back pain and fever. Herein, we report a case of lumbar intervertebral space infection with Eikenella corrodens presented as abdominal pain. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old man with no medical history of note presented with abdominal pain. Initially, local doctors suspected that the patient had abdominal disease. However, abdominal diseases were ruled out and only lumbar spine infection was confirmed. Then, the patient was misdiagnosed as lumbar tuberculosis. Finally, anaerobic culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing confirmed the Eikenella corrodens, which was rarely involved in lumbar intervertebral space infection. The patient recovered after operation and antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: This case indicated a rare symptom of lumbar spine infection, abdominal cramping, which is caused by Eikenella corrodens. Blood culture had low sensitivity as a diagnostic method for Eikenella corrodens, but lesion sample culture or metagenomic next-generation sequencing had high sensitivity for early diagnosis.

Distribution of bone voids in the thoracolumbar spine in Chinese adults with and without osteoporosis: A cross-sectional multi-center study based on 464 vertebrae.

Bone void is a novel intuitive morphological indicator to assess bone quality but its use in vertebrae has not been described. This cross-sectional and multi-center study aimed to investigate the distribution of bone voids in the thoracolumbar spine in Chinese adults based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT). A bone void was defined as a trabecular net region with extremely low bone mineral density (BMD) (<40 mg/cm3), detected by an algorithm based on phantom-less technology. A total of 464 vertebrae from 152 patients (51.8 ± 13.4 years old) were included. The vertebral trabecular bone was divided into eight sections based on the middle sagittal, coronal, and horizontal planes. Bone void of the whole vertebra and each section were compared between healthy, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups and between spine levels. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and optimum cutoff points of void volume between the groups were obtained. The total void volumes of the whole vertebra were 124.3 ± 221.5 mm3, 1256.7 ± 928.7 mm3, and 5624.6 ± 3217.7 mm3 in healthy, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups, respectively. The detection rate of vertebrae with bone voids was higher and the normalized void volume was larger in the lumbar than in thoracic vertebrae. L3 presented the largest void (2165.0 ± 3396.0 mm3), while T12 had the smallest void (448.9 ± 699.4 mm3). The bone void was mainly located in the superior-posterior-right section (40.8 %). Additionally, bone void correlated positively with age and increased rapidly after 55 years. The most significant void volume increase was found in the inferior-anterior-right section whereas the least increase was found in the inferior-posterior-left section with aging. The cutoff points were 345.1 mm3 between healthy and osteopenia groups (sensitivity = 0.923, specificity = 0.932) and 1693.4 mm3 between osteopenia and osteoporosis groups (sensitivity = 1.000, specificity = 0.897). In conclusion, this study demonstrated the bone void distribution in vertebrae using clinical QCT data. The findings provide a new perspective for the description of bone quality and showed that bone void could guide clinical practice such as osteoporosis screening.

Identification and analysis of differentially expressed (DE) circRNA in epididymis of yak and cattleyak.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as endogenous non-coding RNA with unique closed ring structure, is closely related to animal reproduction, and understanding the expression of circRNA in yak and cattleyak epididymal tissues is of great significance for understanding cattleyak sterility. Based on this, we screened and identified the differentially expressed circRNA in the epididymis of three yaks and two cattleyak. A total of 1,298 circRNAs were identified in the epididymis of yak and cattleyak, of which 137 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs and the functions of some of them were elucidated in this research, as well as qPCR verification to 6 circRNAs from the 137 DE circRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis suggested that DE circRNAs were mainly related to metabolic process, development process, immune system process, reproductive process, reproduction, biological adhesion and growth. COG classification analysis showed that the DE circRNAs derived genes were mainly related to replication, recombination and repair. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that DE circRNAs were mainly involved in RNA degradation. In addition, we also screened Bta-mir-103, which is a circRNA binding miRNA related to sperm activity.

Task-Similarity-Based VNF Aggregation for Air-Ground Integrated Networks.

In a harsh environment, function aggregation of air-ground integrated network service function chaining (SFC) deployment can easily cause network load imbalance, which affects the network security and reliability. In this study, a task-similarity-based virtual network function (VNF) aggregation scheme was proposed. It considered air-ground network resource consumption and load balance before SFC mapping. A model for selecting VNFs to be aggregated based on task similarity was built. The tasks were classified based on their similarity. Furthermore, the VNFs to be aggregated were selected within the class under the constraints of the underlying physical resources. Load balancing was achieved by adjusting the similarity threshold. Moreover, an SFC mapping selection scheme based on network resource awareness was used to obtain the most suitable physical nodes for single-chain and multi-chain mapping according to various attributes of physical network nodes. The simulation results indicated that the proposed scheme with a better load balance design outperformed existing works on VNF aggregation. We also demonstrated that the task-similarity-based scheme was resource-consumption efficient and effective.

A review: structure-activity relationship between saponins and cellular immunity.

Saponins, which exhibit many different biological and pharmacological activities, are present in a wide range of plant species and in some marine organisms. Notably, the researchers have found that saponins can activate the immune system in mammals. The strength of this function is closely related to the chemical structure of saponins. The present study of the structure-activity relationship suggests that aglycones, glycochains on aglycones and special functional groups of saponins affect the immune activity of saponins. This paper reviews the effects of different saponins on cellular immunity. As well as the structure-activity relationship of saponins. It is hoped that the information integrated in this paper will provide readers with information on the effects of saponins on cellular immunity and promote the further study of these compounds.

Computed tomography-guided localization of pulmonary nodules prior to thoracoscopic surgery.

With the increasing awareness of physical examination, the detection rate of pulmonary nodules is gradually increasing. For pulmonary nodules recommended for management by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), preoperative localization of the nodule is required if its location is difficult to determine intraoperatively by palpation. The computed tomography (CT)-guided preoperative localization technique is the most widely used method with low operational difficulty and high efficiency, which can include hook wire, microcoil, medical dye, medical surgical adhesive, combined application, and emerging localization techniques according to the material classification. Each method has its corresponding advantages and disadvantages, but there is still a lack of unified guidelines or standards for the selection of CT-guided preoperative localization methods in clinical practice. This review summarizes the operation precautions, advantages, and shortcomings of the above localization techniques in order to provide references for clinical application.

Comparative transcriptome analysis in the caput segment of yak and cattleyak epididymis.

Cattleyaks are equally adaptable to harsh environment as yaks, but produce far more milk and meat in terms of quality and quantity. However, male cattleyaks with active secondary sexuality are infertile and have restricted productivity and breeding of yaks. Much researches continue to be done in regard to the differences in transcriptome profiling in cattleyak epididymis with respect to yak epididymis. The caput segment of the epididymis is highly specialized for the initiation of spermatozoa maturation, synthesis and secretion. We used RNA-Seq technology to comparatively analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with sperm maturation between the caput epididymis of yak and cattleyak. Transcriptomic profiling identified 109 DEGs in which 44 were upregulated and 65 were downregulated. 8 DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. DEGs were analyzed by GO and KEGG analysis to screen the key genes involved in sperm maturation. The upregulation of PAOX and ATP2C2 may be associated with toxicity and apoptosis resistance in cattleyak with respect to yak. However, downregulated DEFB109, DEFB121, DEFB123, DEFA1, LY6G5C, SLC13A2, CST3, CRYBA4 and ADAM28 were associated with innate immune response, sperm maturation, motility and antimicrobial functions. AMPK and Hedgehog signaling pathways were involved in the top-listed five significantly enriched pathways, and the downregulation of HNF4α and LRP2 may have contributed to infertility in cattleyak. The data provide a powerful resource, contributing to the knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying male cattleyak infertility.