Deficiency in the Rab25 gene leads to a decline in male fertility and testicular injury: Impact on the regulation of germ cell proliferation and apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Rab25 is a member of the Rab family, functioning as a regulatory molecule in intracellular transport. Although its involvement in cellular functions and disease development is well-established, its precise roles in male reproductive physiology remain elusive. METHODS: To explore the specific roles of Rab25 in testicular development and spermatogenesis, we established the Rab25-/- mouse model and Rab25 knockdown germ cell line (GC-2). We compared the fertility, sperm analysis, and testicular tissues between Rab25-/- and wild-type male mice. To delve deeper into potential mechanisms, we employed immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assay, Western Blotting, CCK-8 assay, etc. to evaluate cell proliferation and apoptosis in testicular tissues and GC-2 cells. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that Rab25 was expressed in germ cells and Leydig cells in the testes. Although the weight of Rab25-/- mice testes exhibited no significant changes, fertility was compromised, with a decrease in sperm quantity and reduced motility. HE staining revealed a disorganized arrangement of germ cells and vacuolization. Additionally, chromatin marginalization and nuclear pyknosis were observed in the Rab25-/- mice. In both Rab25-/- mice testes and Rab25 knockdown GC-2 cells, we found that germ cell proliferation was reduced, while apoptosis was increased. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study proposes that Rab25 plays a vital role in spermatogenesis by regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells.

Rab25 is involved in hypospadias via the ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is a common congenital abnormality of the penile. Abnormal regulation of critical genes involved in urethral development leads to hypospadias. We used the Rab25-/- mice and foreskin fibroblasts transfected with lentivirus in vitro and in vivo to investigate the role of Rab25 in hypospadias. METHODS: The expression levels of various molecules in tissue samples and foreskin fibroblasts were confirmed using molecular biology methods (western blotting, PCR, immunohistochemistry, etc.). A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to visualize the external morphology of genital tubercles (GTs) of gestation day (GD) 18.5 male wild-type (WT) and Rab25-/- mice. RESULTS: An expanded distal cleft and V-shaped urethral opening were observed in GD 18.5 Rab25-/- mice. We demonstrated that Rab25 mediated hypospadias through the ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway. In addition, silencing Rab25 inhibited cell proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis in the foreskin fibroblasts; Ki-67- and TUNEL-positive cells were mainly concentrated near the urethral seam. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Rab25 plays an essential role in hypospadias by activation of ß1 integrin/EGFR pathway, and Rab25 is a critical mediator of urethral seam formation in GD18.5 male fetal mice.

Transcriptomics-based identification of TYROBP and TLR8 as novel macrophage-related biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute rejection after kidney transplantation.

Macrophages play an important role in the development and progression of acute rejection after kidney transplantation. The study aims to investigate the biological role and significance of macrophage-associated genes (MAG) in acute rejection after kidney transplantation. We utilized transcriptome sequencing results from public databases related to acute rejection of kidney transplantation for comprehensive analysis and validation in animal experiments. We found that a large number of immune-related signaling pathways are activated in acute rejection. PPI protein interaction networks and machine learning were used to establish a Hub gene consisting of TYROBP and TLR8 for the diagnosis of acute rejection. The single-gene GSEA enrichment analysis and immune cell correlation analysis revealed a close correlation between the expression of Hub genes and immune-related biological pathways as well as the expression of multiple immune cells. In addition, the study of TF, miRNAs, and drugs provided a theoretical basis for regulating and treating the Hub genes in acute rejection. Finally, the animal experiments demonstrated once again that acute rejection can aggravate kidney tissue damage, apoptosis level, and increase the release of inflammatory factors. We established and validated a macrophage-associated diagnostic model for acute rejection after kidney transplantation, which can accurately diagnose the biological alterations in acute rejection after kidney transplantation.

Efficacy and Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation vs Solifenacin or Standard Urotherapy for Overactive Bladder Dry in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy and safety of high-dose vitamin D supplementation (VDS) plus standard urotherapy (SU) in managing overactive bladder dry in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3-arm, randomized clinical trial was performed at an academic center in China between January 2023 and June 2023. Eligible patients (n=303) were randomized to receive 8 weeks of high-dose VDS (vitamin D3 drops encapsulated as soft capsules, 2400 IU/d) plus SU (VDS + SU group; n=100), solifenacin (5-10 mg/d) plus SU (SOL + SU group; n=102), or SU alone (SU group; n=101). Reduction in voiding frequency was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes encompassed improvement in urgency, nocturia, quality of life score, pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score, and participant satisfaction. Treatment-emergent adverse events were recorded within each group. RESULTS: Participants had a median age of 82.0 months and their baseline mean vitamin D level was 22.64 ng/mL. The VDS + SU group showed greater improvements in voids/d than the SOL + SU group (median difference 3.0; 95% CI, 2.0 to 3.5; P < .001) and the SU group (median difference 4.0; 95% CI, 3.0 to 5.0; P < .001) after intervention. The VDS + SU group also showed the greatest improvement in quality of life and pediatric lower urinary tract symptom scores. Patient satisfaction was similar between the SOL + SU and SU groups. The VDS + SU group did not exhibit a heightened risk of treatment-emergent adverse events compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose VDS plus SU was effective and well-tolerated in managing overactive bladder dry in children, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic option for this population.

Maternal Diabetes and Risk of Hypospadias: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal diabetes and the risk of hypospadias in male infants, as the relationship between them remains uncertain. METHODS: To comprehensively evaluate the association between pregestational diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus with hypospadias, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A thorough literature search was conducted, encompassing relevant publications published prior to January 2023. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis comprised a total of 13 studies, 11 of which investigated the relationship between pregestational diabetes mellitus and hypospadias, while 9 studies explored the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and hypospadias. Notably, these investigations yielded compelling evidence of significant positive associations between pregestational diabetes mellitus and hypospadias (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.13-2.03), as well as between gestational diabetes mellitus and hypospadias (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.04-1.35). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that both pregestational diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus are associated with an increased risk of hypospadias in offspring. Further investigations are needed to explore the optimal range of blood glucose during pregnancy that minimizes the risk of congenital malformation in the fetus, as well as to develop more effective measures for glycemic control in pregnant women.

Risk factors and timing of complication presentation following primary hypospadias repair in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk factors for postoperative complications in adolescents who undergo primary hypospadias repair and determine the time required for complication detection. METHODS: Our study included patients classified as Tanner stages three to five who underwent primary hypospadias repairs at our hospital from January 2015 to August 2022. The patients' baseline information, clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, and time to complication detection were collected. Cox regression analysis, ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used. RESULTS: The study comprised 143 patients, with a median age of 12.58 years. Postoperative complications were experienced by 66 patients. The length of the urethral defect was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The ROC curve analysis identified 3 cm as the optimal cutoff value for the length of the urethral defect. The median time to complication detection was 30.5 days (IQR 23 to 209.25). 89.4% of the complications were identified within the first year. Patients with a urethral defect of <3 cm experienced a significantly longer time for the detection of urethral fistula compared to those with a urethral defect of ≥3 cm (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that adolescents with a urethral defect ≥3 cm have a higher risk of postoperative complications. Although most complications were identified within the first year, conducting long-term follow-ups for adolescents is recommended to identify potential subsequent complications that may arise from persistent urethral alterations.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces ferroptosis in prepubertal mouse testes via the lipid metabolism pathway.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a widely used plasticizer, has been shown to cause reproductive toxicity, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of DEHP-induced testicular damage. In vivo study, we administered different doses of DEHP (0, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day) to male C57BL/6 mice from 22 and 35 days after birth. We found that DEHP exposure induced histopathological alterations in prepubertal testes, and testicular lipidomics indicated notable alterations in lipid metabolism and significant enrichment of ferroptosis. Further tests showed that ferrous iron (Fe2+ ) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly increased after DEHP exposure. Western blotting revealed that DEHP exposure reduced glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression, and elevated acyl coenzyme A synthetase long-chain member 4 (ACSL4) and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3) expression. The in vitro results were consistent with the in vivo results. When Leydig cells and Sertoli cells were treated with ferrostatin-1 and monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), MEHP-induced increases in Fe2+ and MDA levels, accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species, downregulation of GPX4, and upregulation of ACSL4 and LPCAT3 were reversed. Collectively, our findings suggested that aberrant lipid metabolism and ferroptosis may be involved in prepubertal DEHP exposure-induced testicular damage.

Protective effects of melatonin on DEHP-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in prepubertal testes via the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, is one of the most common plasticizers and is widely used in various plastic products. DEHP induces apoptosis and oxidative stress and has been shown to have androgenic toxicity. However, the methods to combat DEHP-induced testicular damage and the mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we used melatonin, which has strong antioxidant properties, to intervene in prepubertal mice and mouse Leydig cells (TM3) treated with DEHP or its metabolite mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP). The results showed that melatonin protected against DEHP-induced testicular damage in prepubertal mice, mainly by protecting against DEHP-induced structural destruction of the germinal tubules and by attenuating the DEHP-induced decrease in testicular organ coefficients and testosterone levels. Transcriptomic analysis found that melatonin may attenuate DEHP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in prepubertal testes. In vitro studies further revealed that MEHP induces oxidative stress injury and increases apoptosis in TM3 cells, while melatonin reversed this damage. In vitro studies also found that MEHP exposure inhibited the expression levels of molecules related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and melatonin reversed this change. In conclusion, these findings suggest that melatonin protects against DEHP-induced prepubertal testicular injury via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and provide a theoretical basis and experimental rationale for combating male reproductive dysfunction.

Proactive policies are the key to reversing desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River in the past 30 years.

The main stream of the Tarim River is a crucial part of China's ecological security strategy within the "two screens and three belts" framework, serving the "northern sand control belt" and the ecological civilization corridor. Evaluating and understanding desertification dynamics and driving factors is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promoting ecological civilization. This study, based on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, quantified the desertification process of the Tarim River's main stream from 1990 to 2020 using Landsat series satellite imagery from Google Earth Engine. Additionally, we employed panel data models to analyze the driving roles of climate change, socio-economic factors, and policies in desertification.Results indicate that between 1990 and 2020, desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River initially intensified, with 15% of the area experiencing desertification between 1990 and 2000. However, this trend was subsequently reversed, with only 0.6% of the area undergoing desertification over the 30-year period. Extensive economic development (-37.2%) and population growth (-48.7%) were the predominant factors exacerbating desertification in the initial period (1990-2000), whereas positive policies (55.3%) were the key to reversing desertification in the main stream of the Tarim River over the past 30 years.We also explored whether policies necessarily play a positive role in combating and preventing desertification. Based on this, we suggest actively engaging in interdisciplinary research and linking research outcomes with practical situations to formulate scientifically sound policies and measures for desertification prevention and control.

Differentiation Potential of Hypodifferentiated Subsets of Nephrogenic Rests and Its Relationship to Prognosis in Wilms Tumor.

Background Wilms tumor (WT) is highly curable, although anaplastic histology or relapse imparts a worse prognosis. Nephrogenic rests (NR) associated with a high risk of developing WT are abnormally retained embryonic kidney precursor cells. Methods After pseudo-time analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, we generated and validated a WT differentiation-related gene (WTDRG) signature to predict overall survival (OS) in children with a poor OS. Results A differentiation trajectory from NR to WT was identified and showed that hypodifferentiated subsets of NR could differentiate into WT. Classification of WT children with anaplastic histology or relapse based on the expression patterns of WTDRGs suggested that patients with relatively high levels of hypodifferentiated NR presented a poorer prognosis. A WTDRG-based risk model and a clinically applicable nomogram was developed. Conclusions These findings may inform oncogenesis of WT and interventions directed toward poor prognosis in WT children of anaplastic histology or relapse.

Prepubertal exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles induces Leydig cell injury with steroidogenesis disorders in mouse testes.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are metallic multifunctional nanoparticles with good conductive, catalytic and antibacterial characteristics that have shown to cause reproductive dysfunction. However, the toxic effect and potential mechanisms of prepubertal exposure to CuONPs on male testicular development have not been clarified. In this study, healthy male C57BL/6 mice received 0, 10, and 25 mg/kg/d CuONPs by oral gavage for 2 weeks (postnatal day 22-35). The testicular weight was decreased, testicular histology was disturbed and the number of Leydig cells was reduced in all CuONPs-exposure groups. Transcriptome profiling suggested steroidogenesis was impaired after exposure to CuONPs. The steroidogenesis-related genes mRNA expression level, concentration of serum steroids hormones and the HSD17B3-, STAR- and CYP11A1-positive Leydig cell numbers were dramatically reduced. In vitro, we exposed TM3 Leydig cells to CuONPs. Bioinformatic analysis, flow cytometry analysis and western blotting analysis confirmed that CuONPs can dramatically reduce Leydig cells viability, enhance apoptosis, trigger cell cycle arrest and reduce cell testosterone levels. U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) significantly reversed TM3 Leydig cells injury and testosterone level decrease induced by CuONPs. These outcomes indicate that CuONPs exposure activates the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which further promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in TM3 Leydig cells, and ultimately leads to Leydig cells injury and steroidogenesis disorders.

Transcriptome-based exploration of potential molecular targets and mechanisms of selenomethionine in alleviating renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IRIs) are one of the leading causes of acute kidney injuries (AKIs). Selenium, as an essential trace element, is able to antioxidant stress and reduces inflammatory responses. The regulation mechanism of selenomethionine, one of the major forms of selenium intake by humans, is not yet clear in renal IRIs. Therefore, we aimed to explore the key targets and related mechanisms of selenomethionine regulation in renal IRIs and provide new ideas for the treatment of selenomethionine with renal IRIs. We used transcriptome sequencing data from public databases as well as animal experiments to explore the key target genes and related mechanisms regulated by selenomethionine in renal IRI. We found that selenomethionine can effectively alleviate renal IRI by a mechanism that may be achieved by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, we also found that the key target of selenomethionine regulation in renal IRI might be selenoprotein GPX3 based on the PPI protein interaction network and machine learning. Through a comprehensive analysis of bioinformatic techniques and animal experiments, we found that Gpx3 might serve as a key gene for the regulation of selenomethionine in renal IRIs. Selenomethionine may exert a protective effect against renal IRI by up-regulating GPX3, inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, increased production of antioxidants, decreasing inflammation levels, mitigation of apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells, this reduces renal histopathological damage and protects renal function. Providing a theoretical basis for the mechanism of selenomethionine actions in renal IRIs.

A grading system for evaluation of bladder trabeculation.

PURPOSE: To establish a parameter-based grading system for evaluating bladder trabeculation (BT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on children diagnosed with posterior urethral valve (PUV) or neurogenic bladder (NB) who underwent voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), urodynamic testing, and urological ultrasonography between January 2016 and October 2022. Cases involving urologic surgery, secondary bladder pathology, and an interval of more than 12 months between examinations were excluded. A parameter named Bladder Dispersion (BD) was calculated through fluoroscopic images, and the grading system was developed as follows: BD < 40 (Grade 0), 40 ≤ BD < 60 (Grade 1), 60 ≤ BD < 90 (Grade 2), BD ≥ 90 (Grade 3). Grades 0-1 were classified as low-risk group, while grades 2-3 were classified as high-risk group. Analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-square test were performed to compare urodynamic results and complications across different grades and groups. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were eligible to participate, which included 46 boys (62.2%) and 28 girls (37.8%), the mean age was 75.18 ± 48.39 months. Among them, 11 (14.9%) were PUV, 50 (67.6%) were NB, and 13 (17.5%) were PUV and NB. Significant differences were observed in maximum detrusor pressure, post-void residual urine ratio, and compliance among grades 0-3. Severe hydronephrosis and histories of urinary tract infection were more prevalent in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: A reliable grading system with objective standards was proposed which could aid in the assessment of BT severity.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosome-derived miR-874-3p targeting RIPK1/PGAM5 attenuates kidney tubular epithelial cell damage.

BACKGROUND: Kidney insults due to various pathogenic factors, such as trauma, infection, and inflammation, can cause tubular epithelial cell injury and death, leading to acute kidney injury and the transformation of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease. There is no definitive treatment available. In previous studies, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to promote kidney injury. In this preclinical study, we investigate the role and mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (HucMSC-Exos) on the repair of renal tubular epithelial cells after injury. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice underwent unilateral ureteral obstruction, and epithelial cell injury was induced in HK-2 cells by cisplatin. HucMSC-Exos were assessed in vivo and in vitro. The extent of renal cell injury, activation of necroptosis pathway, and mitochondrial quality-control-related factors were determined in different groups. We also analyzed the possible regulatory effector molecules in HucMSC-Exos by transcriptomics. RESULTS: HucMSC-Exo inhibited necroptosis after renal tubular epithelial cell injury and promoted the dephosphorylation of the S637 site of the Drp1 gene by reducing the expression of PGAM5. This subsequently inhibited mitochondrial fission and maintained mitochondrial functional homeostasis, mitigating renal injury and promoting repair. In addition, HucMSC-Exo displayed a regulatory role by targeting RIPK1 through miR-874-3p. CONCLUSION: The collective findings of the present study demonstrate that HucMSC-Exos can regulate necroptosis through miR-874-3p to attenuate renal tubular epithelial cell injury and enhance repair, providing new therapeutic modalities and ideas for the treatment of AKI and the process of AKI to CKD transformation to mitigate renal damage.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell exosomes alleviate acute kidney injury by inhibiting pyroptosis in rats and NRK-52E cells.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) have been shown to improve kidney injury. Exosomes have been indicated to be important mediators of renal protection in MSC therapy. In spite of this, the mechanism remains unclear. Our study investigated how exosomes derived from hucMSCs (hucMSC-Ex) improve acute kidney injury (AKI). Exosomes were extracted by using an ultracentrifugation technique and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blot. Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, sham + hucMSC-Ex group, ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) group, and IRI + hucMSC-Ex group. In vitro, we treated rat proximal renal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK-52E) with cisplatin to mimic in vivo models of AKI. The NRK-52E cells were treated with or without 160 µg/mL hucMSC-Ex, and 1 µg/mL cisplatin was added after 9 h. Cells were harvested after 24 h. In the IRI group, the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased; renal tubules were dilated, epithelial cells were vacuolated, and collagen fibers were deposited in the renal interstitium. After treatment with cisplatin, the NRK-52E cells displayed pyroptotic morphology characterized by pyroptotic bodies. The protein expression levels of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, gasdermin D (GSDMD), caspase-1, interleukin-1 (IL-1ß) and NLRP3 in IRI tissues and in cisplatin treatment NRK-52E cells were significantly upregulated. However, after the hucMSC-Ex intervention, kidney injury was effectively improved in vivo and in vitro. The current study shows that pyroptosis is involved in AKI and that hucMSC-Ex improves AKI by inhibiting pyroptosis.

Exploring the role of Hmox1 in ferroptosis and immune infiltration during renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is inevitable in kidney transplantations and, as a complex pathophysiological process, it can be greatly impacted by ferroptosis and immune inflammation. Our study aimed to identify the biomarkers of renal IRI (RIRI) and elucidate their relationship with immune infiltration. In this study, the GSE148420 database was used as a training set to analyze differential genes and overlap them with ferroptosis-related genes to identify hub genes using a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and random forest algorithm (RFA). We verified the hub gene and ferroptosis-related phenotypes in a verification set and animal experiments involving unilateral IRI with contralateral nephrectomy in rats. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of single genes was conducted according to the hub gene to predict related endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and drugs to establish a network. Finally, we used the Cibersort to analyze immunological infiltration and conducted Spearman's correlation analysis. We identified 5456 differential genes and obtained 26 ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes. Through PPI, LASSO, and RFA, Hmox1 was identified as the only hub gene and its expression levels were verified using verification sets. In animal experiments, Hmox1 was verified as a key biomarker. GSEA of single genes revealed the seven most related pathways, and the ceRNAs network included 138 mRNAs and miRNAs. We predicted 11 related drugs and their three-dimensional structural maps. Thus, Hmox1 was identified as a key biomarker and regulator of ferroptosis in RIRI and its regulation of ferroptosis was closely related to immune infiltration.

A Review of Quantitative Evaluation of Electromagnetic Environmental Effects: Research Progress and Trend Analysis.

With the increasing complexity of the electromagnetic environment, existing electronic systems and various equipment are greatly threatened. The study of the assessment of the effects of the electromagnetic environment has attracted more and more attention in the academic field and industry. In this review, the definition of the electromagnetic environmental effects assessment could be classified into two categories: objective and subjective equipment electromagnetic environmental effect assessments. Studies on both are comprehensively reviewed. The electromagnetic environmental effect assessment models are described and analyzed. The effects evaluation models mainly calculate the electromagnetic environmental effect index by various weighting, probability, and normalized interference level methods. However, each proposed model has certain limitations, so it cannot deal with all the electromagnetic interference effects. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation model for complex electromagnetic environmental effects has not yet been established. Recent studies have shown that neural networks can be used to improve the adaptability of evaluation models in electromagnetic environments. The evaluation result of the normalized interference level method is more consistent with the actual work efficiency. The combination of the two can unify the objective and subjective assessments, which is of great significance to the improvement of the consistency and accuracy of the results of the effects evaluation of the electromagnetic environment. Accordingly, challenges for future research are revealed, which plays a vital role in the development of electromagnetic environmental effects research and provides a reference for researchers.

Inhibition of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway Alleviates Pyroptosis in Bladder Epithelial Cells and Neurogenic Bladder Fibrosis.

Most children with a neurogenic bladder (NB) have bladder fibrosis, which causes irreversible bladder dysfunction and damage to the upper urinary tract. However, the mechanism of bladder fibrosis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the underlying causes of bladder fibrosis. Here, the lumbar 6 (L6) and sacral 1 (S1) spinal nerves of Sprague Dawley rats were severed bilaterally to establish NB models. Using RNA-seq, we discovered that the NF-κB signaling pathway and inflammation were upregulated in spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced bladder fibrosis. Subsequent Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining verified the RNA-seq findings. To further clarify whether the NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis were involved in bladder fibrosis, a TGF-ß1-treated urinary epithelial cell line (SV-HUC-1 cells) was used as an in vitro model. Based on the results of RNA-seq, we consistently found that the NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis might play important roles in TGF-ß1-treated cells. Further experiments also confirmed the RNA-seq findings in vitro. Moreover, using the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 rescued TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis, and the NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor BAY 11-7082 effectively rescued TGF-ß1-induced pyroptosis and the deposition of extracellular matrix by SV-HUC-1 cells. In summary, our research demonstrated for the first time that the NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition rescued bladder epithelial cells pyroptosis and fibrosis in neurogenic bladders.

Computational fluid dynamics modeling approaches to assess lower urinary tract hydraulic dynamics in posterior urethral valve before and after endoscopic valve ablation: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used successfully in cardiovascular system research to analyze the physiological processes inside vessels. We evaluated the hydraulic information of urine through the lower urinary tract in a patient with posterior urethral valve (PUV) before and after valve ablation by CFD. METHODS: A set of models of the lower urinary tract were developed based on geometrical data obtained by cystoscopy and voiding cystourethrography. Simulated assumptions and conditions were applied according to prior studies and urodynamic results. We used Fluent CFD 19.0 (Ansys Inc., USA) to compute the velocity and pressure of the fluid regions. The simplification of Bernoulli's formula was applied afterward to calculate the hydraulic energy of different positions. RESULTS: The urine flow rates of the NORMALst, the PUVst, and the POSTst at 5000 Pa were 18.08 ml/s, 11.14 ml/s, and 12.16 ml/s, respectively. Precipitous pressure change was observed around the valve in the PUVst, and the abnormal change was concentrated in the dilated urethra in the POSTst. Major energy dissipations were generated around the valve and the dilated urethra in the PUVst. The energy loss that occurred in the dilated urethra did not improve after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are probably indicative of the hydrodynamics changes in the dilated urethra in PUV and need to be confirmed through more improved CFD models in the future. CFD may revolutionize pediatric urologists' perception in the management of urinary disease.

Novel piRNA MW557525 regulates the growth of Piwil2-iCSCs and maintains their stem cell pluripotency.

BACKGROUND: CSCs play an important role in tumor development. Some studies have demonstrated that piRNAs participate in the progression of various cancers. However, the detailed function of piRNAs in CSCs requires further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the significance of novel piRNA MW557525, one of the top five up-regulated piRNAs screened by gene chip and it has been verified by RT-q-PCR that it is indeed the most obvious up-regulated expression in Piwil2-iCSCs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Differentially expressed piRNAs in Piwil2-iCSCs were screened by gene chip. Target genes were predicted by the miRanda algorithm and subjected to GO and KEGG analysis. One of the differential piRNAs, novel piRNA MW557525, was transfected and its target gene NOP56 was silenced in Piwil2-iCSCs, respectively. RT-qPCR, western blot (WB) and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate the interaction of piRNA MW557525 and NOP56. We identified the effect of piRNA MW557525 and NOP56 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis via CCK-8, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. The expressions of CD24, CD133, KLF4, and SOX2 were detected via WB. The results showed that piRNA MW557525 was negatively correlated with NOP56, and it promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibited apoptosis in Piwil2-iCSCs, and it also promoted the expressions of CD24, CD133, KLF4, and SOX2, while NOP56 showed the opposite effect. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that novel piRNA MW557525 might be a novel therapeutic target in Piwil2-iCSCs.