NAD+ precursors promote the restoration of spermatogenesis in busulfan-treated mice through inhibiting Sirt2-regulated ferroptosis.

Rationale: In recent years, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursors (Npre) have been widely employed to ameliorate female reproductive problems in both humans and animal models. However, whether and how Npre plays a role in the male reproductive disorder has not been fully clarified. Methods: In the present study, a busulfan-induced non-obstructive azoospermic mouse model was used, and Npre was administered for five weeks following the drug injection, with the objective of reinstating spermatogenesis and fertility. Initially, we assessed the NAD+ level, germ cell types, semen parameters and sperm fertilization capability. Subsequently, testis tissues were examined through RNA sequencing analysis, ELISA, H&E, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blotting techniques. Results: The results indicated that Npre restored normal level of NAD+ in blood and significantly alleviated the deleterious effects of busulfan (BU) on spermatogenesis, thereby partially reestablishing fertilization capacity. Transcriptome analysis, along with recovery of testicular Fe2+, GSH, NADPH, and MDA levels, impaired by BU, and the fact that Fer-1, an inhibitor of ferroptosis, restored spermatogenesis and semen parameters close to CTRL values, supported such possibility. Interestingly, the reduction in SIRT2 protein level by the specific inhibitor AGK2 attenuated the beneficial effects of Npre on spermatogenesis and ferroptosis by affecting PGC-1α and ACLY protein levels, thus suggesting how these compounds might confer spermatogenesis protection. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that NAD+ protects spermatogenesis against ferroptosis, probably through SIRT2 dependent mechanisms. This underscores the considerable potential of Npre supplementation as a feasible strategy for preserving or restoring spermatogenesis in specific conditions of male infertility and as adjuvant therapy to preserve male fertility in cancer patients receiving sterilizing treatments.

Pharmacokinetics and exposure-safety relationship of ciprofol for sedation in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit.

Ciprofol (HSK3486) is a newly developed, highly selective γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA ) receptor potentiator that is recently approved for a new indication of sedation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) in China. This analysis aimed to characterize the population pharmacokinetics (PopPKs) of ciprofol and evaluate the relationship of exposure with hypotension in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. A total of 462 subjects with 3918 concentration measurements from two clinical trials of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU, four clinical trials of elective surgical patients, and six clinical trials of healthy subjects were used in the PopPK analysis. Exposure-safety relationship for hypotension was evaluated based on the data gathered from 112 subjects in two clinical trials of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. Ciprofol pharmacokinetics (PKs) was adequately described by a three-compartment linear disposition model with first-order elimination. Body weight, age, sex, blood sampling site (vein vs. arterial), study design (long-term infusion vs. short-term infusion), and patient population (ICU vs. non-ICU) were identified as statistically significant covariates on the PKs of ciprofol. Within the exposure range of the mechanically ventilated ICU patient population, no meaningful association was observed between ciprofol exposure and the incidence of hypotension. These results support the dosing regimen currently used in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU.

Mechanisms of imbalanced testicular homeostasis in infancy due to aberrant histone acetylation in undifferentiated spermatogonia under different concentrations of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), identified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical, is associated with reproductive toxicity. This association is particularly noteworthy in newborns with incompletely developed metabolic functions, as exposure to DEHP can induce enduring damage to the reproductive system, potentially influencing adult reproductive health. In this study, we continuously administered 40 µg/kg and 80 µg/kg DEHP to postnatal day 5 (PD5) mice for ten days to simulate low and high doses of DEHP exposure during infancy. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), our analysis revealed that varying concentrations of DEHP exposure during infancy induced distinct DNA damage response characteristics in testicular Undifferentiated spermatogonia (Undiff SPG). Specifically, DNA damage triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to acetyl-CoA content alterations. Subsequently, this disruption caused aberrations in histone acetylation patterns, ultimately resulting in apoptosis of Undiff SPG in the 40 µg/kg DEHP group and autophagy in the 80 µg/kg DEHP group. Furthermore, we found that DEHP exposure impacts the development and functionality of Sertoli and Leydig cells through the focal adhesion and PPAR signaling pathways, respectively. We also revealed that Leydig cells regulate the metabolic environment of Undiff SPG via Ptn-Sdc4 and Mdk-Sdc4 after DEHP exposure. Finally, our study provided pioneering evidence that disruptions in testicular homeostasis induced by DEHP exposure during infancy endure into adulthood. In summary, this study elucidates the molecular mechanisms through which DEHP exposure during infancy influences the development of testicular cell populations.

Genetically engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for enhanced oral delivery vaccine vehicle.

As a series of our previous studies reported, recombinant yeast can be the oral vaccines to deliver designed protein and DNA, as well as functional shRNA, into dendritic cells (DCs) in mice for specific immune regulation. Here, we report the further optimization of oral yeast-based vaccine from two aspects (yeast characteristics and recombinant DNA constitution) to improve the effect of immune regulation. After screening four genes in negative regulation of glucan synthesis in yeast (MNN9, GUP1, PBS2 and EXG1), this research combined HDR-based genome editing technology with Cre-loxP technology to acquire 15 gene-knockout strains without drug resistance-gene to exclude biosafety risks; afterward, oral feeding experiments were performed on the mice using 15 oral recombinant yeast-based vaccines constructed by the gene-knockout strains harboring pCMV-MSTN plasmid to screen the target strain with more effective inducing mstn-specific antibody which in turn increasing weight gain effect. And subsequently based on the selected gene-knockout strain, the recombinant DNA in the oral recombinant yeast-based vaccine is optimized via a combination of protein fusion expression (OVA-MSTN) and interfering RNA technology (shRNA-IL21), comparison in terms of both weight gain effect and antibody titer revealed that the selected gene-knockout strain (GUP1ΔEXG1Δ) combined with specific recombinant DNA (pCMV-OVA-MSTN-shIL2) had a better effect of the vaccine. This study provides a useful reference to the subsequent construction of a more efficient oral recombinant yeast-based vaccine in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Clinical effects of cocktail injection on the thoracolumbar fascia injury during percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a single-center, retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, there is a lack of effective intraoperative treatment for thoracolumbar fascia injury (TFI) of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), which may lead to postoperative residual pain. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of cocktail injection on the TFI during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for OVCFs. METHODS: A retrospective study of OVCFs with TFI underwent PVP with cocktail injection (Cocktail group, 58 cases) or PVP (Routine group, 64 cases) was conducted. The surgical outcomes, visual analog scale (VAS) score, oswestry disability index (ODI), incidence of residual pain at 1 day and 7 days postoperatively, the rate and duration of taking painkillers during 7 days postoperatively after PVP were compared between them. RESULTS: No differences in baseline data, volume of bone cement injected and bone cement leakage were observed between the two groups, while the operation time of the routine group (44.3 ± 7.8 min) was less than that (47.5 ± 9.1 min) of the cocktail group (P < 0.05). However, the VAS scores (2.4 ± 0.8, 2.2 ± 0.7), ODI (25.2 ± 4.2, 22.3 ± 2.9), the incidence of residual pain (8.6%, 3.4%) at 1 and 7 days postoperatively, the rate (6.9%) and duration ( 2.5 ± 0.6 ) of taking painkillers during 7 days postoperatively in the cocktail group were better than those (3.4 ± 1.0, 2.9 ± 0.7, 34.1 ± 4.7, 28.6 ± 3.6, 23.4%, 15.6%, 28.1%, 4.2 ± 1.4) in the routine group (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: PVP combined with cocktail injection increased the operation time in the treatment of OVCFs with TFI, but it can more effectively relieve pain, reduce the risk of residual pain at 1 day and 7 days postoperatively, and decrease the use and duration of taking painkillers.

Bioinformatics reveals diagnostic potential of cuproptosis-related genes in the pathogenesis of sepsis.

Background: Multiple modes of cell death occur during the development of sepsis. Among these patterns, cuproptosis has recently been identified as a regulated form of cell death. However, its impact on the onset and progression of sepsis remains unclear. Method: We screened a dataset of gene expression profiles from patients with sepsis using the GEO database. Survival analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and prognosis. Hub genes were identified through univariate Cox regression analysis. The diagnostic value of hub genes in sepsis was tested in both training sets (GSE65682) and validation sets (GSE134347). To examine the association between hub genes and immune cells, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and Pearson correlation analysis were employed. Additionally, the CRGs were validated in a septic mouse model using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: In sepsis, most CRGs were upregulated, with only DLD and MTF1 downregulated. High expression of three genes (GLE, LIAS, and PDHB) was associated with better prognosis, but only two hub genes (LIAS, PDHB) reached statistical significance. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for diagnosing sepsis showed LIAS had a range of 0.793-0.906, while PDHB achieved values of 0.882 and 0.975 in the training and validation sets, respectively. ssGSEA analysis revealed a lower number of immune cells in the sepsis group, and there was a correlation between immune cell population and CRGs (LIAS, PDHB). Analysis in the septic mouse model demonstrated no significant difference in mRNA expression levels and IHC staining between LIAS and PDHB in heart and liver tissues, but up-regulation was observed in lung tissues. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels and IHC staining of LIAS and PDHB were down-regulated in renal tissues. Conclusions: Cuproptosis is emerging as a significant factor in the development of sepsis. LIAS and PDHB, identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for cuproptosis-associated sepsis, are believed to play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of cuproptosis-induced sepsis.

Simulation and attribution analysis of terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage of Hainan Island from 2015 to 2050.

Terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage (TECS) could significantly affect the concentration of atmospheric CO2, which is critical for climate change prediction. Along these lines, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs model was employed to determine the TECS of Hainan Island (HN) from 2015 to 2050 accurately. Besides, the Future Land-use Simulation model combined with natural and anthropogenic factors was used to forecast the land-use types from 2025 to 2050 in HN by considering different Shared-socioeconomic pathway-Rrepresentative concentration pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios. Finally, the geographical detector explored the influence mechanism concerning the TECS. Under the SSP1-RCP1.9 scenario, the TECS of HN will be gradually increased to 388.10 million tons in 2050, mainly due to the increase in forest areas and the fact that the majority of grassland in the western part of HN is being converted into forest. Under different SSP-RCP scenarios except for SSP1-RCP1.9, HN's TECS is expected to gradually decrease from 2015 to 2050, mainly due to the loss of grassland and forest in coastal low-altitude areas. From the single/pair factor perspective influenced mechanism concerning the TECS, the elevation (DEM) and DEM∩Slope were found to be the dominant single/pair factor under the SSP1-RCP1.9, SSP1-RCP2.6 and SSP2-RCP4.5 scenarios. The least distance to residential area (LDP) and LDP∩LDR (i.e. LDP and least distance to roads or railways) were found to be the dominant factors under the SSP3-RCP7.0, SSP4-RCP3.4, SSP4-RCP6.0, SSP5-RCP3.4 and SSP5-RCP8.5 scenarios. Besides, the pair factors provided a higher determinant power for TECS than a single factor. Given the results of the TECS and the influence mechanism concerning the TECS under different SSP-RCP scenarios, we suggest reasonably planning the transportation network and limiting the disorderly expansion of construction land.

Montelukast Sodium to Prevent and Treat Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Preterm Infants: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common chronic lung disease in preterm infants and lacks effective methods for prevention and treatment. The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of montelukast in preventing or treating BPD in preterm infants. The preterm infants with BPD risk factors were divided randomly into a montelukast group and a control group. In the montelukast group, preterm infants were given 1 mg/kg of montelukast sodium daily. There was no placebo in the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of moderate or severe BPD between the two groups (31.8% vs. 35%). The duration of respiratory support in the montelukast group was shorter than that in the control group (36.4 ± 12.8 d vs. 43.1 ± 15.9 d, p = 0.037). The pulmonary severity score (PSS) at 21 days of life in the montelukast group was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.56 ± 0.13 vs. 0.62 ± 0.14, p = 0.048). There were no significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, hospitalization expenses, or incidence of adverse events. Although montelukast cannot alleviate the severity of BPD, it may shorten the duration of respiratory support and decrease the PSS in very preterm infants. There were no significant adverse drug events associated with montelukast treatment.

[Retrospective study on the modified Uhl technique of closed reduction and percutaneous pin in the treatment of Colles' fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess the advantages of the modified Uhl technique in the treatment of Colles' fracture guided by the principles of Chinese osteosynthesis (CO) concept. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 358 patients with Colles' fracture treated with the modified Uhl technique of closed reduction and percutaneous pin between January 2016 and June 2021. Out of these, 120 eligible cases were selected and categorized into two groups according to different surgical methods:the closed reduction and percutaneous pin group, and the open reduction group. Sixty-eight patients in the closed reduction and percutaneous pin group were treated with the modified Uhl technique, while fifty-two patients in the open reduction group were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using plates. The modified Sarmiento imaging score, Gartland-Werley wrist score, operation time, hospital stay, and treatment costs between the two groups were compared at a 6-month postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of gender, age, affected side, injure factors, time of injury to surgery, Sarmiento imaging score, and Gartland-Werley wrist joint score (P>0.05). The closed reduction and percutaneous pin group exhibited an operation time of (35.88±14.11) minutes, hospitalization stay of (9.78±2.48) days, and treatment costs of (16 074.91±1 964.48) yuan, while the open reduction group demonstrated comparatively longer operation time of (65.48±14.26) minutes, hospitalization stay of (15.88±2.00) days, and treatment costs of (20 451.27±1 760.22) yuan (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The modified Uhl technique presents notable advantages in the management of Colles' fracture, including reliable fixation, less trauma, shorter operation time, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and cost-effectiveness. This technique exhibits promising potential for broader clinical application. However, it is important to note that the pin could potentially damage tendons, and in cases of Colles' fractures with osteoporosis and comminuted fragments, additional techniques may be required for reliable fixation.

Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Dorzagliatin in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dorzagliatin is a first-in-class small molecule glucokinase activator (GKA) that improves pancreatic insulin secretion behavior and regulates hepatic glucose conversion in a glucose concentration-dependent manner. The primary objective of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of dorzagliatin to evaluate the influence of covariates, such as demographic characteristics and liver and kidney function, on the pharmacokinetics of dorzagliatin and provide a basis for medication guidance. METHOD: The pharmacokinetic data of dorzagliatin in this study came from six clinical trials. Based on the combined data, a population pharmacokinetic model of dorzagliatin was established using NONMEM software (ICON, MD, USA, version 7.4.3). The algorithm used was first-order conditional estimation with interaction (FOCEI). The dorzagliatin population pharmacokinetic modeling analysis included 1062 subjects and 7686 observable concentrations. Covariates, including age (AGE), sex (GEND), body weight (TBW), body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (CR), creatinine clearance (CRCL), and total bilirubin (TBIL), were screened using the forward-backward method. Model evaluation was performed using goodness-of-fit plots, prediction corrected visual prediction check (pcVPC), and bootstrap. RESULTS: Concentration data of dorzagliatin in the dose range were best characterized by a two-compartment model with sequential zero-order then first-order absorption and first-order elimination. The final model estimated dorzagliatin data for typical male subjects (69 kg body weight, 18 U/L AST and 55 years old); the apparent total clearance (CL/F) was 10.4 L/h, apparent volume of central compartment distribution (Vc/F) was 80.6 L, inter-compartmental clearance (Q/F) was 3.02 L/h, apparent volume of peripheral compartment distribution (Vp/F) was 26.5 L, absorption rate constant (Ka) was 3.29 h-1, and duration of zero-order absorption (D1) was 0.418 h. The inter-individual variation of CL/F, Vc/F, Vp/F, and D1 was 22.5%, 14.9%, 48.8%, and 82.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The two-compartment linear pharmacokinetic model with zero- and first-order sequential absorption adequately described the pharmacokinetic characteristics of dorzagliatin. Body weight, aspartate aminotransferase, and age had a statistically significant effect on the CL/F of dorzagliatin. Body weight and sex had a statistically significant effect on Vc/F. However, considering the clinically insignificant changes in the magnitude of steady-state exposure caused by these covariates, as well as the minimal changes in the steady-state exposure for individuals with mild and moderate impaired hepatic function and all stages of renal impairment, dose adjustments based on the tested covariates or for specific populations are deemed unnecessary.

Antagonizing exosomal miR-18a-5p derived from prostate cancer cells ameliorates metastasis-induced osteoblastic lesions by targeting Hist1h2bc and activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

More than 50% of prostate cancer (PCa) patients have bone metastasis with osteoblastic lesions. MiR-18a-5p is associated with the development and metastasis of PCa, but it remains unclear whether it is involved in osteoblastic lesions. We first found that miR-18a-5p was highly expressed in the bone microenvironment of patients with PCa bone metastases. To address how miR-18a-5p affects PCa osteoblastic lesions, antagonizing miR-18a-5p in PCa cells or pre-osteoblasts inhibited osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Moreover, injection of PCa cells with miR-18a-5p inhibition improved bone biomechanical properties and bone mineral mass in vivo. Furthermore, miR-18a-5p was transferred to osteoblasts by exosomes derived from PCa cells and targeted the Hist1h2bc gene, resulting in Ctnnb1 up-regulation in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Translationally, antagomir-18a-5p significantly improved bone biomechanical properties and alleviated sclerotic lesions from osteoblastic metastases in BALB/c nude mice. These data suggest that inhibition of exosome-delivered miR-18a-5p ameliorates PCa-induced osteoblastic lesions.

Chestnut polysaccharide rescues the damaged spermatogenesis process of asthenozoospermia-model mice by upregulating the level of palmitic acid.

Introduction: In recent years, the quality of male semen has been decreasing, and the number of male infertilities caused by asthenozoospermia is increasing year by year, and the diagnosis and treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia are gradually receiving the attention of the whole society. Due to the unknown etiology and complex pathogenesis, there is no specific treatment for asthenozoospermia. Our previous study found that the administration of chestnut polysaccharide could alter the intestinal microbiota and thus improve the testicular microenvironment, and rescue the impaired spermatogenesis process by enhancing the expression of reproduction-related genes, but its exact metabolome-related repairment mechanism of chestnut polysaccharide is still unclear. Methods and results: In this study, we studied the blood metabolomic changes of busulfan-induced asthenozoospermia-model mice before and after oral administration of chestnut polysaccharide with the help of metabolome, and screened two key differential metabolites (hydrogen carbonate and palmitic acid) from the set of metabolomic changes; we then analyzed the correlation between several metabolites and between different metabolites and intestinal flora by correlation analysis, and found that palmitic acid in the blood serum of mice after oral administration of chestnut polysaccharide had different degrees of correlation with various metabolites, and palmitic acid level had a significant positive correlation with the abundance of Verrucomicrobia; finally, we verified the role of palmitic acid in rescuing the damaged spermatogenesis process by using asthenozoospermia-model mice, and screened the key target gene for palmitic acid to play the rescuing effect by integrating the analysis of multiple databases. Discussion: In conclusion, this study found that chestnut polysaccharide rescued the damaged spermatogenesis in asthenozoospermia-model mice by upregulating palmitic acid level, which will provide theoretical basis and technical support for the use of chestnut polysaccharide in the treatment of asthenozoospermia.

In Situ Enzymatic Reaction Generates Magnesium-Based Mineralized Microspheres with Superior Bioactivity for Enhanced Bone Regeneration.

Bone is a naturally mineralized tissue with a remarkable hierarchical structure, and the treatment of bone defects remains challenging. Microspheres with facile features of controllable size, diverse morphologies, and specific functions display amazing potentials for bone regeneration. Herein, inspired by natural biomineralization, a novel enzyme-catalyzed reaction is reported to prepare magnesium-based mineralized microspheres. First, silk fibroin methacryloyl (SilMA) microspheres are prepared using a combination of microfluidics and photo-crosslinking. Then, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-catalyzed hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is successfully used to induce the formation of spherical magnesium phosphate (MgP) in the SilMA microspheres. These SilMA@MgP microspheres display uniform size, rough surface structure, good degradability, and sustained Mg2+ release properties. Moreover, the in vitro studies demonstrate the high bioactivities of SilMA@MgP microspehres in promoting the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Transcriptomic analysis shows that the osteoinductivity of SilMA@MgP microspheres may be related to the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Finally, the bone regeneration enhancement units (BREUs) are designed and constructed by inoculating BMSCs onto SilMA@MgP microspheres. In summary, this study demonstrates a new biomineralization strategy for designing biomimetic bone repair materials with defined structures and combination functions.

LncRNA5251 inhibits spermatogenesis via modification of cell-cell junctions.

BACKGROUND: Male factors-caused decline in total fertility has raised significant concern worldwide. LncRNAs have been identified to play various roles in biological systems, including spermatogenesis. This study aimed to explore the role of lncRNA5251 in mouse spermatogenesis. METHODS: The expression of lncRNA5251 was modulated in mouse testes in vivo or spermatogonial stem cells (C18-4 cells) in vitro by shRNA. RESULTS: The sperm motility in two generations mice after modulation of lncRNA5251 (muF0 and muF1) was decreased significantly after overexpression of lncRNA5251. GO enrichment analysis found that knockdown lncRNA5251 increased the expression of genes related to cell junctions, and genes important for spermatogenesis in mouse testes. Meanwhile, overexpressing lncRNA5251 decreased the gene and/or protein expression of important genes for spermatogenesis and immune pathways in mouse testes. In vitro, knockdown lncRNA5251 increased the expression of genes for cell junction, and the protein levels of some cell junction proteins such as CX37, OCLN, JAM1, VCAM1 and CADM2 in C18-4 cells. LncRNA5251 is involved in spermatogenesis by modulation of cell junctions. CONCLUSION: This will provide a theoretical basis for improving male reproductive ability via lncRNA.

MAPK8 and CAPN1 as potential biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration overlapping immune infiltration, autophagy, and ceRNA.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the most common health problems in the elderly and a major causative factor in low back pain (LBP). An increasing number of studies have shown that IDD is closely associated with autophagy and immune dysregulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify autophagy-related biomarkers and gene regulatory networks in IDD and potential therapeutic targets. Methods: We obtained the gene expression profiles of IDD by downloading the datasets GSE176205 and GSE167931 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, gene ontology (GO), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to explore the biological functions of DEGs. Differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DE-ARGs) were then crossed with the autophagy gene database. The hub genes were screened using the DE-ARGs protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The correlation between the hub genes and immune infiltration and the construction of the gene regulatory network of the hub genes were confirmed. Finally, quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to validate the correlation of hub genes in a rat IDD model. Results: We obtained 636 DEGs enriched in the autophagy pathway. Our analysis revealed 30 DE-ARGs, of which six hub genes (MAPK8, CTSB, PRKCD, SNCA, CAPN1, and EGFR) were identified using the MCODE plugin. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that there was an increased proportion of CD8+ T cells and M0 macrophages in IDD, whereas CD4+ memory T cells, neutrophils, resting dendritic cells, follicular helper T cells, and monocytes were much less abundant. Subsequently, the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed using 15 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 21 microRNAs (miRNAs). In quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation, two hub genes, MAPK8 and CAPN1, were shown to be consistent with the bioinformatic analysis results. Conclusion: Our study identified MAPK8 and CAPN1 as key biomarkers of IDD. These key hub genes may be potential therapeutic targets for IDD.

Identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for sepsis based on machine learning.

Background: To identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of the early stage of sepsis. Methods: The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between sepsis and control transcriptomes were screened from GSE65682 and GSE134347 datasets. The candidate biomarkers were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) analyses. The diagnostic and prognostic abilities of the markers were evaluated by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) were performed to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms and immune-related processes. Finally, the potential biomarkers were validated in a septic mouse model by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Results: Eleven DEGs were identified between the sepsis and control samples, including YOD1, GADD45A, BCL11B, IL1R2, UGCG, TLR5, S100A12, ITK, HP, CCR7 and C19orf59 (all AUC>0.9). Furthermore, the survival analysis identified YOD1, GADD45A, BCL11B and IL1R2 as the prognostic biomarkers of sepsis. According to GSEA, four DEGs were significantly associated with immune-related processes. In addition, ssGSEA demonstrated a significant difference in the enriched immune cell populations between the sepsis and control groups (all P < 0.05). Moreover, YOD1, GADD45A and IL1R2 were upregulated, and BCL11B was downregulated in the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys of the septic mice model. Conclusions: We identified four potential immune-releated diagnostic and prognostic gene markers for sepsis that offer new insights into its underlying mechanisms.

Comparison of clinical effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty with two different puncture approaches on the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with narrow pedicles: a retrospective controlled study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) with conventional transpedicle approach (CTA) or basal transverse process-pedicle approach (BTPA) on the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (TL-OVCFs) with narrow pedicles. METHODS: A retrospective study of TL-OVCFs with narrow pedicles was performed, including 78 cases of CTA and 84 cases of BTPA. The surgical outcomes, radiographic parameters [the width and height of the pedicle (PW, PH), the inclination angle of puncture (PIA)] and clinical indicators [visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)] of two groups were compared. RESULTS: In terms of surgical outcomes of them, there was no difference in operation time (P > 0.05), while the volume of bone cement, the incidence of bone cement leakage and rate of good bone cement distribution were significantly worse in the CTA group (4.4 ± 0.6 ml vs. 5.5 ± 0.5 ml, 37.2% vs. 20.2%, 52.6% vs. 79.8%, P < 0.05). As for radiographic parameters and clinical indicators of them, the differences were not observed in the PH, PW, preoperative VAS score and ODI (P > 0.05), whereas the PIA, VAS score and ODI at 1 day postoperatively were significantly better in the BTPA group (17.3 ± 2.1° vs. 29.6 ± 2.8°, 2.7 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.8, 32.8 ± 4.6 vs. 26.7 ± 4.0, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study provided solid evidence that PVP with BTPA had more advantages in the treatment of TL-OVCFs with narrow pedicles, which can better relieve postoperative pain.

Comparison of Wiltse Approach of Pedicle Screw Fixation With or Without Vertebroplasty in the Treatment of Genant III Degree Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Fractures: Analysis of Clinical Findings, Radiographic Parameters, and Follow-Up Complications.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of the Wiltse approach of pedicle screw fixation (PSF) either in combination with or without vertebroplasty (VP) in the treatment of Genant III degree osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (Genant III-OTLFs). METHODS: A retrospective study of Genant III-OTLFs was performed from January 2018 to December 2019, including 54 cases of PSF + VP and 56 cases of PSF. Clinical indicators [visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI)], radiographic parameters [local kyphosis angle (LKA), percentage of anterior, central, and posterior vertebral heights (AVH%, CVH%, and PVH%, respectively)] and follow-up complications [adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF), residual pain (RP), vertebral height loss (VHL), and internal fixation failure (IFF)] were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: No differences in surgical outcomes, clinical indicators, and radiographic parameters were observed between the 2 groups during the preoperation period and 7 days post-operatively (P > .05). However, the VAS score [2.0 (.6), 1.9 (.5)], ODI [23.7 (4.0), 22.6 (3.0)], LKA [9.5 (1.8), 10.6 (3.0)], AVH% [90.1 (2.7), 87.7 (6.0)], CVH% [92.5 (2.6), 91.3 (3.7)], and PVH% [93.4 (2.0), 92.7 (2.4)] at 1 year post-operatively and last follow-up of the PSF + VP group were better than those of the PSF group [2.5 (.8), 3.1 (1.1), 26.6 (3.8), 29.6 (4.6), 12.2 (1.6), 16.6 (3.2), 84.9 (4.0), 69.9 (6.6), 88.1 (3.1), 78.2 (5.1), 89.7 (2.3), 84.8 (4.6)], respectively (P < .001). During follow-up, the incidence of AVF had no difference (P > .05), while that of RP (32.1 vs 14.8%), VHL (33.9 vs 9.3%) and IFF (17.9 vs 5.6%) had statistical differences between them (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The Wiltse approach of PSF combined with VP for Genant III-OTLFs can not only effectively relieve pain, restore vertebral height, and correcte kyphosis, but also better maintain vertebral height, delay kyphosis progression, and reduce complications during follow-up.

The use of bioinformatics methods to identify the effects of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses on the regulation of gene expression in patients.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a respiratory infectious disease similar to influenza virus infection. Numerous studies have reported similarities and differences in the clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and mortality between these two infections. However, the genetic effects of coronavirus and influenza viruses on the host that lead to these characteristics have rarely been reported. Methods: COVID-19 (GSE157103) and influenza (GSE111368, GSE101702) datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Ominbus (GEO) database. Differential gene, gene set enrichment, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene regulatory network, and immune cell infiltration analyses were performed to identify the critical impact of COVID-19 and influenza viruses on the regulation of host gene expression. Results: The number of differentially expressed genes in the COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than in the influenza patients. 22 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the COVID-19 and influenza datasets. The effects of the viruses on the regulation of host gene expression were determined using gene set enrichment and PPI network analyses. Five HUB genes were finally identified: IFI27, OASL, RSAD2, IFI6, and IFI44L. Conclusion: We identified five HUB genes between COVID-19 and influenza virus infection, which might be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and influenza. This knowledge may also guide future mechanistic studies that aim to identify pathogen-specific interventions.

Identification of the antibacterial action mechanism of curcumin on Streptococcus mutans through transcriptome profiling.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism responsible for how curcumin affects the biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). DESIGN: The antibacterial activity of curcumin was evaluated by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The mass of the biofilm was measured by crystal violet staining. Transcriptome sequencing was used to obtain all the transcript information associated with the biological activity of curcumin-treated S. mutans. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine the expression levels of related biofilm formation genes. RESULTS: The MIC value for curcumin was 64 µM. Curcumin inhibited the formation of a biofilm by S. mutans and degraded mature biofilms. A gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly relevant to biofilm formation. In addition, 17 significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways (p ≤ 0.01) were identified and were potentially associated with the biochemical metabolic processes of S. mutans. DEGs associated with the biofilm formation of S. mutants, including gtfB, gtfC, rgpG, spaP, spxA1, spxA2, bacA, lrgB, and gshAB. The qRT-PCR results were consistent with transcriptome sequencing that the expression levels of gtfB, gtfC, rgpG, and spaP significantly decreased in the curcumin-treated group, whereas the expression levels of spx1, spx2, bacA, lrgB, and gshAB were up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin showed marked inhibitory effects against the formation of biofilms by S. mutans and degradation of formed biofilms.