Objective:To evaluate the alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary gland induced by subacute chlopyrifos（CPF） exposure in rats.Methods:Forty adult male Wistar rats divided in...Objective:To evaluate the alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary gland induced by subacute chlopyrifos（CPF） exposure in rats.Methods:Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 10 animals were used for the study.Croup I received soya oil（2 mL/kg） while group II was administered with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg）.Group III was administered CPF only(8.5 mg/kg <sup> </sup>l/10th of the LD<sub>50</sub>) while group Ⅳ was pretreated with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg） and then exposed to CPF（8.5 mg/kg）,10 min later.The regimens were administered by gavage once daily for a period of 28 d.At the end of the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed and the testicular tissues and pituitary glands were evaluated for the malonaldehyde（MDA） concentration and activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD） and catalase（CAT）.Results:CPF increased MDA concentrations and reduced the activities of SOD and CAT in the testes and pituitary gland.Melatonin pretreatment reduced the testicular and pituitary MDA concentrations and improves the SOD and CAT activities.Conclusions:the study showed that subacute CPF-induced oxidative stress in the testes and pituitary glands were alleviated by melatonin due to its antioxidant property.展开更多
Aim： To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 （ART3） mRNA is expressed in human testes and, if so, whether the expression is cell type-specific. Methods： ART3 mRNA was deter...Aim： To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 （ART3） mRNA is expressed in human testes and, if so, whether the expression is cell type-specific. Methods： ART3 mRNA was determined in human testes and sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage of ART3 was shown by treating ART3-transfected HEK-293-T cells with phospholipase C. Fluorescent activated cell sorter （FACS）-analyses were used to detect ART3 on mature spermatozoa and immunohistological studies to detect the protein in testes. Results： ART3 protein was shown to be present in testes. It was found on spermatocytes only. It was absent from spermatogonia, spermatids and spermatozoa. The absence of ART3 from spermatozoa was confirmed by FACS-analysis. ART3 protein was detected neither within a seminoma nor on Leydig cells. Conclusion： Here we show for the first time that ART3 protein is expressed in testes in particular on spermatocytes, indicating that ART3 exerts a specific function only required at a particular stage of spermatogenesis.展开更多
Testes size in most animals commonly shows directional asymmetry. In birds, the left testis mass is usually larger than the right one, but the reports on the testes asymmetry in anurans are very few. Moller （1994） h...Testes size in most animals commonly shows directional asymmetry. In birds, the left testis mass is usually larger than the right one, but the reports on the testes asymmetry in anurans are very few. Moller （1994） hypothesized that the right testis serves a compensatory role and increases in size when the left one is defective, and further suggested that testes asymmetry may be a reliable indicator of individual body condition. In this paper, we tested the compensation hypothesis in the Guenther＇s frog, Hylarana guentheri. From 60 sampled males, we found that there was a significant directional asymmetry in testes mass, with the left testis size being significantly correlated with relative testes asymmetry, providing evidence that the right testis had a compensatory function. However, testes mass and asymmetry were not correlated with body condition. Hence, we found no evidence that testes asymmetry in the Guenther＇s frog reflected male condition, and male age was also not related to testes mass or asymmetry.展开更多
The toxicity of melamine has attracted much attention since the recent outbreaks of renal injury in pets and infants. Previous studies indicated that melamine by itself had low toxicity, whereas a mixture of melamine ...The toxicity of melamine has attracted much attention since the recent outbreaks of renal injury in pets and infants. Previous studies indicated that melamine by itself had low toxicity, whereas a mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid （M＋CA） could cause serious renal damage. At present, most researches on the toxicity of M＋CA are focused on the kidney. However, little is known about the adverse effects of this mixture on the reproductive system. In the present study, the toxicity of M＋CA to testes was investigated. Immature male mice were orally dosed with 0, 0.6, 3, and 15 mg kg-1 d-1 of a 1：1 M＋CA for 28 d. Pathological changes occurred in germ cells, such as loose arrangement, reduced numbers and karyopyknosis, indicating that this mixture was toxic to spermatogenesis. Compared with the control group, the TUNEL- positive germ cells increased significantly and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly in the 3 and 15 mg kg-1 d- M＋CA treated group, while the activities of caspase-3, caspase- 8 and caspase-9 remained unchanged. The results suggest that M＋CA can induce apoptosis in the mice testes. The downregulation of Bcl-2/Bax and oxidative stress may play a pivotal role in the induction of apoptosis by M＋CA in mice testes.展开更多
Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the factors that affects fertility status. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis ...Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the factors that affects fertility status. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves on FeSO4 and Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) induced lipid peroxidation in rat testes in vitro. Incubation of the testes tissue homogenate in the presence of FeSO4 and SNP caused a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of the testes. The aqueous extract from both Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves caused a significant decrease in the MDA contents of the testes in a dose-dependent manner. However, aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaf (EC50 = 0.29 mg/ml) had a significant (P2+ induced lipid peroxidation in the rat testes homogenate than that of Newbuoldia laevis leaf extract (EC50 = 0.58 mg/ml);while there was no significant (P2+ chelating and reducing power. Therefore, these plants have potential to prevent oxidative stress in testes and improve fertility outcomes.展开更多
Objective To investigate the contraceptive mechanism of combination regimen of low- dose gossypol acetic acid （GA） with steroid hormones [desogestre/ethinylestradiol/ testosterone undeeanote（DSG/EE/TU）]. Methods A...Objective To investigate the contraceptive mechanism of combination regimen of low- dose gossypol acetic acid （GA） with steroid hormones [desogestre/ethinylestradiol/ testosterone undeeanote（DSG/EE/TU）]. Methods Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group GH： rats were fed orally with gossypol acetic acid （GA, 12.5 mg/kg） and desogestrel （DSG, 0.125 mg/kg）/ ethinylestradiol （EE, 0.025 mg/kg）/testosterone undecanoate （TU, 100 mg/kg per day, qd X4 weeks or 10 weeks）; group G： a single dose of GA （12.5 mg/kg per day, qd X 4 weeks or I0 weeks）; group H： the same dosage of DSG/EE/TUas in group GH; group C： rats were treated with vehicle （1% methyl cellulose） as the control. Expression of protein kinase C alpha （PKC-a） and cyclin D1 in rat testes were tested mainly by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Western blotting. Results IHC results showed that protein PKC- a was expressed mainly in interstitial tissue of testis among seminiferous tubule. The expression of PKC-oc in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased greatly compared with that in group C. The protein cyclin D1 was expressed mainly in residual body of seminiferous tubule eavosurface and interstitial tissue among seminiferous tubule of testis. Western blotting results showed that the expression of PKC-a in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased significantly compared with that in group C （P〈0.05）. The expression of cyclin D1 in groups G, H or GH at week 10 rose significantly compared with that in group C （P 〈0.05）.Conclusion The administration of low-dose gossypol acetic acid with steroid hormones for 10 weeks can decrease the expression of PKC-a greatly.展开更多
Synchrotron radiation(SR) X-ray has significant potential for medical applications. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of SR X-ray on biological tissues remain unclear. Because increasing evidence has indi...Synchrotron radiation(SR) X-ray has significant potential for medical applications. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of SR X-ray on biological tissues remain unclear. Because increasing evidence has indicated critical roles of cluster of differentiation 38(CD38) in various cellular functions and cell survival, in this study we used rodent testes as a model to determine the effects of SR X-ray irradiation on the CD38 level of the testes. We found that SR X-ray irradiation led to a significant increase in the CD38 level of rodent testes one day after the irradiation. In contrast, the SR X-ray irradiation did not produce a significant increase in the CD38 level of the testes from the rats that were administered with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, thus suggesting that oxidative stress plays a significant role in the SR X-ray irradiation-induced increase in the CD38 levels. Our study has also provided evidence suggesting that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) activity is not involved in the SR X-ray irradiation-produced effect on the CD38 levels. Collectively, this study has provided first in vivo evidence indicating that CD38 levels can be increased by ionizing radiation, in which oxidative stress plays an important role. Because oxidative stress occurs in ionizing radiation as well as such diseases as cerebral ischemia and Parkinson's disease, oxidative stress may produce pathological effects by inducing increased CD38 levels.展开更多
Testicular tissue was studied in domesticated yak and in wild yak × domesticated yak(F1 and F2)bulls at 6,12,18 and 24 months of age by stereology for quautitative histology and by comparative studies on the lact...Testicular tissue was studied in domesticated yak and in wild yak × domesticated yak(F1 and F2)bulls at 6,12,18 and 24 months of age by stereology for quautitative histology and by comparative studies on the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)isoenzyme spectrum, LDH activity and the percentage content of LDH isoenzymes in testes. The results indicated that all three types of yak were similar in both the characteristics of ultrastructure of testicular tissue and the degree of germ cell development. The process of spermatogenesis was initiated and sperm were produced for the first time at the age of 12months in all three yak types. All yak types exhibited similar age-related, increases in weight of testes,volume density of both the seminiferous tubules and seminiferous epithelium and height of seminiferous epithelium but all these indexes were slightly affected by season. The number of LDH isoenzyme bands after electrophoresis varied with age as follows: four bands were present at 6 months of age, five bands at 12 and 18 months and six bands at 24 months of age. The sixth band was LDH -x ,which appeared between the LDH4 and LDH5 band. These results indicated that yak bulls reach sexual maturity at 24months of age and that puberty is not affected by infusion of wild strains.展开更多
Forty testicles were used to carry out histomorphometry study on the testes, epididymides and spermatozoa of four indigenous breeds of bull found in Ibadan (Red Bororo (RB), Sokoto Gudali (SG), White Fulani (WF) and D...Forty testicles were used to carry out histomorphometry study on the testes, epididymides and spermatozoa of four indigenous breeds of bull found in Ibadan (Red Bororo (RB), Sokoto Gudali (SG), White Fulani (WF) and Dhali (DL)<span style="font-family:;" "="">)</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">. The testicles were harvested immediately after the slaughter at the Bodija abattoir and transported to the laboratory in an insulated flask containing warm water at 37<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"="">°</span>C within 30 minutes. In the laboratory, the samples were dissected and histological sections of the right testis, right and left caudal epididymides taken from two bulls in each group. The tissues were fixed in Bouin’s fluid. They were processed in an automatic tissue processor, embedded in paraffin wax using the embedding system (Leica EG 1160) and sectioned with microtome at 4 microns. The sections were then stained by <span>Haematoxylin and Eosin method and mounted and examined under a microscope. There was no significant difference between breed and seminiferous</span> tubular diameter (STD) and testicular germinal height (TGEH). The mean STD ranged from 223.00 ± 28.35 to 316.00 ± 37.70 μm, while the TGEH ranged from 81.60 ± 10.05 to 89.80 ± 4.83 μm. The mean epididymal tubular diameters (ETD) and epididymal lumen diameters (ELD) had the highest value of 378.00 ± 10.95 and 298.20 ± 26.0489 μm in DL and lowest of 373.80 ± 37.70 and 278.10 ± 27.71 μm in RB, respectively. The mean epididymal germinal epithelia heights (EGEH) were highest (61.20 ± 5.70 μm) in WF and lowest (39.80 ± 0.86 μm) in RB. The mean sperm head length (SHL), sperm midpiece length (SMPL), sperm tail length (STL) and sperm total length (TL) had the highest values of 5.90 ± 0.10, 8.80 ± 0.25, 24.20 ± 2.59 and 38.90 ± 2.94 μm, respectively in SG. SHL and SMPL were lowest in DL bulls (5.00 ± 0.00 and 6.30 ± 0.20 μm), while STL and TL were lowest (18.90 ± 0.24 and 31.30 ± 0.85 μm). The results of this study provide baseline data on the histomorphometry of the testes and epididymides and spermatozoa of some indigenous bulls.</span>展开更多
The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms i...The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms immune defences.The scope of this review was to elucidate the main human vulnerabilities to Covid-19,including the accumulation of ACE2 receptors in testes,adipose tissue,thyroid,heart and kidneys that escalate viral affinity in males,the aged,and certain medical conditions,including diabetes,CVD,and pulmonary diseases.Pre-existing inflammation inherent in obesity may exacerbate the“cytokine storm,”a rampaging immune reaction during the course of Covid-19 that is deleterious to the host.We examined the molecular dynamics illustrating the action of new therapeutics necessary for Covid-19 patients;the estradiol advantage hypothesis;alternative therapies including hormone replacement procedures and mesenchymal stem cells;plus preventive and protective interventions.The current perspective also explored the primary components of dysregulated health predisposing individuals to Covid-19,including hormonal imbalance,increased lipids and lipoproteins,thyroid dysfunction,degraded fitness,and age-related testosterone decline accompanied by cortisol increase that provokes stress eating behaviours and weight accumulation.Obesity increases the probability of Covid-19 infection due to its abundance of ACE2 receptors;while physical activity may decrease Covid-19 vulnerability,by reducing fat and increasing muscle mass that manifests a relatively inhibited ACE2 expression.Several weight management solutions feature lasers and radiofrequency which diminish subcutaneous adiposity but do not enhance fitness.A data metanalysis of seven recently published clinical studies on 95 obese individuals,73 males and 22 females with an average BMI of 30.9,demonstrated visceral fat reduction combined with increased skeletal muscle mass.It also revealed a statistically significant decrease in BMI,lipids,lipoproteins,inflammation and toxicity as measured by CRP,Creatinine and Bilirubin respectively,juxtaposed by optimally healthier levels of Cortisol,Testosterone,Free T3,IGF-1,Insulin,and the appetite controlling hormones Leptin and Ghrelin.展开更多
Aim:To elucidate the distribution and regulation of Neuropeptide Y(NPY)gene expression in testes under physiologi- cal and pathophysiological conditions,such as testicular development,fasting and experimental cryptorc...Aim:To elucidate the distribution and regulation of Neuropeptide Y(NPY)gene expression in testes under physiologi- cal and pathophysiological conditions,such as testicular development,fasting and experimental cryptorchidism. Methods:In the first experiment,C57BL/6J male mice at the ages of 3 days as well as 2,3,5 and 8 weeks were used. In the second and third experiments,adult C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to fasting for 48 h and experimental cryptorchidism for 72 h.The NPY transcripts were detected by isotopic in situ hybridization histochemistry.Results: The NPY transcripts were exclusively expressed in the interstitial cells regardless of the age groups and experimental conditions.The NPY mRNA levels were found to increase significantly with age(from the neonatal to prepubertal period [P<0.01] and from the prepubetal to postpubertal period [P<0.01]).Food deprivation for 48 h resulted in a significant increase in the NPY mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus(P<0.01),but not in the testes.Experimental cryptorchidism for 72 h failed to regulate the NPY gene expression in the testes.Conclusion: NPY gene expression is distributed in Leydig cells and increases in line with testicular development.The regulation of testicular NPY is different from that of hypothalamic NPY.(Asian J Androl 2006 Jul;8:443-449)展开更多
immature male mice were selected in the experiment to assess the effects of Deer semen on the development of testes. 20 mice were fed with 0.05 mL semen·d -1 for 15 days and the rest fed with the same volume...immature male mice were selected in the experiment to assess the effects of Deer semen on the development of testes. 20 mice were fed with 0.05 mL semen·d -1 for 15 days and the rest fed with the same volume of albumeh for the same period as controls. The relative weight of testis to body weight was higher in treated group than that in the control (P<0.05), so was the volume of testis (P<0.05). The density of testis was lower in treated group than in the control (P<0.05). Eighty percent of mice in the treated group showed the appearance of tubule cavity and spermatozoa in the testis, but only about 20% in the control. It was concluded that the Deer semen had improvement effects on the development of testes and sexual maturity of mice.展开更多
Aim:To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3(ART3)mRNA is ex- pressed in human testes and,if so,whether the expression is cell type-specific.Methods:ART3 mRNA was deter- mined i...Aim:To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3(ART3)mRNA is ex- pressed in human testes and,if so,whether the expression is cell type-specific.Methods:ART3 mRNA was deter- mined in human testes and sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The glycosyl- phosphatidylinositol linkage of ART3 was shown by treating ART3-transfected HEK-293-T cells with phospholipase C.Fluorescent activated cell sorter(FACS)-analyses were used to detect ART3 on mature spermatozoa and immuno- histological studies to detect the protein in testes.Results:ART3 protein was shown to be present in testes.It was found on spermatocytes only.It was absent from spermatogonia,spermatids and spermatozoa.The absence of ART3 from spermatozoa was confirmed by FACS-analysis.ART3 protein was detected neither within a seminoma nor on Leydig cells.Conclusion:Here we show for the first time that ART3 protein is expressed in testes in particular on spermatocytes,indicating that ART3 exerts a specific function only required at a particular stage of spermatogenesis.展开更多
The role of miRNAs in the regulation of seasonal reproduction in rodents,particularly in relation to photoperiod changes,is still poorly understood.Previous studies on miRNA transcriptomes of striped hamster(Cricetulu...The role of miRNAs in the regulation of seasonal reproduction in rodents,particularly in relation to photoperiod changes,is still poorly understood.Previous studies on miRNA transcriptomes of striped hamster(Cricetulus barabensis)testes have indicated that the photoperiodism of testes,especially apoptosis,may be influenced by miRNAs.As a functional miRNA,cba-miR-222-3p in striped hamster testes exhibits suppression under a short photoperiod.To elucidate the potential role of testicular cba-miR-222-3p in the seasonal reproduction of striped hamsters,we exposed male striped hamsters to different photoperiods or injected miRNA agomir into the testes and observed the effects of these treatments,particularly some indicators related to apoptosis.The results showed that the levels of apoptosis in the testes increased in short daylength,accompanied by a significant decrease in cba-miR-222-3p expression and an increase in TRAF7 expression.Dual luciferase reporter assays verified the targeting relationship between cba-miR-222-3p and TRAF7 predicted by bioinformatics.In addition,the expression of TRAF7 decreased in the testes,which injected miRNA agomir,leading to inhibition of apoptosis,and the expression of key genes(MEKK3,p38,p53)in the downstream MAPK signaling pathway of TRAF7 was suppressed.These results suggest that short daylength induces testicular apoptosis in striped hamsters,and one possible mechanism is that the decreased expression of miR-222-3p in testes reduces the repression of TRAF7 translation,thereby activating the MAPK pathway and affecting the level of testicular apoptosis.These findings reveal the potential role of miR-222-3p in animal reproduction and provide new insights into the regulation of rodent populations.展开更多
Wolbachia are Gram-negative endosymbionts that are known to cause embry-onic lethality when infected male insects mate with uninfected females or with females carrying a different strain of Wolbachia,a situation chara...Wolbachia are Gram-negative endosymbionts that are known to cause embry-onic lethality when infected male insects mate with uninfected females or with females carrying a different strain of Wolbachia,a situation characterized as cytoplasmice incom-patibility(CD).However,the mechanism of CI is not yet fully understood,although re-cent studies on Drosophila melanogaster have achieved great progress.Here,we found that Wolbachia infection caused changes in the expressions of several immunity-related genes,including significant upregulation of kenny(key),in the testes of D.melanogaster.Overexpression of key in fly testes led to a significant decrease in egg hatch rates when these fies mate with wild-type females.Wolbachia-infected females could rescue this embryonic lethality.Furthermore,in key overexpressing testes terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling signal was significantly stronger than in the control testes,and the level of reactive oxygen species was significantly increased.Overexpression of key also resulted in alterations of some other immunity-related gene expressions,including the downregulation of Zn72D.Knockdown of Zn72D in fly testes also led to a significant decrease in egg hatch rates.These results suggest that Wolbachia might induce the defect in male host fertility by immunity-related pathways and thus cause an oxidative damage and cell death in male testes.展开更多
Cemented paste backfill(CPB)is a technology that achieves safe mining by filling the goaf with waste rocks,tailings,and other materials.It is an inevitable choice to deal with the development of deep and highly diffic...Cemented paste backfill(CPB)is a technology that achieves safe mining by filling the goaf with waste rocks,tailings,and other materials.It is an inevitable choice to deal with the development of deep and highly difficult mines and meet the requirements of environmental protection and safety regulations.It promotes the development of a circular economy in mines through the development of lowgrade resources and the resource utilization of waste,and extends the service life of mines.The mass concentration of solid content(abbreviated as“concentration”)is a critical parameter for CPB.However,discrepancies often arise between the on-site measurements and the pre-designed values due to factors such as groundwater inflow and segregation within the goaf,which cannot be evaluated after the solidification of CPB.This paper innovatively provides an in-situ non-destructive approach to identify the real concentration of CPB after curing for certain days using hyperspectral imaging(HSI)technology.Initially,the spectral variation patterns under different concentration conditions were investigated through hyperspectral scanning experiments on CPB samples.The results demonstrate that as the CPB concentration increases from 61wt%to 73wt%,the overall spectral reflectance gradually increases,with two distinct absorption peaks observed at 1407 and 1917 nm.Notably,the reflectance at 1407 nm exhibited a strong linear relationship with the concentration.Subsequently,the K-nearest neighbors(KNN)and support vector machine(SVM)algorithms were employed to classify and identify different concentrations.The study revealed that,with the KNN algorithm,the highest accuracy was achieved when K(number of nearest neighbors)was 1,although this resulted in overfitting.When K=3,the model displayed the optimal balance between accuracy and stability,with an accuracy of 95.03%.In the SVM algorithm,the highest accuracy of 98.24%was attained with parameters C(regularization parameter)=200 and Gamma(kernel coefficient)=10.A comparative analysis of precision,accuracy,and recall further highlighted that the SVM provided superior stability and precision for identifying CPB concentration.Thus,HSI technology offers an effective solution for the in-situ,non-destructive monitoring of CPB concentration,presenting a promising approach for optimizing and controlling CPB characteristic parameters.展开更多
BACKGROUND Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP)is a disorder of autosomal dominant inheritance that is responsible for around 1%of colorectal cancer(CRC)cases.AIM To determine the mutation profile of FAP-specific to th...BACKGROUND Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP)is a disorder of autosomal dominant inheritance that is responsible for around 1%of colorectal cancer(CRC)cases.AIM To determine the mutation profile of FAP-specific to the Hungarian population.METHODS This prospective single-center study enrolled patients with clinically suspected FAP or attenuated FAP(aFAP).Whole-exome next-generation sequencing was performed to detect variants of 50 FAP priority genes and 173 CRC predisposing genes or other CRC disease-associated genes.To identify larger deletions and insertions,a multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization technique was used.The identified genes were then classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.RESULTS A total of 26 index patients with clinically suspected FAP(n=21)and aFAP(n=5)were enrolled.APC gene alterations were confirmed in 92.31%of the cases(region 1B deletion,n=2;whole-gene deletion,n=4;frameshift mutation,n=2;nonsense mutation,n=5,and splice mutation,n=1),with the remaining two cases having CHEK2 and MSH3 gene alterations.According to pathogenicity,21 cases had pathogenic mutations,6 cases had likely pathogenic mutations,and 16 cases had variants of unknown significance(VUS).The most frequent of the latter were the POLE(n=5)and PIEZO1(n=4)gene variants.CONCLUSION Germline mutations in the APC gene were confirmed in more than 90%of Hungarian patients with clinically suspected FAP.Although the role of VUS genes is unclear,they are highly likely to play a role in the development of CRC.展开更多
AIM:To compare the tear film quantity and stability parameters in keratoconus(KCN)and normal eyes using test breakup time(TBUT),noninvasive TBUT(NITBUT),and Schirmer test.METHODS:All participants(n=166),including pati...AIM:To compare the tear film quantity and stability parameters in keratoconus(KCN)and normal eyes using test breakup time(TBUT),noninvasive TBUT(NITBUT),and Schirmer test.METHODS:All participants(n=166),including patients with KCN and age-matched healthy individuals with normal corneas,were recruited from those referred to Farabi Eye Hospital,Iran,in 2023.To better account for genetic and environmental factors,the control group comprised healthy individuals who were relatives of KCN patients and had normal corneal topography.Tear quantity parameters were evaluated in the following order:NITBUT,TBUT,and Schirmer tests.RESULTS:The mean age of cases in KCN(61.7%males)and normal(63.5%males)participants was 27.54±5.44y(range 19 to 38)and 27.52±5.63y(range 20 to 38),respectively(P=0.976).NIBUT,TBUT,and Schirmer’s tests were significantly lower in KCN group compared to normal controls(all P<0.001).The mean difference for NIBUT was-7.81s(P<0.001),and for TBUT was-7.61s(P<0.001).Schirmer test values were also significantly lower in the KCN group,with a mean difference of-5.61 mm compared to normal people(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Our findings demonstrate significant tear film impairment in KCN.The reductions in NIBUT,TBUT and Schirmer scores highlight an underlying tear film dysfunction in KCN that extends beyond the morphological changes of the cornea.展开更多
The etiopathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases is varied in nature.Various etiogenic factors described are infective,inflammatory,viral,bacterial,parasitic,dietary and lifestyle change.Rare causative agents are imm...The etiopathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases is varied in nature.Various etiogenic factors described are infective,inflammatory,viral,bacterial,parasitic,dietary and lifestyle change.Rare causative agents are immunological,and others associated as idiopathic,are undiagnosed by all possible means.Some of the rare diseases are congenital in nature,passing from the parent to the child.Many of the undiagnosed diseases are now being diagnosed as genetic and the genes have been implicated as a causative agent.There is a search for newer treatments for such diseases,which is called genomic medicine.Genomic medicine is an emerging medical discipline that involves the use of genomic information about an individual.This is used both for diagnostic as well as therapeutic decisions to improve the current health domain and pave the way for policymakers for its clinical use.In the developing era of precision medicine,genomics,epigenomics,environmental exposure,and other data would be used to more accurately guide individual diagnosis and treatment.Genomic medicine is already making an impact in the fields of oncology,pharmacology,rare,infectious and many undiagnosed diseases.It is beginning to fuel new approaches in certain medical specialties.Oncology is at the leading edge of incorporating genomics,as diagnostics for genetic and genomic markers are increasingly included in cancer screening,and to guide tailored treatment strategies.Genetics and genetic medicine have been reported to play a role in gastroenterology in several ways,including genetic testing(hereditary pancreatitis and hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes).Genetic testing can also help subtype diseases,such as classifying pancreatitis as idiopathic or hereditary.Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating gastrointestinal diseases that are not effectively treated by conventional pharmaceuticals and surgeries.Gene therapy strategies include gene addition,gene editing,messenger RNA therapy,and gene silencing.Understanding genetic determinants,advances in genetics,have led to a better understanding of the genetic factors that contribute to human disease.Family-member risk stratification and genetic diagnosis can help identify family members who are at risk,which can lead to preventive treatments,lifestyle recommendations,and routine follow ups.Selecting target genes helps identify the gene targets associated with each gastrointestinal disease.Common gastrointestinal diseases associated with genetic abnormalities include-inflammatory bowel disease,gastroesophageal reflux disease,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,and irritable bowel syndrome.With advancing tools and technology,research in the search of newer and individualized treatment,genes and genetic medicines are expected to play a significant role in human health and gastroenterology.展开更多
It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and er...It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.展开更多
基金Partly supported by Ahmadu Bello University Board of Research(Grant No.ABU/UBR/125/09)
文摘Objective:To evaluate the alleviating effects of melatonin on oxidative changes in the testes and pituitary gland induced by subacute chlopyrifos（CPF） exposure in rats.Methods:Forty adult male Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 10 animals were used for the study.Croup I received soya oil（2 mL/kg） while group II was administered with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg）.Group III was administered CPF only(8.5 mg/kg <sup> </sup>l/10th of the LD<sub>50</sub>) while group Ⅳ was pretreated with melatonin（0.5 mg/kg） and then exposed to CPF（8.5 mg/kg）,10 min later.The regimens were administered by gavage once daily for a period of 28 d.At the end of the exposure period, the rats were sacrificed and the testicular tissues and pituitary glands were evaluated for the malonaldehyde（MDA） concentration and activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD） and catalase（CAT）.Results:CPF increased MDA concentrations and reduced the activities of SOD and CAT in the testes and pituitary gland.Melatonin pretreatment reduced the testicular and pituitary MDA concentrations and improves the SOD and CAT activities.Conclusions:the study showed that subacute CPF-induced oxidative stress in the testes and pituitary glands were alleviated by melatonin due to its antioxidant property.
文摘Aim： To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 （ART3） mRNA is expressed in human testes and, if so, whether the expression is cell type-specific. Methods： ART3 mRNA was determined in human testes and sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage of ART3 was shown by treating ART3-transfected HEK-293-T cells with phospholipase C. Fluorescent activated cell sorter （FACS）-analyses were used to detect ART3 on mature spermatozoa and immunohistological studies to detect the protein in testes. Results： ART3 protein was shown to be present in testes. It was found on spermatocytes only. It was absent from spermatogonia, spermatids and spermatozoa. The absence of ART3 from spermatozoa was confirmed by FACS-analysis. ART3 protein was detected neither within a seminoma nor on Leydig cells. Conclusion： Here we show for the first time that ART3 protein is expressed in testes in particular on spermatocytes, indicating that ART3 exerts a specific function only required at a particular stage of spermatogenesis.
基金support is provided by the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education,China WesNormal University(XNYB01-3)
文摘Testes size in most animals commonly shows directional asymmetry. In birds, the left testis mass is usually larger than the right one, but the reports on the testes asymmetry in anurans are very few. Moller （1994） hypothesized that the right testis serves a compensatory role and increases in size when the left one is defective, and further suggested that testes asymmetry may be a reliable indicator of individual body condition. In this paper, we tested the compensation hypothesis in the Guenther＇s frog, Hylarana guentheri. From 60 sampled males, we found that there was a significant directional asymmetry in testes mass, with the left testis size being significantly correlated with relative testes asymmetry, providing evidence that the right testis had a compensatory function. However, testes mass and asymmetry were not correlated with body condition. Hence, we found no evidence that testes asymmetry in the Guenther＇s frog reflected male condition, and male age was also not related to testes mass or asymmetry.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30871853)
文摘The toxicity of melamine has attracted much attention since the recent outbreaks of renal injury in pets and infants. Previous studies indicated that melamine by itself had low toxicity, whereas a mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid （M＋CA） could cause serious renal damage. At present, most researches on the toxicity of M＋CA are focused on the kidney. However, little is known about the adverse effects of this mixture on the reproductive system. In the present study, the toxicity of M＋CA to testes was investigated. Immature male mice were orally dosed with 0, 0.6, 3, and 15 mg kg-1 d-1 of a 1：1 M＋CA for 28 d. Pathological changes occurred in germ cells, such as loose arrangement, reduced numbers and karyopyknosis, indicating that this mixture was toxic to spermatogenesis. Compared with the control group, the TUNEL- positive germ cells increased significantly and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly in the 3 and 15 mg kg-1 d- M＋CA treated group, while the activities of caspase-3, caspase- 8 and caspase-9 remained unchanged. The results suggest that M＋CA can induce apoptosis in the mice testes. The downregulation of Bcl-2/Bax and oxidative stress may play a pivotal role in the induction of apoptosis by M＋CA in mice testes.
文摘Oxidative stress has been identified as one of the factors that affects fertility status. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves on FeSO4 and Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) induced lipid peroxidation in rat testes in vitro. Incubation of the testes tissue homogenate in the presence of FeSO4 and SNP caused a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of the testes. The aqueous extract from both Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves caused a significant decrease in the MDA contents of the testes in a dose-dependent manner. However, aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaf (EC50 = 0.29 mg/ml) had a significant (P2+ induced lipid peroxidation in the rat testes homogenate than that of Newbuoldia laevis leaf extract (EC50 = 0.58 mg/ml);while there was no significant (P2+ chelating and reducing power. Therefore, these plants have potential to prevent oxidative stress in testes and improve fertility outcomes.
文摘Objective To investigate the contraceptive mechanism of combination regimen of low- dose gossypol acetic acid （GA） with steroid hormones [desogestre/ethinylestradiol/ testosterone undeeanote（DSG/EE/TU）]. Methods Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group GH： rats were fed orally with gossypol acetic acid （GA, 12.5 mg/kg） and desogestrel （DSG, 0.125 mg/kg）/ ethinylestradiol （EE, 0.025 mg/kg）/testosterone undecanoate （TU, 100 mg/kg per day, qd X4 weeks or 10 weeks）; group G： a single dose of GA （12.5 mg/kg per day, qd X 4 weeks or I0 weeks）; group H： the same dosage of DSG/EE/TUas in group GH; group C： rats were treated with vehicle （1% methyl cellulose） as the control. Expression of protein kinase C alpha （PKC-a） and cyclin D1 in rat testes were tested mainly by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Western blotting. Results IHC results showed that protein PKC- a was expressed mainly in interstitial tissue of testis among seminiferous tubule. The expression of PKC-oc in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased greatly compared with that in group C. The protein cyclin D1 was expressed mainly in residual body of seminiferous tubule eavosurface and interstitial tissue among seminiferous tubule of testis. Western blotting results showed that the expression of PKC-a in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased significantly compared with that in group C （P〈0.05）. The expression of cyclin D1 in groups G, H or GH at week 10 rose significantly compared with that in group C （P 〈0.05）.Conclusion The administration of low-dose gossypol acetic acid with steroid hormones for 10 weeks can decrease the expression of PKC-a greatly.
基金the National Basic Research Program (973) of China(No.2010CB834306)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81171098)
文摘Synchrotron radiation(SR) X-ray has significant potential for medical applications. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of SR X-ray on biological tissues remain unclear. Because increasing evidence has indicated critical roles of cluster of differentiation 38(CD38) in various cellular functions and cell survival, in this study we used rodent testes as a model to determine the effects of SR X-ray irradiation on the CD38 level of the testes. We found that SR X-ray irradiation led to a significant increase in the CD38 level of rodent testes one day after the irradiation. In contrast, the SR X-ray irradiation did not produce a significant increase in the CD38 level of the testes from the rats that were administered with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, thus suggesting that oxidative stress plays a significant role in the SR X-ray irradiation-induced increase in the CD38 levels. Our study has also provided evidence suggesting that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) activity is not involved in the SR X-ray irradiation-produced effect on the CD38 levels. Collectively, this study has provided first in vivo evidence indicating that CD38 levels can be increased by ionizing radiation, in which oxidative stress plays an important role. Because oxidative stress occurs in ionizing radiation as well as such diseases as cerebral ischemia and Parkinson's disease, oxidative stress may produce pathological effects by inducing increased CD38 levels.
文摘Testicular tissue was studied in domesticated yak and in wild yak × domesticated yak(F1 and F2)bulls at 6,12,18 and 24 months of age by stereology for quautitative histology and by comparative studies on the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)isoenzyme spectrum, LDH activity and the percentage content of LDH isoenzymes in testes. The results indicated that all three types of yak were similar in both the characteristics of ultrastructure of testicular tissue and the degree of germ cell development. The process of spermatogenesis was initiated and sperm were produced for the first time at the age of 12months in all three yak types. All yak types exhibited similar age-related, increases in weight of testes,volume density of both the seminiferous tubules and seminiferous epithelium and height of seminiferous epithelium but all these indexes were slightly affected by season. The number of LDH isoenzyme bands after electrophoresis varied with age as follows: four bands were present at 6 months of age, five bands at 12 and 18 months and six bands at 24 months of age. The sixth band was LDH -x ,which appeared between the LDH4 and LDH5 band. These results indicated that yak bulls reach sexual maturity at 24months of age and that puberty is not affected by infusion of wild strains.
文摘Forty testicles were used to carry out histomorphometry study on the testes, epididymides and spermatozoa of four indigenous breeds of bull found in Ibadan (Red Bororo (RB), Sokoto Gudali (SG), White Fulani (WF) and Dhali (DL)<span style="font-family:;" "="">)</span><span style="font-family:;" "="">. The testicles were harvested immediately after the slaughter at the Bodija abattoir and transported to the laboratory in an insulated flask containing warm water at 37<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"="">°</span>C within 30 minutes. In the laboratory, the samples were dissected and histological sections of the right testis, right and left caudal epididymides taken from two bulls in each group. The tissues were fixed in Bouin’s fluid. They were processed in an automatic tissue processor, embedded in paraffin wax using the embedding system (Leica EG 1160) and sectioned with microtome at 4 microns. The sections were then stained by <span>Haematoxylin and Eosin method and mounted and examined under a microscope. There was no significant difference between breed and seminiferous</span> tubular diameter (STD) and testicular germinal height (TGEH). The mean STD ranged from 223.00 ± 28.35 to 316.00 ± 37.70 μm, while the TGEH ranged from 81.60 ± 10.05 to 89.80 ± 4.83 μm. The mean epididymal tubular diameters (ETD) and epididymal lumen diameters (ELD) had the highest value of 378.00 ± 10.95 and 298.20 ± 26.0489 μm in DL and lowest of 373.80 ± 37.70 and 278.10 ± 27.71 μm in RB, respectively. The mean epididymal germinal epithelia heights (EGEH) were highest (61.20 ± 5.70 μm) in WF and lowest (39.80 ± 0.86 μm) in RB. The mean sperm head length (SHL), sperm midpiece length (SMPL), sperm tail length (STL) and sperm total length (TL) had the highest values of 5.90 ± 0.10, 8.80 ± 0.25, 24.20 ± 2.59 and 38.90 ± 2.94 μm, respectively in SG. SHL and SMPL were lowest in DL bulls (5.00 ± 0.00 and 6.30 ± 0.20 μm), while STL and TL were lowest (18.90 ± 0.24 and 31.30 ± 0.85 μm). The results of this study provide baseline data on the histomorphometry of the testes and epididymides and spermatozoa of some indigenous bulls.</span>
文摘The imminent danger of the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated research in pharmaceuticals that either target the viral Spike proteins fusion with ACE2 receptors,or the infectious RNA replication that often overwhelms immune defences.The scope of this review was to elucidate the main human vulnerabilities to Covid-19,including the accumulation of ACE2 receptors in testes,adipose tissue,thyroid,heart and kidneys that escalate viral affinity in males,the aged,and certain medical conditions,including diabetes,CVD,and pulmonary diseases.Pre-existing inflammation inherent in obesity may exacerbate the“cytokine storm,”a rampaging immune reaction during the course of Covid-19 that is deleterious to the host.We examined the molecular dynamics illustrating the action of new therapeutics necessary for Covid-19 patients;the estradiol advantage hypothesis;alternative therapies including hormone replacement procedures and mesenchymal stem cells;plus preventive and protective interventions.The current perspective also explored the primary components of dysregulated health predisposing individuals to Covid-19,including hormonal imbalance,increased lipids and lipoproteins,thyroid dysfunction,degraded fitness,and age-related testosterone decline accompanied by cortisol increase that provokes stress eating behaviours and weight accumulation.Obesity increases the probability of Covid-19 infection due to its abundance of ACE2 receptors;while physical activity may decrease Covid-19 vulnerability,by reducing fat and increasing muscle mass that manifests a relatively inhibited ACE2 expression.Several weight management solutions feature lasers and radiofrequency which diminish subcutaneous adiposity but do not enhance fitness.A data metanalysis of seven recently published clinical studies on 95 obese individuals,73 males and 22 females with an average BMI of 30.9,demonstrated visceral fat reduction combined with increased skeletal muscle mass.It also revealed a statistically significant decrease in BMI,lipids,lipoproteins,inflammation and toxicity as measured by CRP,Creatinine and Bilirubin respectively,juxtaposed by optimally healthier levels of Cortisol,Testosterone,Free T3,IGF-1,Insulin,and the appetite controlling hormones Leptin and Ghrelin.
文摘Aim:To elucidate the distribution and regulation of Neuropeptide Y(NPY)gene expression in testes under physiologi- cal and pathophysiological conditions,such as testicular development,fasting and experimental cryptorchidism. Methods:In the first experiment,C57BL/6J male mice at the ages of 3 days as well as 2,3,5 and 8 weeks were used. In the second and third experiments,adult C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to fasting for 48 h and experimental cryptorchidism for 72 h.The NPY transcripts were detected by isotopic in situ hybridization histochemistry.Results: The NPY transcripts were exclusively expressed in the interstitial cells regardless of the age groups and experimental conditions.The NPY mRNA levels were found to increase significantly with age(from the neonatal to prepubertal period [P<0.01] and from the prepubetal to postpubertal period [P<0.01]).Food deprivation for 48 h resulted in a significant increase in the NPY mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus(P<0.01),but not in the testes.Experimental cryptorchidism for 72 h failed to regulate the NPY gene expression in the testes.Conclusion: NPY gene expression is distributed in Leydig cells and increases in line with testicular development.The regulation of testicular NPY is different from that of hypothalamic NPY.(Asian J Androl 2006 Jul;8:443-449)
文摘immature male mice were selected in the experiment to assess the effects of Deer semen on the development of testes. 20 mice were fed with 0.05 mL semen·d -1 for 15 days and the rest fed with the same volume of albumeh for the same period as controls. The relative weight of testis to body weight was higher in treated group than that in the control (P<0.05), so was the volume of testis (P<0.05). The density of testis was lower in treated group than in the control (P<0.05). Eighty percent of mice in the treated group showed the appearance of tubule cavity and spermatozoa in the testis, but only about 20% in the control. It was concluded that the Deer semen had improvement effects on the development of testes and sexual maturity of mice.
文摘Aim:To investigate wether the corresponding protein of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 3(ART3)mRNA is ex- pressed in human testes and,if so,whether the expression is cell type-specific.Methods:ART3 mRNA was deter- mined in human testes and sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The glycosyl- phosphatidylinositol linkage of ART3 was shown by treating ART3-transfected HEK-293-T cells with phospholipase C.Fluorescent activated cell sorter(FACS)-analyses were used to detect ART3 on mature spermatozoa and immuno- histological studies to detect the protein in testes.Results:ART3 protein was shown to be present in testes.It was found on spermatocytes only.It was absent from spermatogonia,spermatids and spermatozoa.The absence of ART3 from spermatozoa was confirmed by FACS-analysis.ART3 protein was detected neither within a seminoma nor on Leydig cells.Conclusion:Here we show for the first time that ART3 protein is expressed in testes in particular on spermatocytes,indicating that ART3 exerts a specific function only required at a particular stage of spermatogenesis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32072436,31770455,31972283,and 31800308).
文摘The role of miRNAs in the regulation of seasonal reproduction in rodents,particularly in relation to photoperiod changes,is still poorly understood.Previous studies on miRNA transcriptomes of striped hamster(Cricetulus barabensis)testes have indicated that the photoperiodism of testes,especially apoptosis,may be influenced by miRNAs.As a functional miRNA,cba-miR-222-3p in striped hamster testes exhibits suppression under a short photoperiod.To elucidate the potential role of testicular cba-miR-222-3p in the seasonal reproduction of striped hamsters,we exposed male striped hamsters to different photoperiods or injected miRNA agomir into the testes and observed the effects of these treatments,particularly some indicators related to apoptosis.The results showed that the levels of apoptosis in the testes increased in short daylength,accompanied by a significant decrease in cba-miR-222-3p expression and an increase in TRAF7 expression.Dual luciferase reporter assays verified the targeting relationship between cba-miR-222-3p and TRAF7 predicted by bioinformatics.In addition,the expression of TRAF7 decreased in the testes,which injected miRNA agomir,leading to inhibition of apoptosis,and the expression of key genes(MEKK3,p38,p53)in the downstream MAPK signaling pathway of TRAF7 was suppressed.These results suggest that short daylength induces testicular apoptosis in striped hamsters,and one possible mechanism is that the decreased expression of miR-222-3p in testes reduces the repression of TRAF7 translation,thereby activating the MAPK pathway and affecting the level of testicular apoptosis.These findings reveal the potential role of miR-222-3p in animal reproduction and provide new insights into the regulation of rodent populations.
基金Authors thank Professor Scott O'Neill(Monash Univer-sity,Australia)for prov iding Dmel wMel flies.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China(No.31672352).
文摘Wolbachia are Gram-negative endosymbionts that are known to cause embry-onic lethality when infected male insects mate with uninfected females or with females carrying a different strain of Wolbachia,a situation characterized as cytoplasmice incom-patibility(CD).However,the mechanism of CI is not yet fully understood,although re-cent studies on Drosophila melanogaster have achieved great progress.Here,we found that Wolbachia infection caused changes in the expressions of several immunity-related genes,including significant upregulation of kenny(key),in the testes of D.melanogaster.Overexpression of key in fly testes led to a significant decrease in egg hatch rates when these fies mate with wild-type females.Wolbachia-infected females could rescue this embryonic lethality.Furthermore,in key overexpressing testes terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling signal was significantly stronger than in the control testes,and the level of reactive oxygen species was significantly increased.Overexpression of key also resulted in alterations of some other immunity-related gene expressions,including the downregulation of Zn72D.Knockdown of Zn72D in fly testes also led to a significant decrease in egg hatch rates.These results suggest that Wolbachia might induce the defect in male host fertility by immunity-related pathways and thus cause an oxidative damage and cell death in male testes.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52474165 and 52522404)。
文摘Cemented paste backfill(CPB)is a technology that achieves safe mining by filling the goaf with waste rocks,tailings,and other materials.It is an inevitable choice to deal with the development of deep and highly difficult mines and meet the requirements of environmental protection and safety regulations.It promotes the development of a circular economy in mines through the development of lowgrade resources and the resource utilization of waste,and extends the service life of mines.The mass concentration of solid content(abbreviated as“concentration”)is a critical parameter for CPB.However,discrepancies often arise between the on-site measurements and the pre-designed values due to factors such as groundwater inflow and segregation within the goaf,which cannot be evaluated after the solidification of CPB.This paper innovatively provides an in-situ non-destructive approach to identify the real concentration of CPB after curing for certain days using hyperspectral imaging(HSI)technology.Initially,the spectral variation patterns under different concentration conditions were investigated through hyperspectral scanning experiments on CPB samples.The results demonstrate that as the CPB concentration increases from 61wt%to 73wt%,the overall spectral reflectance gradually increases,with two distinct absorption peaks observed at 1407 and 1917 nm.Notably,the reflectance at 1407 nm exhibited a strong linear relationship with the concentration.Subsequently,the K-nearest neighbors(KNN)and support vector machine(SVM)algorithms were employed to classify and identify different concentrations.The study revealed that,with the KNN algorithm,the highest accuracy was achieved when K(number of nearest neighbors)was 1,although this resulted in overfitting.When K=3,the model displayed the optimal balance between accuracy and stability,with an accuracy of 95.03%.In the SVM algorithm,the highest accuracy of 98.24%was attained with parameters C(regularization parameter)=200 and Gamma(kernel coefficient)=10.A comparative analysis of precision,accuracy,and recall further highlighted that the SVM provided superior stability and precision for identifying CPB concentration.Thus,HSI technology offers an effective solution for the in-situ,non-destructive monitoring of CPB concentration,presenting a promising approach for optimizing and controlling CPB characteristic parameters.
基金Supported by the Research Grants of the National Research,Development and Innovation Office,No.K125377,No.K134863 and No.K143549New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities,No.UNKP-20-5-SZTE-161,No.UNKP-22-3-SZTE-233,No.UNKP-23-5-SZTE-719,No.UNKP-22-4-SZTE-296 and No.UNKP-22-3-SZTE-278+1 种基金Janos Bolyai Research Grant,No.BO/00723/22the Géza Hetényi Research Grant by Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School,University of Szeged.
文摘BACKGROUND Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP)is a disorder of autosomal dominant inheritance that is responsible for around 1%of colorectal cancer(CRC)cases.AIM To determine the mutation profile of FAP-specific to the Hungarian population.METHODS This prospective single-center study enrolled patients with clinically suspected FAP or attenuated FAP(aFAP).Whole-exome next-generation sequencing was performed to detect variants of 50 FAP priority genes and 173 CRC predisposing genes or other CRC disease-associated genes.To identify larger deletions and insertions,a multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization technique was used.The identified genes were then classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.RESULTS A total of 26 index patients with clinically suspected FAP(n=21)and aFAP(n=5)were enrolled.APC gene alterations were confirmed in 92.31%of the cases(region 1B deletion,n=2;whole-gene deletion,n=4;frameshift mutation,n=2;nonsense mutation,n=5,and splice mutation,n=1),with the remaining two cases having CHEK2 and MSH3 gene alterations.According to pathogenicity,21 cases had pathogenic mutations,6 cases had likely pathogenic mutations,and 16 cases had variants of unknown significance(VUS).The most frequent of the latter were the POLE(n=5)and PIEZO1(n=4)gene variants.CONCLUSION Germline mutations in the APC gene were confirmed in more than 90%of Hungarian patients with clinically suspected FAP.Although the role of VUS genes is unclear,they are highly likely to play a role in the development of CRC.
文摘AIM:To compare the tear film quantity and stability parameters in keratoconus(KCN)and normal eyes using test breakup time(TBUT),noninvasive TBUT(NITBUT),and Schirmer test.METHODS:All participants(n=166),including patients with KCN and age-matched healthy individuals with normal corneas,were recruited from those referred to Farabi Eye Hospital,Iran,in 2023.To better account for genetic and environmental factors,the control group comprised healthy individuals who were relatives of KCN patients and had normal corneal topography.Tear quantity parameters were evaluated in the following order:NITBUT,TBUT,and Schirmer tests.RESULTS:The mean age of cases in KCN(61.7%males)and normal(63.5%males)participants was 27.54±5.44y(range 19 to 38)and 27.52±5.63y(range 20 to 38),respectively(P=0.976).NIBUT,TBUT,and Schirmer’s tests were significantly lower in KCN group compared to normal controls(all P<0.001).The mean difference for NIBUT was-7.81s(P<0.001),and for TBUT was-7.61s(P<0.001).Schirmer test values were also significantly lower in the KCN group,with a mean difference of-5.61 mm compared to normal people(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Our findings demonstrate significant tear film impairment in KCN.The reductions in NIBUT,TBUT and Schirmer scores highlight an underlying tear film dysfunction in KCN that extends beyond the morphological changes of the cornea.
文摘The etiopathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases is varied in nature.Various etiogenic factors described are infective,inflammatory,viral,bacterial,parasitic,dietary and lifestyle change.Rare causative agents are immunological,and others associated as idiopathic,are undiagnosed by all possible means.Some of the rare diseases are congenital in nature,passing from the parent to the child.Many of the undiagnosed diseases are now being diagnosed as genetic and the genes have been implicated as a causative agent.There is a search for newer treatments for such diseases,which is called genomic medicine.Genomic medicine is an emerging medical discipline that involves the use of genomic information about an individual.This is used both for diagnostic as well as therapeutic decisions to improve the current health domain and pave the way for policymakers for its clinical use.In the developing era of precision medicine,genomics,epigenomics,environmental exposure,and other data would be used to more accurately guide individual diagnosis and treatment.Genomic medicine is already making an impact in the fields of oncology,pharmacology,rare,infectious and many undiagnosed diseases.It is beginning to fuel new approaches in certain medical specialties.Oncology is at the leading edge of incorporating genomics,as diagnostics for genetic and genomic markers are increasingly included in cancer screening,and to guide tailored treatment strategies.Genetics and genetic medicine have been reported to play a role in gastroenterology in several ways,including genetic testing(hereditary pancreatitis and hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes).Genetic testing can also help subtype diseases,such as classifying pancreatitis as idiopathic or hereditary.Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating gastrointestinal diseases that are not effectively treated by conventional pharmaceuticals and surgeries.Gene therapy strategies include gene addition,gene editing,messenger RNA therapy,and gene silencing.Understanding genetic determinants,advances in genetics,have led to a better understanding of the genetic factors that contribute to human disease.Family-member risk stratification and genetic diagnosis can help identify family members who are at risk,which can lead to preventive treatments,lifestyle recommendations,and routine follow ups.Selecting target genes helps identify the gene targets associated with each gastrointestinal disease.Common gastrointestinal diseases associated with genetic abnormalities include-inflammatory bowel disease,gastroesophageal reflux disease,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,and irritable bowel syndrome.With advancing tools and technology,research in the search of newer and individualized treatment,genes and genetic medicines are expected to play a significant role in human health and gastroenterology.
文摘It is challenging to diagnose isolated hyperbilirubinemia with rare and complex etiologies under the constraints of traditional testing conditions.Herein,we present a rare case of coexisting Gilbert syndrome(GS)and erythropoietic protoporphyria(EPP),which has not been previously documented.CASE SUMMARY We present a rare case of coexisting GS and EPP in a 23-year-old Chinese male with a long history of jaundice and recently found splenomegaly.Serial nonspecific hemolysis screening tests yielded inconsistent results,and investigations for common hemolytic etiologies were negative.However,Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test,which measures erythrocyte lifespan(the gold-standard marker of hemolysis),demonstrated significant hemolysis,revealing a markedly shortened erythrocyte lifespan of 11 days(normal average 120 days).Genetic testing subsequently confirmed EPP with a homozygous ferrochelatase gene mutation and GS with a heterozygous uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl trans-ferase 1A1 gene mutation.CONCLUSION The rapid,non-invasive Levitt’s carbon monoxide breath test resolved the diagnostic challenge posed by a rare and complex cause of hyperbilirubinemia.
